Bossed Up

How do you make time to job search while keeping a full-time job going? Finding a job these days feels a lot like a full-time job in itself, and it’s not easy to make meaningful progress without completely exhausting yourself.

The reality of the modern job market is that it can take months to manifest a new offer. That’s a lot of time spent searching, so you need to have a sustainable plan in place. Having tackled this mountain recently myself, I have some tried and true tips to help you stay on track without running out of steam.

Get your action plan in place with these measurable and manageable tips:

• Why you should script your job search moves ahead of time;
• How to build out an impactful and trackable application strategy;
• How to stay realistic about the sacrifices you’ll need to make without going overboard.

Related Links:

• Episode 435, Grow Your Professional Network in the New Year - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode435
• Episode 449, Your Cover Letter is Better With Bullet Points - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode449
• Episode 450, Entrepreneurship vs. Employment: Building a Blended Career - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode450
• Switch: How to Change Things When Change is Hard by Chip and Dan Heath - https://bookshop.org/p/books/switch-how-to-change-things-when-change-is-hard-dan-heath/943987?ean=9780385528757
• Drop the Ball: Achieving More by Doing Less by Tiffany Dufu - https://bookshop.org/p/books/drop-the-ball-achieving-more-by-doing-less-tiffany-dufu/8440970?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwir2xBhC_ARIsAMTXk87ULKKXylioThwgZ0ii3_BpBeMleVtIKcNnvWli6UvOngBkknREVMoaAn-qEALw_wcB
• S*** First Drafts by Anne Lamott - https://wrd.as.uky.edu/sites/default/files/1-Shitty%20First%20Drafts.pdf
• Time To Hire Factbook by Josh Bersin - https://joshbersin.com/time-to-hire-benchmark-factbook/
• HIRED: my Job Search Accelerator - https://www.bossedup.org/gethired
• Bossed Up Courage Community - https://www.facebook.com/groups/927776673968737/
• Bossed Up LinkedIn Group - https://www.linkedin.com/groups/7071888/

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We’re in the midst of unprecedented times, where corporations prioritize short-term profits over the long-term health of their organizations, clients, and employees. Wage and wealth gaps grow ever-larger, and a few billionaires hoard an obscene amount of money while more and more people struggle just to get by. 

The upcoming book Fair Shake: Women and the Fight to Build a Just Economy, which my guest June Carbone co-authored with Naomi Cahn and Nancy Levit, explores the history, politics, and legality of how we got to where we are today, the impact this system has on women and the quest for gender equality, and the efforts being made to reverse these trends. 

Explore what past and present corporate research can teach us about where we’re headed:

• Where did our winner-take-all economy come from?
• How does this profits-first, people-last approach impact women?
• What is the triple bind befalling women leaders today?
• How do we start rebuilding a positive-sum economic culture of collectivism?

Related Links:

• Pre-order ‘Fair Shake: Women and the Fight to Build a Just Economy’ - https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/fair-shake-naomi-cahn/1141652296?ean=9781982115128
• Banks with More Women on Their Boards Commit Less Fraud - https://hbr.org/2021/05/banks-with-more-women-on-their-boards-commit-less-fraud
• The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC; Notice of Filing of Proposed Rule Change to Adopt
• Listing Rules Related to Board Diversity - https://www.sec.gov/comments/sr-nasdaq-2020-081/srnasdaq2020081-8186013-227180.pdf
• Connect with June online - https://law.umn.edu/profiles/june-carbone
• Episode 440: The Problem with Self-Help - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode440
• Episode 444: Are Pay Transparency Laws Working? - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode444
• Take Action with Bossed Up - https://www.bossedup.org/takeaction
• Bossed Up Courage Community - https://www.facebook.com/groups/927776673968737/
• Bossed Up LinkedIn Group - https://www.linkedin.com/groups/7071888/

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We all have our ideal working conditions. We might love working from home, enjoy a couple of sociable days in the office each week, or crave the daily ritual of a peaceful commute. Whatever your personal preference, the recent trend in many sectors to force a return to the office has raised a lot of concerns.

