Shine at Work®

The Shine at Work Podcast has hit 100 episodes!! As a part of our 100th episode special, we are sharing all the things we wish we had known earlier in our careers. Whether there is something you’re struggling with in your career, or you just need a pick-me-up this week, there is some inspiration in this episode for everyone. Plus, we are joined throughout the episode by some of our previous guests and their own words of wisdom that you can implement in your career today! Thank you so much for being a part of the show by tuning in, and we’ll see you in season seven!Some key takeaways from this episode include:Nobody has all the answers, and everybody is figuring it out as they go! Don’t pretend you know everything. Instead, create trust by being honest about what you do and don’t know, and show tenacity by doing what you can to figure it out.There is no “wrong” career choice, and choosing not to make a career change is still a decision even if it feels passive. Even if you end up in a role that’s totally wrong for you, you will learn valuable things about yourself and what you want.Be the most authentic version of yourself at work. If you portray yourself as an inauthentic version of yourself in a job interview, you will be exhausted trying to keep up with that image instead of just being yourself.Welcome to the Shine at Work Podcast! On this show, your co-hosts Karen and Dan will shine a light on your job search so you can land a role that lets you flex your strengths and progress your career in an environment you actually look forward to working in each day. From creating a stand-out resume, to confidently negotiating your salary, to finding your footing as a new manager, you can expect to hear actionable advice to help you shine your brightest in your role. Karen D. Weeks is the CEO and Chief Career Coach of Shine at Work Coaching. She has over twenty years of HR experience, including as CPO at Ordergroove. Dan Carr is a Shine at Work Career Coach with over a decade of recruiting experience helping high-growth startups expand with top talent. Connect with Us! Website Instagram Karen Weeks on LinkedIn Dan Carr on LinkedIn

If you’re about to start looking for a new job, this episode is for you! Karen and Dan are sharing their five steps for starting your job search so you feel clear, ready, and even excited to get started looking for your next big role. We’re confident that if you follow these steps and take decisive action, you could land a new job by the new year - keep us posted over on IG! Some key takeaways from this episode include:Identify the companies you want to target and why. If you can point to something about the company that makes you genuinely excited to apply there, it’s going to come through in your cover letter and make the process more enjoyable overall.In order to effectively update your resume and LinkedIn profile, you have to be super clear about the types of companies and roles you’re looking for. The more specific you can be, the more you’ll stand out to recruiters.Start networking early. Use the first four steps to craft your story and what you’re looking for, then start meeting people and building relationships. You never know who could lead you to your next big role.Welcome to the Shine at Work Podcast! On this show, your co-hosts Karen and Dan will shine a light on your job search so you can land a role that lets you flex your strengths and progress your career in an environment you actually look forward to working in each day. From creating a stand-out resume, to confidently negotiating your salary, to finding your footing as a new manager, you can expect to hear actionable advice to help you shine your brightest in your role. Karen D. Weeks is the CEO and Chief Career Coach of Shine at Work Coaching. She has over twenty years of HR experience, including as CPO at Ordergroove. Dan Carr is a Shine at Work Career Coach with over a decade of recruiting experience helping high-growth startups expand with top talent. Connect with Us! Website Instagram Karen Weeks on LinkedIn Dan Carr on LinkedIn

Your ability to learn new skills quickly is a great asset to employers, but what if you took it a step further and pursued learning the skills you need on your own before you apply for the job? That’s called upskilling, and it’s an amazing way to build your skillset, confidence, and industry knowledge to secure your next big role. In this episode, we’re sharing our experience with upskilling in our careers, and the spectrum of learning opportunities from webinars to certifications to online courses.Links mentioned:UdemySkillshareSome key takeaways from this episode include:While you don’t need to check every single box in a job description to apply, the knowledge gaps you have might make you nervous for an interview. By taking a class or getting a certification in that area, you’ll show up confidently for your interview… and hopefully the role!When you’re deciding which skill or tool you should learn more about, scan through the job descriptions you’ve been looking at and pick the ones that have shown up consistently in 10-15 of those job descriptions.Sometimes there’s a big payoff for upskilling, but it can also come down to applied experience. Remember that upskilling is an opportunity to learn new things, find new passions or things you’re great at, and shouldn’t only be tied to your job search.Welcome to the Shine at Work Podcast! On this show, your co-hosts Karen and Dan will shine a light on your job search so you can land a role that lets you flex your strengths and progress your career in an environment you actually look forward to working in each day. From creating a stand-out resume, to confidently negotiating your salary, to finding your footing as a new manager, you can expect to hear actionable advice to help you shine your brightest in your role. Karen D. Weeks is the CEO and Chief Career Coach of Shine at Work Coaching. She has over twenty years of HR experience, including as CPO at Ordergroove. Dan Carr is a Shine at Work Career Coach with over a decade of recruiting experience helping high-growth startups expand with top talent. Connect with Us! Website Instagram Karen Weeks on LinkedIn Dan Carr on LinkedIn

