Talent Tips: Applying for Jobs

Talent Tip #144: The F Word

April 19, 2022

I love the F word.

I use it frequently, in fact. I say it in front of my clients and candidates…in front of mature audiences and young professionals….even kids. Heck, I say it in front of my mother-in-law. I’m shameless about it.

No matter when or where I use it, it never fails to raise eyebrows.

I don’t think people are offended by it; they just don’t think about it that often.  But they should.  Because it’s absolutely…

Talent Tip #142: 10 Questions to Ask on Your Next Date/Job Interview

January 19, 2022

My father once gave me some fantastic dating advice:

“On the first date, ask him what drugs he is taking, legal and illegal.”

Subtly isn’t my dad’s forte, and now you know I came by it honestly. But you can understand what pops was getting at. Before you get serious about someone, pop open the hood and poke around.

And so it goes with job hunting. So many of the things we really want to know,…

Talent Tip #141: Five Gifts to Give a Hiring Manager

December 14, 2021

It’s that time of year again! I can’t wait to drink egg nog, watch Christmas Vacation for the 7641st time, and erect the Festivus pole/prepare for the airing of grievances.

Speaking of grievances, have you ever gotten a really terrible holiday gift?

Many moons ago, a boyfriend of mine got me a stunning, likely expensive, gold bracelet. The design was lovely and it really was beautiful…except for the fact it was gold. What’s wrong with gold, you…

Talent Tip #138: What HGTV Can Teach Us About the Market for Talent

September 21, 2021

Katelynn Barbosa

A couple of years ago, I was home sick with a bad sinus infection and chose to spend that time in the most productive way possible – reading seminal novels I had never gotten around to. Just kidding. I binged watching HGTV. If you haven’t watched HGTV before, the basic format of every HGTV show involves the following:

Act 1: Couple wants to buy house and meets with realtor to tell them what they are…

Talent Tip #137: How Networking Can Make (or Break) Your Job Search

September 15, 2021

Many moons ago I was at a networking function in Washington, DC when a gentleman strolled up to me with the Worst Networking Line Ever™.

“What do you do?”

“I’m a graduate student at….”

Before I could finish the sentence he turned around and walked away. I kid you not. His exceptional deductive reasoning skills led him to believe I would be no help in his quest to take over the world, so he left me…

Talent Tip #135: From Student to Professional: How I Feel Pretty Can Help You Transition To the Real World

June 22, 2021

By Katelynn Barbosa

Do you remember coming out of college thinking you were going to light the professional world on fire?

I sure do. And I remember feeling confident that everyone was going to be so impressed by my political science and history double major and my 3.7 GPA. I made sure to pack my resume full of that and my impressive college activities:

·       Vice President of the Student Alumni Association? Check!

Talent Tip #134: 10 Tips for Pivoting into a Career That Advances Liberty

May 18, 2021

Nothing makes me happier than hearing from someone who wants to move into a career that advances the principles of economic freedom, free enterprise, and limited government.

I made that transition myself many moons ago and it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made (along with rescuing a dog and not going to law school…no offense to cat lovers and lawyers).

But making the transition wasn’t easy for me because of a few misconceptions that…

Talent Tip #133: 10 Reasons Your Cover Letter is Terrible (Part 1)

March 16, 2021

(This month’s newsletter article is the first of a two-part series written by Katelynn Barbosa, who just went on maternity leave.)

I’m feeling extra grumpy and salty because I am 37 weeks pregnant, sick of waddling everywhere, and dying for a stiff cocktail. The good news for you is that my current state has put me in the mood to drop some VERY honest advice about a vital component of every job application – the cover letter.

Talent Tip #132: Seven Things Our Data Tell Us About Hiring in the Liberty Movement

February 17, 2021

This will shock no one to hear, but I’m a bit of a dork – A data dork, if you want to get specific. Give me a glass of red wine and a database and I could be happy for hours. Yes, I am the most fun at parties.

I love digging into the numbers, creating reports, and discovering new things. Specifically, I dork out on understanding what the numbers in Talent Market’s database are telling us and how we…

Talent Tip #129: On Mai Tais, King Beds, and Resumes

October 20, 2020

By Katelynn Barbosa

Imagine you are planning a vacation to Maui (unthinkable in these times, I know) and browsing hotels online to decide where to stay. As you browse you have three predetermined requirements: You absolutely must have a king bed. (Your husband is a broad shouldered guy who splays out during his sleep like someone at the end of an unsuccessful parachute jump.) You also need to be located close to where many of your activities are…