In this episode, I dig into the statistics and history of the WFH-to-RTO saga and its weighty impact on employees—in particular, how the move away from flexible work options may have a disproportionate effect on working mothers.

We’ll break down the latest data and explain how we got here:

• Why the “she-cession” was followed by an influx of moms re-entering the workforce;
• The stats that back up the nation’s feelings on flexible work;
• How changing mandates are affecting job seekers;
• The systemic causes that got us to where we are today.

Related Links:

• Wall Street Journal essay - https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/careers/return-to-the-office-mandates-are-a-disaster-for-working-mothers-bf57a071
• Time magazine article - https://time.com/6251465/return-to-office-working-moms-pandemic/
• University of Chicago research - https://bfi.uchicago.edu/working-paper/time-savings-when-working-from-home/
• Bankrate article on the effects of return-to-office mandates - https://www.bankrate.com/personal-finance/return-to-office-mandates-effects-on-working-mothers/
• Take Action with Bossed Up - https://www.bossedup.org/takeaction
• Bossed Up Courage Community - https://www.facebook.com/groups/927776673968737/
• Bossed Up LinkedIn Group - https://www.linkedin.com/groups/7071888/

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Community, connection, and collaboration: these are the keys to our survival as a species if you ask Baily Hancock, a community architect and strategist with more than three decades of experience. Prioritizing these concepts within both her own career trajectory and her client work has positioned Baily as an expert and thought leader who helps organizations conceptualize, launch, and grow successful communities.

In this episode, she shares what she’s learned about leveraging community, leaning on connections when navigating major career pivots, and fostering collaboration every step of the way. We even dig into thought leadership and the question of job security as either an employee or entrepreneur.

Prepare to expand your professional persona and unleash the thought leader within as we uncover:

• The persistent reality of reinvention throughout our careers
• The game-changing benefits of nurturing community and reaching out
• What’s actually more secure—being an employee or entrepreneur?
• How to put yourself out there as a thought leader and expert

Related Links:

• Connect with Baily on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/bailyhancock/
• Visit Baily’s website - https://bailyhancock.com/
• Snag the Podcast Guest Playbook - https://bailyhancock.com/podcastguest
• Join The Collaboration Coalition - https://collaborationcoalition.mn.co/
• The Level Up: a Leadership Accelerator for Women on the Rise - https://www.bossedup.org/levelup
• Speak Up: our live assertive communication course - http://www.bossedup.org/speakup
• Bossed Up Courage Community - https://www.facebook.com/groups/927776673968737/
• Bossed Up LinkedIn Group - https://www.linkedin.com/groups/7071888/

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Writing cover letters is stressful. If I surveyed a thousand job seekers about their least favorite parts of the job search, I bet most of them would put this task near the top of their list. But as awful as they can be, they’re still important and can help set you apart. A good cover letter lets you highlight the most important details of your application right away. 

Here’s my straightforward, bullet point-based cover letter strategy that will help you curb the overwhelm and get right to the point. Keeping the reader engaged through the first page of your application goes a long way to getting your foot in the interview room door. 

Discover my go-to template for creating an impactful cover letter every time:

• Why white space and brevity will land your cover letter on the top of the stack;
• How to harness the awesome power of the rule of three;
• Step-by-step instructions for creating your own low-stress, speedy cover letter writing strategy.

Related Links:

• Hired: my Job Search Accelerator - https://www.bossedup.org/gethired
• Episode 365, How To Write A Meaningful Cover Letter For Today’s Competitive Job Market - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode365
• Episode 415, How To Use AI To Write Cover Letters Faster - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode415
• Bossed Up Courage Community - https://www.facebook.com/groups/927776673968737/
• Bossed Up LinkedIn Group - https://www.linkedin.com/groups/7071888/

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Resiliency is an important trait for any leader, but the systemic barriers that underrepresented professionals face, on top of persisting gender and racial gaps, make this skill even more vital. My guest, Jacqueline Twillie, quite literally wrote the book on resiliency for these leaders, drawing on her experience working to reduce worldwide inequity. 