If you’re struggling to find a full-time role, or you’re not yet sure what you want to commit to full-time position, a contract role might be a great fit for you. In this episode, we’re sharing some of the benefits of taking on a contractor position, how to negotiate as a contractor, and key things to know about contract roles from an HR perspective.Some key takeaways from this episode include:Taking a contractor role can have a few benefits. You can expose yourself to different types of companies, leaders, and roles to get a feel for what you will eventually want in a full time role while building your skills and your resume.If you sign a contract with the understanding that a contract role will turn into a full-time role down the line, try to get a timeline in writing for when you’ll have a follow-up conversation with your manager about it.As for what to charge, remember that you’re responsible for paying your income taxes yourself as a contractor. A good rule of thumb is to add about 20-30% to your standard hourly rate, factoring in the industry standard and your experience.Welcome to the Shine at Work Podcast! On this show, your co-hosts Karen and Dan will shine a light on your job search so you can land a role that lets you flex your strengths and progress your career in an environment you actually look forward to working in each day. From creating a stand-out resume, to confidently negotiating your salary, to finding your footing as a new manager, you can expect to hear actionable advice to help you shine your brightest in your role. Karen D. Weeks is the CEO and Chief Career Coach of Shine at Work Coaching. She has over twenty years of HR experience, including as CPO at Ordergroove. Dan Carr is a Shine at Work Career Coach with over a decade of recruiting experience helping high-growth startups expand with top talent. Connect with Us! Website Instagram Karen Weeks on LinkedIn Dan Carr on LinkedIn

If you’re currently in a full time role while you’re job searching, you’re in a great position! However, it can still be tough to find time to research, apply, and interview for a new job while balancing your full-time job. In this episode, we’re sharing the routines you can adopt to make time for job hunting without burning yourself out or alerting your current company to your search.Links mentioned:Listen to Episode 91: Navigating LayoffsSome key takeaways from this episode include:If you have a pretty demanding job, carve out a few hours on the weekend for your search. You can also repurpose your personal time, such as lunch breaks or the hour you’re usually decompressing on social media at the end of the day.When it comes to interviews, let the recruiter or hiring manager know you’re still working full time. Try to schedule a time in the morning hours before work, on a lunch break at a quiet coffee shop, or later in the work day when meetings aren’t really happening.Updating your LinkedIn profile can be nerve-wrecking because you don’t want to alert your employer that you’re possibly looking for a job. In your LinkedIn settings, you can actually turn off the public notifications that let your connections know you’ve updated your profile.Welcome to the Shine at Work Podcast! On this show, your co-hosts Karen and Dan will shine a light on your job search so you can land a role that lets you flex your strengths and progress your career in an environment you actually look forward to working in each day. From creating a stand-out resume, to confidently negotiating your salary, to finding your footing as a new manager, you can expect to hear actionable advice to help you shine your brightest in your role. Karen D. Weeks is the CEO and Chief Career Coach of Shine at Work Coaching. She has over twenty years of HR experience, including as CPO at Ordergroove. Dan Carr is a Shine at Work Career Coach with over a decade of recruiting experience helping high-growth startups expand with top talent. Connect with Us! Website Instagram Karen Weeks on LinkedIn Dan Carr on LinkedIn

If you’re several years into your career, you might be feeling an itch to make a huge change - but where might that desire be coming from? In this episode, we’re posing some questions to you about what you feel you’re lacking in your career, what some new opportunities might look like, and what’s truly important to you in your career at this time in your life. And of course, we’ve got the actionable steps for you to take towards this change. Some key takeaways from this episode include:The first step is to identify why you’re feeling stuck, or what’s happening in your life right now. Are you wanting to shift career paths, prioritize working for a company that’s making an impact, or build a program from scratch? Next, figure out what you want (what you really really want), now that you know that a shift is possible. Identify your transferable skills, and identify what you’re willing to give up to start fresh. Leverage your HR partner or HR manager. The HR team at your company wants you to be happy, so they would likely be willing to work with you to find a role at your organization that fits your ultimate goals and values.Welcome to the Shine at Work Podcast! On this show, your co-hosts Karen and Dan will shine a light on your job search so you can land a role that lets you flex your strengths and progress your career in an environment you actually look forward to working in each day. From creating a stand-out resume, to confidently negotiating your salary, to finding your footing as a new manager, you can expect to hear actionable advice to help you shine your brightest in your role. Karen D. Weeks is the CEO and Chief Career Coach of Shine at Work Coaching. She has over twenty years of HR experience, including as CPO at Ordergroove. Dan Carr is a Shine at Work Career Coach with over a decade of recruiting experience helping high-growth startups expand with top talent. Connect with Us! Website Instagram Karen Weeks on LinkedIn Dan Carr on LinkedIn

