Start Fast

This is the first solocast episode for the Start Fast Podcast, but it won't be the last. I'm going to start mixing in these shorter-form episodes to discuss topics that I find extremely relevant for your career as you're trying to start fast and get where you want to go. On this episode, I discuss how we all get bored. Boredom isn't bad, but how we handle boredom can be. However, there are productive ways to leverage boredom, and even seek it out, that will help catapult you above your peers and accelerate your career growth. Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast on whatever app you like to listen on, and check out the blog post where I first dove into the topic of boredom:https://jfontenot36.wixsite.com/startfast/post/there-s-freedom-in-boredomMake sure you subscribe to the blog too! I don't want you to miss any of the great content, coming your way, to help you start fast and get to where you're trying to go!

On episode 18, Rory shares how he fell in love with construction and when he knew that's where he wantedto beOther things we discussed were:The reasoning behind getting his MBA and when the right time is to consider pursuing anadvanced-level degreeThe fastest way to get promoted is to start showing you're capable of doing the higher-level work you would be doing once promotedWhy it's so important to work beyond what's right in front of you so you can be the one that's promoted versus having someone promoted above youWhat good reasons are for making changes in your careerYou'll never regress in your career if you're constantly pursuing growth opportunitiesWhy the best startups are truly centered around solving problems that haven't been solvedor that people don't realize is a problemTo get in touch with Rory, connect with him on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rorydavis/Also, subscribe to our blog, where we arm you with more content and insights on tips, tricks, strategies, and tactics for starting fast! https://jfontenot36.wixsite.com/startfast/home/

On today's episode, we meet with Riece Keck, Founder and CEO of Vault Recruiting. Riece is an expert on what it takes to land a job at a startup, and he came on to share some incredible advice to anyone considering take the leap to pursue a career in startups. In this episode, Riece and I cover topics such as:How Riece got into the world of recruitingWhy Riece gravitated towards working with startupsHow setbacks can be opportunities in disguiseCareer paths are rarely linear, and that's a good thing!How to start fast in your career, whether you're a full-time employee or a startup founderWorking with job-seekers required empathy. Don't sell them jobs as the "perfect fit" - help them find that perfect fitWhy you should follow your passions in your careerThe differences of working for an established enterprise versus a startupThe skillsets you'll need to be successful in a startupThe pros and cons, risks and rewards of startup lifeWhy you should be more up on pop culture so you can understand references from The Office (actually that advice probably only helps me...) The real take-away is that there are no Stanleys in a Startup (you'll probably get the reference)The real reason why startups provide unique perks (never thought about that! #mindblown)How you should prepare to make the leap to startupsWhy you should be talking to recruiters before they call you for an interview. Be proactive! Find out how. How to spin a lack of experience into a positive in the interview and in your cover letterNot all startups are created equal! Choose wisely. If you want to know more about the recruiting services Riece and his team provide to Bay Area startups, you can connect with Riece at https://www.linkedin.com/in/riecekeck/Don't forget to subscribe! And if you like what you're hearing, head over to iTunes or the Apple Podcast app and leave us a rating and a review so we can help spread the podcast to more people!