In this episode, we discuss her book and her approach to strategic sustainability for leaders facing these challenging dynamics. From the cyclical process of refilling your resilience well to a fresh take on failure, Jacqueline’s approach to empowering women from underrepresented backgrounds who are navigating the pitfalls and potentials of leadership offers real-world advice for all leaders seeking a stronger foothold in their futures.

Reset your mindset with Jacqueline’s expert insights into:

• The ways risk, resilience, rest, and reward work together to foster growth;
• How cultivating resilience is like navigating a traffic jam;
• What neurotransmitters and nutrition have to do with resilient leadership.

Related Links:

• Jacqueline’s website - https://www.zerogap.co/
• Connect with Jacqueline on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacquelinetwillie/
• Connect with Jacqueline on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jacquelinetwillie/?hl=en
• Connect with Jacqueline on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/Jvtwillie/
• The Resilient Leaders Program - https://www.zerogap.co/resileintleadersprogram
• Jacqueline’s book, Dear Resilient Leader: A Guide for Underrepresented Leaders - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CNRFYVZQ/ref=cm_sw_r_as_gl_api_gl_i_15FXH2FQXNWCNHPEZJKS?linkCode=ml1&tag=thepowbre-20
• The Seven Spirtual Laws of Success by Deepak Chopra - https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-seven-spiritual-laws-of-success-a-pocketbook-guide-to-fulfilling-your-dreams-one-hour-of-wisdom-deepak-chopra/11605345?ean=9781878424716
• Mindet by Carol Dwek - https://bookshop.org/p/books/mindset-the-new-psychology-of-success-carol-s-dweck/7841782?ean=9780345472328
• Episode 386, How To Boost Your Energy With The Power Of Nutrition - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode386
• Level Up: a Leadership Accelerator for Women on the Rise - https://www.bossedup.org/levelup
• Bossed Up Courage Community - https://www.facebook.com/groups/927776673968737/
• Bossed Up LinkedIn Group - https://www.linkedin.com/groups/7071888/

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How does your LinkedIn Skills section look these days? Whether or not you’re currently on the hunt for new employment opportunities, this is your friendly reminder to get your Skills section in order. LinkedIn places a huge focus on this section of your profile when it comes to recruiters looking for candidates.

In this episode, I walk you through how to amp up your Skills section. With everything we have to do, wouldn’t it be nice to let LinkedIn take some of the hard work of job searching (even if you’re just low-key looking right now) off your plate?

Listen along as we walk through this essential process and discover:

• Why fine-tuning your Skills section is so important to your job search;
• How to narrow the long list of skills you possess so it serves you best;
• How to navigate the finicky nuances of the skills list LinkedIn provides.

Related Links:

• Hired: my Job Search Accelerator - https://www.bossedup.org/gethired
• Bossed Up Courage Community - https://www.facebook.com/groups/927776673968737/
• Bossed Up LinkedIn Group - https://www.linkedin.com/groups/7071888/

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Whether an organization’s teams are centered in a single city or dispersed across the world, cultural differences inevitably emerge. For leaders accustomed to knowing the answers and acting on their singular understanding of situations, it can be difficult to recognize these differences, much less level up the listening skills needed to address them for the good of their organization.

For more than 10 years, Hawa Kombian has worked within and alongside companies in Canada, Ghana, and more, using her expertise in cross-cultural competency and communication to help her clients achieve operational sustainability and social vibrancy through customized results-driven cultures of connection. In this episode, Hawa and I delve into the compassionate approach she teaches to guide leaders and their teams in this important work. 

Explore the essential impact of cross-cultural competency on the future of work with:

• Why listening is the key to positive change in any organization;
• How to lead with cross-cultural compassion in today’s remote workplaces;
• The need for humility in leaders championing long-term change;
• How we can redefine the legacy of leadership.