One of the trendiest places to work is a startup, but how do you know if a startup is actually the right fit for you? In this episode, we’re covering everything you need to know about working at a startup. From the types of experience recruiters expect, to how the pay structure might differ from a traditional company, this episode is packed with the actionable tips you need to land your next job at a startup. Some key takeaways from this episode include:What matters to you most, and how do you want that represented in the culture of the startup you’re joining? You might value the positive impact of the work you’re doing, or a flexible schedule, or a social working environment, and all those inform the type of startup you might be interested in joining.One of the top skills you need to thrive at a startup is flexibility and adaptability. The priorities at a startup can change on a dime, and recruiters are looking for candidates who are resourceful and solution-oriented to accommodate this.If you’re looking to jump from a larger, more established company to a startup, it’s important to present yourself as someone who is looking for innovation and coming up with fresh ideas, or sharing your experience with starting new teams, initiatives, or departments within a larger organization.Welcome to the Shine at Work Podcast! On this show, your co-hosts Karen and Dan will shine a light on your job search so you can land a role that lets you flex your strengths and progress your career in an environment you actually look forward to working in each day. From creating a stand-out resume, to confidently negotiating your salary, to finding your footing as a new manager, you can expect to hear actionable advice to help you shine your brightest in your role. Karen D. Weeks is the CEO and Chief Career Coach of Shine at Work Coaching. She has over twenty years of HR experience, including as CPO at Ordergroove. Dan Carr is a Shine at Work Career Coach with over a decade of recruiting experience helping high-growth startups expand with top talent. Connect with Us! Website Instagram Karen Weeks on LinkedIn Dan Carr on LinkedIn

Job searching can be a long and tedious process, and if it’s taking longer than you expected, you are probably not doing anything wrong. In this episode, we’re sharing the timelines to expect when you’re looking for a job, what to expect from a recruiter’s perspective, and what to do if you feel like your job search is never ending. Some key takeaways from this episode include:There are a lot of factors that can influence how long a job search might take. Three to six months is pretty standard, but your industry, season of life, and companies you’re applying to can all impact how long it takes.Summer months, holidays, and vacations can slow down the hiring process on the employer’s side. September through mid-November is peak interview season to get roles filled before the holidays.This season of applying to jobs is a good time to reconnect with your network and build relationships with professionals in your industry. Additionally, make sure you’re practicing self-care and doing things that make you feel confident and grounded.Welcome to the Shine at Work Podcast! On this show, your co-hosts Karen and Dan will shine a light on your job search so you can land a role that lets you flex your strengths and progress your career in an environment you actually look forward to working in each day. From creating a stand-out resume, to confidently negotiating your salary, to finding your footing as a new manager, you can expect to hear actionable advice to help you shine your brightest in your role. Karen D. Weeks is the CEO and Chief Career Coach of Shine at Work Coaching. She has over twenty years of HR experience, including as CPO at Ordergroove. Dan Carr is a Shine at Work Career Coach with over a decade of recruiting experience helping high-growth startups expand with top talent. Connect with Us! Website Instagram Karen Weeks on LinkedIn Dan Carr on LinkedIn

It’s impossible to avoid the prevalence of ChatGPT and Open AI programs in today’s world, especially while it’s relatively new and trendy. No matter how you feel about it, ChatGPT is a tool that - just like any other - has its pros, cons, and best practices. In this episode, we’re talking about how our clients are using it for their cover letters and resumes, where it can get you into trouble, and how recruiters and HR teams are utilizing it.Some key takeaways from this episode include:ChatGPT can be a good way to get some ideas down on paper for your cover letter, resume, or interview questions to prep for so the process feels less daunting as you get started.Just like with individual opinions and perspectives you get from humans, you should carefully and strategically consider the advice or suggestions you get from ChatGPT based on what’s important to you and your unique job search. Don’t treat it as the end-all be-all.One great way to utilize ChatGPT is to ask it about various job titles in your industry related to your target role. You can use that list to search on LinkedIn or in local meetup groups for people to connect and network with.Welcome to the Shine at Work Podcast! On this show, your co-hosts Karen and Dan will shine a light on your job search so you can land a role that lets you flex your strengths and progress your career in an environment you actually look forward to working in each day. From creating a stand-out resume, to confidently negotiating your salary, to finding your footing as a new manager, you can expect to hear actionable advice to help you shine your brightest in your role. Karen D. Weeks is the CEO and Chief Career Coach of Shine at Work Coaching. She has over twenty years of HR experience, including as CPO at Ordergroove. Dan Carr is a Shine at Work Career Coach with over a decade of recruiting experience helping high-growth startups expand with top talent. Connect with Us! Website Instagram Karen Weeks on LinkedIn Dan Carr on LinkedIn