If you want to work internationally, you're about to start working internationally, or you're frustrated working with international counterparts, this episode is for you! Ariadne is an expert working internationally, and she brain dumps mounds of career gold! You're in for a treat!Ariadne shares her career journey and how she pretty much always worked in an international setting. Her work experience spans across many countries in South, Central, and North America, as well as Europe.The topics of this episode include:How certain things in business are the same internationally, but how you work with people will vary greatly depending on the culture of the people you're working withJust because you speak the same language, doesn't mean you're communicating. Culture creates a context that you must understand!Working internationally forces you to flex your empathy musclesWork/life balance might be important in different cultures, but a particular culture might create work/life balance completely different than you do, and it could impact how you work with themBuilding relationships and building trust is key before you ever try to get work done with international counterpartsCulture will determine what is "taboo" in different settingsThe globe is diversifying fast. People continue to move across borders, and even countries with strong country-specific cultures are having to become more open as job markets drive immigration and more diverse workforcesRegardless of culture, trust is the one thing that remains the same as important in building successful working relationshipsHow to overcome career growth challenges as a remote worker or an international worker where your HQ or your team is in another country.Empathy can't be stressed enough. We can make unfair assumptions about people when we don't understand them personally, their challenges, their fears, and their needs.A great way to show you care, is to research a culture before you interact with someone who lives and works in it. A cherry on top is learning how to speak their language, even if it's in some small way.Feel free to drop me a note if there's specific advice you'd like to hear or if you have feedback in general. Don't forget to subscribe, and if you're enjoying these episodes, head over to iTunes or the Apple Podcast app and leave us a rating and review! My email is [email protected]. I'd love to connect!

Monique Arrington is the President and Founder of Arrington Case by Case, a boutique staffing and coaching business. Monique is a long-time industry veteran in HR and Talent Acquisition, and she shares a wealth of knowledge, insight, and advice for job-seekers and talent acquisition professionals alike. On this episode, you'll hear Monique talk about:Why it's so important to be upfront about your career goals with your bossWhy most recruiters don't give feedback and whose fault is it really?Monique shares insight on the relationship between recruiters and hiring managers,Why it may be taking a while to hear back from the recruiter after the job has been posted and how organizations prioritize how they fill rolesWhy networking with employees inside of organizations you want to join is a MUSTWhy applying for a job after it's been posted to job boards already means you might be too lateThe one thing you can do as a job-seeker that WILL differentiate youThe secret to getting the job when you don't have direct "experience" in the job you wantWhy it's sad but true, that the job search is a numbers game and depends heavily on timing!Don't just network with people in the role you want, network with the hiring managers and recruiters of the roles you want and the companiesyou want to join.Why heads of talent acquisition deserve a seat at the executive tableWhether you're a job-seeker, recruiter, or hiring manager, you have to ask for what you wantThe biggest trend in recruiting is how AI is replacing the sourcing process and other tactical, administrative processesYou don't need an interview to tell your story and why you're the best fit for the job you wantBecome a thought leader by creating content for the role you want and find mentors to help you along the wayIf you want to connect with Monique, you can connect with her or follow her on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/-arringtonconsulting/

On Episode 14, we hear from corporate mindfulness and gratitude expert, Kristin Petrucci. Here's some of the things we talk about:Kristin's personal story of overcoming the hardship of divorce, physical and mental health issues, and turning her life aroundHer mission is to help men live victoriously and overcome the stress they often wait too long to addressKristin clarifies what gratitude actually is and how to take it well-beyond a list of material things you're thankful forShe also shares what she calls the "power-packed trifecta" of how to show gratitude, and I can tell you, it works!In this digital world, Kristin shares how her studies have shown that we crave human connection and face to face expressions of gratitudeThe most effective team building doesn't need a budget!Kristin even flipped the script on me and I got to share one of my recent gratitude experiencesWhy you should keep a record of the best part of your day and what you learned that dayOne way I stay grateful is through celebrating "little victories"You don't need to have a gratitude mindset to learn how to have a gratitude mindsetFind Kristin on www.kpspeaks.com or Instagram @kpspeaks_