Related Links:

• Hawa’s Linktree - https://linktr.ee/hawakoco
• Learn more about Hawa - https://hawakombianconsulting.com/
• Hawa’s LinkedIn article, Hey Founder... How To Collaborate With Your Team  - https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/hey-founder-how-collaborate-your-team-b-hawa-kombian
• Episode 2 of Hawa’s Compass Audiocast, Choose Friends With Care - https://youtu.be/LU-mWQSu8Z4
• Join Hawa’s Journey Alignment Mastermind - https://testhk.my.canva.site/hkc-media
• Hidden Brain Podcast Episode, US 2.0: What We Have In Common - https://hiddenbrain.org/podcast/us-2-0-what-we-have-in-common/
• Level Up: a Leadership Accelerator for Women on the Rise - https://www.bossedup.org/levelup
• Bossed Up Courage Community - https://www.facebook.com/groups/927776673968737/
• Bossed Up LinkedIn Group - https://www.linkedin.com/groups/7071888/

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How many meeting invites do you get each week? If your company is like many American organizations, it’s probably too many. Recent research shows that 70% of all company meetings are keeping teams from completing their tasks. On top of that, a Harvard Business Review article reports that “Ineffective meetings that waste our time can negatively impact psychological, physical, and mental well-being.” Yikes! 

In this episode, I share three steps that can help reduce meeting overwhelm. There’s no doubt that declining a meeting is easier said than done. Company culture and concern for professional relationships can make it anxiety-inducing to even consider clicking anything but that little “yes” box on a meeting invitation. But taking the plunge and beginning to question—and even turn down—unnecessary meetings can make a huge difference in your company as a whole.

Navigate the meeting acceptance minefield professionally by learning:

• What the research says about our inefficient attachment to meetings;
• Why it’s okay to ask for more information;
• How and when to decline delicately;
• How to put meeting reduction into practice with your team.

Related Links:

• Harvard Business Review article, “Dear Manager, You’re Holding Too Many Meetings” - https://hbr.org/2022/03/dear-manager-youre-holding-too-many-meetings
• The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why It Matters by Priya Parker - https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-art-of-gathering-how-we-meet-and-why-it-matters-priya-parker/588739?ean=9781594634932
• My LinkedIn course, “Asserting Yourself: An Empowered Choice - https://www.linkedin.com/learning/asserting-yourself-an-empowered-choice/why-being-assertive-matters
• Bossed Up Accelerator - Level Up - https://www.bossedup.org/levelup  
• Bossed Up Courage Community - https://www.facebook.com/groups/927776673968737/
• Bossed Up LinkedIn Group - https://www.linkedin.com/groups/7071888/

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Pay transparency is one of our policy priorities at Bossed Up, and in this episode, I speak with a scholar who studies the subject: Zoë Cullen. An assistant professor of entrepreneurial management at Harvard Business School, Zoë has spent the last decade studying gender gaps within the workforce, and most recently has focused on the effects of pay transparency laws. 

Her research reveals a lot of interesting information about what pay transparency means for individual workers, career motivation, and hiring practices. Zoë’s practical explanations of the data help put this groundbreaking policy into perspective. 

Find out what the numbers say about how pay transparency is playing out in the real world:

• Which information frictions and taboos stand in the way;
• The surprising effect of learning what your boss makes;
• How pay transparency affects powerhouse negotiators in the workplace;
• And even the potential downsides to pay transparency for worker’s wages.

Related Links:

• Connect with Zoë - https://zcullen.github.io/
• Read Zoë’s article, “Is Pay Transparency Good?” - https://zcullen.github.io/assets/docs/JEP%20Is%20Pay%20Transparency%20Good.pdf
• Read Zoë’s article, “Equilibrium Effects Of Pay Transparency” - https://www.nber.org/system/files/working_papers/w28903/w28903.pdf
• Equal Pay for Equal Work Act - https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/sb19-085
• Episode 319, “How To Talk Money With Your Friends and Family and Why It’s Critically Important That You Do” - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode319
• Episode 146 “Step-By-Step Negotiation Prep” https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode146
• Salary Insights Guide - https://www.bossedup.org/negotiation#salaryinsights
• Bossed Up Courage Community - https://www.facebook.com/groups/927776673968737/
• Bossed Up LinkedIn Group - https://www.linkedin.com/groups/7071888/

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