If you’ve been laid off, or you’re worried about upcoming layoffs at your company, you are not alone. Being a part of layoffs can make us feel like we did something wrong or weren’t performing well, but that’s probably not the case at all. In this episode, Karen and Dan share their tips for bouncing back after being laid off, how to communicate it to potential employers, and what to look for in your next company to feel safe accepting an offer.Some key takeaways from this episode include:In most cases, getting laid off is not a reflection on you or your performance at work. It doesn’t make it feel better, and it can still be hard not to take it personally, but it shouldn’t impact your ability to get hired for your next role.If you’ve been impacted multiple times by layoffs at companies you’ve worked for, it can be helpful to recruiters and HR teams for you to indicate that on your resume or LinkedIn. Own your story instead of letting others write it for you.It’s normal to feel a little traumatized after being laid off, and to want to find a “safe” company to work for next. Make sure you’re asking potential employers about the financial health of the company, their growth trajectory, and why the role you’re interviewing for is open to begin with.Welcome to the Shine at Work Podcast! On this show, your co-hosts Karen and Dan will shine a light on your job search so you can land a role that lets you flex your strengths and progress your career in an environment you actually look forward to working in each day. From creating a stand-out resume, to confidently negotiating your salary, to finding your footing as a new manager, you can expect to hear actionable advice to help you shine your brightest in your role. Karen D. Weeks is the CEO and Chief Career Coach of Shine at Work Coaching. She has over twenty years of HR experience, including as CPO at Ordergroove. Dan Carr is a Shine at Work Career Coach with over a decade of recruiting experience helping high-growth startups expand with top talent. Connect with Us! Website Instagram Karen Weeks on LinkedIn Dan Carr on LinkedIn

Welcome to season six of the Shine at Work Podcast! I am thrilled to bring on Dan Carr as my official co-host of the show starting this season. In season six, we’re covering everything you need to make the next big move in your career. On Shine at Work, your co-hosts Karen and Dan will shine a light on your job search so you can land a role that lets you flex your strengths and progress your career in an environment you actually look forward to working in each day. From creating a stand-out resume, to confidently negotiating your salary, to finding your footing as a new manager, you can expect to hear actionable advice to help you shine your brightest in your role.Karen D. Weeks is the CEO and Chief Career Coach of Shine at Work Coaching. She has over twenty years of HR experience, including as CPO at Ordergroove.Dan Carr is a Shine at Work Career Coach with over a decade of recruiting experience helping high-growth startups expand with top talent. Welcome to the Shine at Work Podcast! On this show, your co-hosts Karen and Dan will shine a light on your job search so you can land a role that lets you flex your strengths and progress your career in an environment you actually look forward to working in each day. From creating a stand-out resume, to confidently negotiating your salary, to finding your footing as a new manager, you can expect to hear actionable advice to help you shine your brightest in your role. Karen D. Weeks is the CEO and Chief Career Coach of Shine at Work Coaching. She has over twenty years of HR experience, including as CPO at Ordergroove. Dan Carr is a Shine at Work Career Coach with over a decade of recruiting experience helping high-growth startups expand with top talent. Connect with Us! Website Instagram Karen Weeks on LinkedIn Dan Carr on LinkedIn