Daniel Di Bartolo, Product Manager at FaithLife, drops some serious career insights. He'll be talking about: How working with youth in non-profits and education translates to product managementThere's no better test in leadership than leading volunteersWhy leaders need their people to understand how their work fits into the bigger pictureWhy apprenticeship needs to make a comeback.Succession planning and leadership development requires thoughtfulness and proactive managementYou should always be asking how you can make things better, and what are the changes you need to make to create more value and improve outcomes.Great content for learning is so democratized, and you're doing yourself, your career, and your organization a disservice if you're not leveraging the free and readily available resources out there to learn and growWhy you have to position yourself geographically for opportunityUse your freedom early on in your life and career to position yourself for future successWhy it doesn't matter how you got here... you're here, so make the best of it!Why it's important to build relationships and why connections don't guarantee you opportunities, but how they can tell your story better than your resume canHow important side projects can benefit not only your experience but your credibility towards capabilityHow to invest in your children and win "parent of the year" - I'm probably going to do this!Find problems in your organization and fix them! Your career will take off!Even when you go for what you want in your career, be empathetic to the needs and implications of those around youGreat tips to prepare for your big pitch!Fantastic Resources:The Black Box of Product Management by Brandon Chu on Medium: https://blackboxofpm.com/the-first-principles-of-product-management-ea0e2f2a018c https://www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com/ Bo Ren - https://medium.com/@Bosefina Daniel on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/danieldibartolo/ Check out Daniel's Blog - https://curious.substack.com/

Ava Wettrick is the voice of GenZ and Host of the MentorZ Podcast:https://www.mentorzmedia.com/On today's episode, Ava shared why sometimes you just need to ask "why not"Ava started the MentorZ podcast, focused on bringing thought leaders to her own generation, Gen Z. Ava is having the epitome of a fast start as an 18-year-old Freshman at Ball State UniversityWhat's so interesting is how Ava is paying forward to her generation what her dad did for heras a middle schooler. She shares that story as well!Ava shares a practical example of how and why Gen Z wants to impact the world and why smart people are only smart because they're always learningAs a freshman in college, in that especially distracting environment, Ava share how no one is going to hold you accountable but you!I loved this quote: "Avoiding distractions comes down to choosing between what's good and what's right"A bit of insight into the next generation entering the workforce: Why Gen Z seems to have everything but is still depressed and how we can fix that and how, regardless of generation, we can turn purposeless distractions into purposeful interactionLastly, Ava shares why starting fast requires you to just get started, regardless of where that might beHere's a link to the article Ava mentions that she wrote on her growth experience so far:https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/argument-college-what-ive-discovered-first-weeks-ball-ava-wettrick/?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_profile_view_base_post_details%3Bx6T4SFmlTSKtzmHPf%2FGC1A%3D%3DFeel free to get in touch at [email protected] you're a business looking to transform how you attract, acquire, and retain top talent, JobReadi can help! www.jobreadi.com or [email protected]

In this Episode, Preeti Adhikary shares her journey from Finance to Marketing and from Nepal to New York City. You'll hear topics on cultural diversity, discovering your passions, and why you need to understand data and numbers regardless of the role you're in. If you think you're in the wrong role and you want to make a pivot in your career, Preeti shares some great advice on how she made the pivot to marketing and how you can make that switch too. You can connect with Preeti on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/preetiadhikary/You can connect with me on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/robfontenot/) or Twitter (@JRobFontenot or @JobReadi) for updates on the podcast or what we're doing with JobReadi.Feel free to reach out directly at [email protected] be sure to subscribe! Leave us a review and a rating so we know how we're doing and where we can improve.

While completely blind, Steven Maranville shares how you can lead your company or lead your career with vision. Steven believes that the only long-term, sustainable strategic advantage is to continually learn and grow. With a Ph.D. in Business Administration and specializations in Entrepreneurship, Strategic Management, and Organizational Transformation, he has devoted his professional talents to the study of businesses as learning organizations.And through his experience and research, Steven is helping to grow fledgling startups into unicorns! If you are ready to grow your unicorn-bound venture and if you can benefit from having an experienced guide by your side, reach out to Steven so you can meet each other and discuss your venture’s needs. 801.635.7950 or https://www.linkedin.com/in/sjmaranville/Don't forget to subscribe! We release new episodes every Tuesday! Leave us a rating and review so we know how we're doing. Any feedback on this episode or the podcast in general, fell free to reach out to me directly: [email protected] or connect with me onLinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/robfontenot/Twitter: @JRobFontenot