On the Chad & Cheese Podcast, hosts Joel Cheesman and Chad Sowash welcomed Julia Levy, a seasoned talent acquisition (TA) leader, job search strategist, HR tech advisor, and author of From Hi to Hired: Your Insider Guide to Internships.

Julia, recently departed from AutoZone, shared her 25+ years of TA experience across diverse industries, including tech consulting, staffing (Robert Half), financial services (MetLife, Fiserv), and manufacturing (Comscope). She discussed navigating the complex HR tech landscape, emphasizing the importance of identifying specific organizational problems before selecting technology, rather than chasing trendy solutions at conferences like RECFEST.

Julia highlighted the challenge of distinguishing genuine AI innovations from rebranded legacy systems and shared her approach to vendor due diligence, leveraging networks and customer references. Transitioning to consulting, she noted a shift from corporate constraints to a more fulfilling role, though still receiving sales pitches as if she were at AutoZone.

Her book targets college students facing a tough job market, offering strategies like being a "connector" on LinkedIn, targeting company problems, and turning rejections into growth opportunities. Julia stressed the value of internships and alternative career paths in trades or growth-oriented companies like AutoZone, noting a 10-20% reduction in internship programs due to economic uncertainty.

Find out more at https://www.hi2hired.com/from-hi-to-hired.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to

02:20 Navigating the Talent Acquisition Landscape

05:21 Preparing for Conferences and Vendor Interactions

08:13 Insights from RecFest and Vendor Evaluation

11:12 Transitioning from Corporate to Consulting

14:09 The Importance of Internships for Students

17:05 Adapting to a Changing Job Market

20:05 Strategies for Students in Job Hunting

23:16 Understanding Rejection and Learning from It