Welcome to the Season 5 finale!  In this episode, Dan and I talk about making a plan for the new year.  Whether it be how to shine your brightest at work or maybe creating a plan to find a new job this year, it’s so important to start by reflecting on the past year to figure out what went well, what you wish had gone differently, what you learned and then start to think about what you want for the new year.  We also share our own reflections on the past year and what we want to accomplish in 2023.  I can’t thank you all enough for joining us on this journey and can’t wait to see what 2023 brings not only our way but yours too!  🤩In this episode, you will specifically learn …How to find your passion and what will bring you closer to your dreamHow to set yourself up for success to start your job searchHow to prep for interview questions and reconnecting with your networkHow to reignite your job search if you are feeling stuckHow to know when you need to take a break from the job searchLinks mentioned…90 minute Career Spark with Dan CarrShine At Work Career PackagesMore about Karen and Dan…I’m Karen Weeks, the CEO & Chief Shine Officer (aka transformation coach) at KDW Coaching, the host of the Shine at Work podcast, award winning culture leader (currently leading the People team at Ordergroove), a speaker and published author. My purpose is to help career-oriented humans get unstuck so they can shine bright in business and in life.  And I know how that feels, I navigated a career from theatre & the arts to HR (with lots of twists and turns there) to expanding my career into coaching as well. I am a recent Charlotte transplant where I live with my husband and furry babies.  Dan Carr is KDW Coaching’s Recruitment Coach and co-host of the Shine at Work podcast.  Over the last decade+, Dan has partnered with early stage, high growth, startups as a recruiting leader, driving strategic direction and execution of all areas of the talent lifecycle. His role was to understand and advise on the skill sets needed to achieve company goals and then identify and engage with the best talent in the industry, building world class teams. He found that success is achieved with authentic relationships that have a foundation in empathy, transparency and trust. As always, please consider subscribing, leaving a rating and review and sharing this podcast and the whole series with others.  We do this podcast to help spread the word that everyone can get unstuck and find the thing that brings them joy in their careers.  If our guests caWelcome to the Shine at Work Podcast! On this show, your co-hosts Karen and Dan will shine a light on your job search so you can land a role that lets you flex your strengths and progress your career in an environment you actually look forward to working in each day. From creating a stand-out resume, to confidently negotiating your salary, to finding your footing as a new manager, you can expect to hear actionable advice to help you shine your brightest in your role. Karen D. Weeks is the CEO and Chief Career Coach of Shine at Work Coaching. She has over twenty years of HR experience, including as CPO at Ordergroove. Dan Carr is a Shine at Work Career Coach with over a decade of recruiting experience helping high-growth startups expand with top talent. Connect with Us! Website Instagram Karen Weeks on LinkedIn Dan Carr on LinkedIn

This week's episode is a little different.  I wanted to share with you my thoughts on “quiet quitting” and “quiet firing”.  And more recently, “quiet promoting”.  Basically it comes down to assuming bad intent.  Employees are realizing they may need to create some boundaries  but companies are concerned they are disengaged and “quiet quitting”.  Or, an individual feels like more work and taking on more responsibilities but not getting a promotion, so therefore, they feel the company may be “quietly promoting” them.  On the flip side, people believe their company is sending negative signals about their role and their employment, and worry about “quiet firing”.  In my opinion, in all these situations, it all comes down to communication.  Here’s a thought… Let's actually start talking to each other!!  In this episode I share my thoughts on these click-bait trends (and yes we know we used it in our own headlines this week).    So whether you are an employee, a manager or if you are in HR, I really encourage you to listen to this episode to recognize how we might be biased in what we are experiencing.  And if there is truth to the situation (you are disengaged, you are avoiding a tough conversation, you aren’t recognizing your team) then we share some tips on how to identify that and start the real conversation that needs to happen.In this episode, you will specifically learn about…As a manager…How to have  hard conversations that you need to have with an employeeHow to improve communication to try  to calm uncertainties in your organizationHow to recognize an employee even if a promotion isn't available right nowAs an employee… How to set boundaries and talk to your manager about themHow to interpret  “negative” signals from your company? How to talk to your manager about your  career path (or apparent lack of it) How to identify if you are disengaged or just burned outHelpful resources…The Ladder of Inference - Mindtools.com Leadership and Self-Deception - Getting Out Of The Box - The Arbinger InstituteIs It Time To Find A New Job, Are You Just Having A Bad Day Or Hitting A Ceiling? - Shine At Work Podcast episode 69, season 3More about Karen…I’m Karen Weeks, the CEO & Chief Shine Officer (aka transformation coach) at KDW Coaching, the host of the Shine at Work podcast, award winning culture leader (currently leading the People team at Ordergroove), a speaker anWelcome to the Shine at Work Podcast! On this show, your co-hosts Karen and Dan will shine a light on your job search so you can land a role that lets you flex your strengths and progress your career in an environment you actually look forward to working in each day. From creating a stand-out resume, to confidently negotiating your salary, to finding your footing as a new manager, you can expect to hear actionable advice to help you shine your brightest in your role. Karen D. Weeks is the CEO and Chief Career Coach of Shine at Work Coaching. She has over twenty years of HR experience, including as CPO at Ordergroove. Dan Carr is a Shine at Work Career Coach with over a decade of recruiting experience helping high-growth startups expand with top talent. Connect with Us! Website Instagram Karen Weeks on LinkedIn Dan Carr on LinkedIn

Happy New Year!   For many people the new year is a time for reflection and goal setting.  And for companies that often means it’s performance review time!   For some people this is a stressful time, or drives up our anxiety, no matter if you are concerned about the feedback or hoping for a promotion.  But don’t worry, we got you!In this week’s episode, I give you all the tips you need  to be prepared for your performance review and feedback conversations.  While this isn't our typical topic of searching for a job, changing careers or considering a new role, your performance review ties directly into these things.   It’s a time to think about and talk to your manager where you need support, where you shine your brightest and what those next steps may be to continue to grow in your career.  In this episode, you will specifically learn how to…Reflect on how the year went and being self-aware and objective in all areasAsk for feedback from your co-workers Recognize your manager’s style of feedback and understanding how to respond to the feedback you receiveUnderstand the what and why of your goals for the new yearAdvocate for yourself for a promotion or a compensation increaseLinks mentioned…Preparing to Receive FeedbackDevelopment Plan TemplateAs always, please consider subscribing, leaving a rating and review and sharing this podcast and the whole series with others.  We do this podcast to help spread the word that everyone can get unstuck and find the thing that brings them joy in their careers.  If our guests can do it, you can too!  More about Karen…I’m Karen Weeks, the CEO & Chief Shine Officer (aka transformation coach) at KDW Coaching, the host of the Shine at Work podcast, award winning culture leader (currently leading the People team at Ordergroove), a speaker and published author. My purpose is to help career-oriented humans get unstuck so they can shine bright in business and in life.  And I know how that feels, I navigated a career from theatre & the arts to HR (with lots of twists and turns there) to expanding my career into coaching as well. I am a recent Charlotte transplant where I live with my husband and furry babies.Welcome to the Shine at Work Podcast! On this show, your co-hosts Karen and Dan will shine a light on your job search so you can land a role that lets you flex your strengths and progress your career in an environment you actually look forward to working in each day. From creating a stand-out resume, to confidently negotiating your salary, to finding your footing as a new manager, you can expect to hear actionable advice to help you shine your brightest in your role. Karen D. Weeks is the CEO and Chief Career Coach of Shine at Work Coaching. She has over twenty years of HR experience, including as CPO at Ordergroove. Dan Carr is a Shine at Work Career Coach with over a decade of recruiting experience helping high-growth startups expand with top talent. Connect with Us! Website Instagram Karen Weeks on LinkedIn Dan Carr on LinkedIn

In this week’s episode, Dan and I talk about busting through all the myths about how to write a cover letter, crafting a resume and most importantly what a recruiter or hiring manager is looking for in those documents.  This is the first impression you have with a potential employer so you need to be able to convey your brand, what you are looking for in a job and not get caught up in outdated rules of the cover letter and resume.  We talk about how the more you can help the recruiters connect the dots between your background and their role, the more likely they are to reach out for an interview.  And as always, we have helpful tips, tricks and actionable steps!In this episode, you will specifically learn…What are recruiters are looking for on your resume - spoiler alert they start with your most recent role and how it relates to the role you applied for - and THEN the rest of your resume and your cover letter How to use keywords to grab the recruiters attention and when it may be appropriate to “retitle” yourself that correlate to the position you are applying for What story to tell in your cover letter and how to make a genuine connection to the brand, position and/or companyLinks mentioned…Cover Letter FormatResume Best PracticesMore about Karen and Dan…I’m Karen Weeks, the CEO & Chief Shine Officer (aka transformation coach) at KDW Coaching, the host of the Shine at Work podcast, award winning culture leader (currently leading the People team at Ordergroove), a speaker and published author. My purpose is to help career-oriented humans get unstuck so they can shine bright in business and in life.  And I know how that feels, I navigated a career from theatre & the arts to HR (with lots of twists and turns there) to expanding my career into coaching as well. I am a recent Charlotte transplant where I live with my husband and furry babies.Dan Carr is KDW Coaching’s Talent Partner and co-host of the Shine at Work podcast.  Over the last decade+, Dan has partnered with early stage, high growth, startups as a recruiting leader, driving strategic direction and execution of all areas of the talent lifecycle. His role is to understand and advise on the skill sets needed to achieve company goals and then identify and engage with the best talent in the industry, building world class teams. He found that success is achieved with authentic relationships that have a foundation in empathy, transparWelcome to the Shine at Work Podcast! On this show, your co-hosts Karen and Dan will shine a light on your job search so you can land a role that lets you flex your strengths and progress your career in an environment you actually look forward to working in each day. From creating a stand-out resume, to confidently negotiating your salary, to finding your footing as a new manager, you can expect to hear actionable advice to help you shine your brightest in your role. Karen D. Weeks is the CEO and Chief Career Coach of Shine at Work Coaching. She has over twenty years of HR experience, including as CPO at Ordergroove. Dan Carr is a Shine at Work Career Coach with over a decade of recruiting experience helping high-growth startups expand with top talent. Connect with Us! Website Instagram Karen Weeks on LinkedIn Dan Carr on LinkedIn

In this week's episode, Dan and I talk about interviewing, whether it’s an in-person interview, exploratory call or virtual coffee,  you want  to put your best foot forward.  We all know it’s going to begin with someone asking you the typical questions: tell me about your background, why are you interested in a career pivot,  why did you leave or are leaving your current company, etc and it's important how you craft your story.  Spoiler alert, it's not about going through your resume bullet by bullet, they have the resume and have read it, that's why they are talking to you. Knowing the answers to these common questions is the key to it all. And don’t worry, we have some actionable tips, tricks and advice for you to get you through an interview!In this episode, you will specifically learn how to…How to tell your why How to talk about a career pivot How to explain if you were fired or laid off How to talk about a gap or short employment stints How to talk about a toxic work environment How to talk about compensation Links mentioned…Interview Preparation WorksheetMore about Karen and Dan…I’m Karen Weeks, the CEO & Chief Shine Officer (aka transformation coach) at KDW Coaching, the host of the Shine at Work podcast, award winning culture leader (currently leading the People team at Ordergroove), a speaker and published author. My purpose is to help career-oriented humans get unstuck so they can shine bright in business and in life.  And I know how that feels, I navigated a career from theatre & the arts to HR (with lots of twists and turns there) to expanding my career into coaching as well. I am a recent Charlotte transplant where I live with my husband and furry babies.  Dan Carr is KDW Coaching’s Talent Partner and co-host of the Shine at Work podcast.  Over the last decade+, Dan has partnered with early stage, high growth, startups as a recruiting leader, driving strategic direction and execution of all areas of the talent lifecycle. His role was to understand and advise on the skill sets needed to achieve company goals and then identify and engage with the best talent in the industry, building world class teams. He found that success is achieved with authentic relationships that have a foundation in empathy, transparency and trust. As always, please consider subscribing, leaving a rating and review and sharing this podcast and the whole series with others.  We do this podcast to help spread the word that everyone can get unstuck and find the thing that brings them joy in their careers.  If our guests can do it,Welcome to the Shine at Work Podcast! On this show, your co-hosts Karen and Dan will shine a light on your job search so you can land a role that lets you flex your strengths and progress your career in an environment you actually look forward to working in each day. From creating a stand-out resume, to confidently negotiating your salary, to finding your footing as a new manager, you can expect to hear actionable advice to help you shine your brightest in your role. Karen D. Weeks is the CEO and Chief Career Coach of Shine at Work Coaching. She has over twenty years of HR experience, including as CPO at Ordergroove. Dan Carr is a Shine at Work Career Coach with over a decade of recruiting experience helping high-growth startups expand with top talent. Connect with Us! Website Instagram Karen Weeks on LinkedIn Dan Carr on LinkedIn

In this week's episode, Dan and I talked about networking or as I like to say relationship building.  How to do it in a way that's authentic to you, the benefits in your job search and beyond and how it doesn’t have to be at happy hour or swapping of business cards.  We’ve talked a lot in the past episodes about networking because relationship building is one the most valuable resources you will have throughout your career.  You should be leveraging and strengthening those relationships even when you aren’t looking for a new job, role or career, who knows, you may be in a position to help someone else when they are looking for a new job or someone to hire.  We have some great tips, tricks and actionable steps for you!In this episode, you will specifically learn how to…How to build a networkHow to connect with someone How to network if you aren't currently seeking a job How to network if you are currently seeking a job How to prepare for a conversation with a connection Links mentioned...Linkedin Best PracticesKaren’s LinkedinDan’s LinkedinMore about Karen and Dan…I’m Karen Weeks, the CEO & Chief Shine Officer (aka transformation coach) at KDW Coaching, the host of the Shine at Work podcast, award winning culture leader (currently leading the People team at Ordergroove), a speaker and published author. My purpose is to help career-oriented humans get unstuck so they can shine bright in business and in life.  And I know how that feels, I navigated a career from theatre & the arts to HR (with lots of twists and turns there) to expanding my career into coaching as well. I am a recent Charlotte transplant where I live with my husband and furry babies.  Dan Carr is KDW Coaching’s Talent Partner Over the last decade+, Dan has partnered with early stage, high growth, startups as a recruiting leader, driving strategic direction and execution of all areas of the talent lifecycle. He found that success is achieved with authentic relationships that have a foundation in empathy, transparency and trust. As always, please consider subscribing, leaving a rating and review and sharing this podcast and the whole series with others.  We do this podcast to help spread the word that eveWelcome to the Shine at Work Podcast! On this show, your co-hosts Karen and Dan will shine a light on your job search so you can land a role that lets you flex your strengths and progress your career in an environment you actually look forward to working in each day. From creating a stand-out resume, to confidently negotiating your salary, to finding your footing as a new manager, you can expect to hear actionable advice to help you shine your brightest in your role. Karen D. Weeks is the CEO and Chief Career Coach of Shine at Work Coaching. She has over twenty years of HR experience, including as CPO at Ordergroove. Dan Carr is a Shine at Work Career Coach with over a decade of recruiting experience helping high-growth startups expand with top talent. Connect with Us! Website Instagram Karen Weeks on LinkedIn Dan Carr on LinkedIn

In this week's episode, Dan and I talk about how to actually understand  job descriptions as you do your job search.  There are job descriptions that are really good at describing what the job is going to entail, the team you will work with and the company's expectations, however, since there are no real guidelines on how to write them, or they have been recycled over the years and never updated, they can be lacking key information.  But that's no reason to discount the role or company!  Dan and I have written many job descriptions in our years of HR and recruiting, some good, some bad, and we share with you how to decipher the what the hiring manager is looking for, key elements in the description, what questions to ask, as well as, some helpful actionable tips and tricks to help you in your search!In this episode, you will specifically learn how to…How to find key elements in the “about the company” description How to look for key elements about the role How not to over analyze job descriptions How to find your “green and red flags” How to understand the titles/levels More about Karen and Dan…I’m Karen Weeks, the CEO & Chief Shine Officer (aka transformation coach) at KDW Coaching, the host of the Shine at Work podcast, award winning culture leader (currently leading the People team at Ordergroove), a speaker and published author. My purpose is to help career-oriented humans get unstuck so they can shine bright in business and in life.  And I know how that feels, I navigated a career from theatre & the arts to HR (with lots of twists and turns there) to expanding my career into coaching as well. I am a recent Charlotte transplant where I live with my husband and furry babies.  Dan Carr is KDW Coaching’s Talent Partner and co-host of the Shine at Work podcast.  Over the last decade+, Dan has partnered with early stage, high growth, startups as a recruiting leader, driving strategic direction and execution of all areas of the talent lifecycle. His role was to understand and advise on the skill sets needed to achieve company goals and then identify and engage with the best talent in the industry, building world class teams. He found that success is achieved with authentic relationships that have a foundation in empathy, transparency and trust. Welcome to the Shine at Work Podcast! On this show, your co-hosts Karen and Dan will shine a light on your job search so you can land a role that lets you flex your strengths and progress your career in an environment you actually look forward to working in each day. From creating a stand-out resume, to confidently negotiating your salary, to finding your footing as a new manager, you can expect to hear actionable advice to help you shine your brightest in your role. Karen D. Weeks is the CEO and Chief Career Coach of Shine at Work Coaching. She has over twenty years of HR experience, including as CPO at Ordergroove. Dan Carr is a Shine at Work Career Coach with over a decade of recruiting experience helping high-growth startups expand with top talent. Connect with Us! Website Instagram Karen Weeks on LinkedIn Dan Carr on LinkedIn

In this week's episode, Dan is back as my co-host and  talk about all the different ways to actually find different open jobs.  We walk through different job boards, creative ways to find out about  openings, how recruiters find your application and the cadence needed to do your job search.   Dan and I share insights, advice and how-tos from our 20+ years in HR and recruiting to help you with your job search.  We will also give you actionable steps to help you along the way!In this episode, you will specifically learn…Where to find job postings How to use networking to find out about jobs How to consider negative reviews of companies you find How to job search without burning out Some of our favorite * job boards (outside of LinkedIn & Indeed)...Remote work - Power to Fly, We Work RemotelyStart-ups - AngelList, OttaTech jobs - BuiltInNon-profit or mission driven companies - Idealist, B-CorpWorking Moms - The Mom ProjectEducation - HigherEd Jobs*we do not have any association with these boards, they are just places we have posted jobs and know other companies use to post their open roles!More about Karen and Dan…I’m Karen Weeks, the CEO & Chief Shine Officer (aka transformation coach) at KDW Coaching, the host of the Shine at Work podcast, award winning culture leader (currently leading the People team at Ordergroove), a speaker and pubWelcome to the Shine at Work Podcast! On this show, your co-hosts Karen and Dan will shine a light on your job search so you can land a role that lets you flex your strengths and progress your career in an environment you actually look forward to working in each day. From creating a stand-out resume, to confidently negotiating your salary, to finding your footing as a new manager, you can expect to hear actionable advice to help you shine your brightest in your role. Karen D. Weeks is the CEO and Chief Career Coach of Shine at Work Coaching. She has over twenty years of HR experience, including as CPO at Ordergroove. Dan Carr is a Shine at Work Career Coach with over a decade of recruiting experience helping high-growth startups expand with top talent. Connect with Us! Website Instagram Karen Weeks on LinkedIn Dan Carr on LinkedIn

When working with clients, often they are trying to figure out how to decide on good companies to consider, especially in today's market.   And it’s a fair question considering what we have gone through in the past few years.  People want to know how they can make sure they are moving to a company that reflects their values, is stable, has a strong leadership team, and where the company is going.  In this podcast, we are going to identify questions you should be asking yourself as well as the companies you are thinking about moving to.  And as always, you will walk away with some actionable steps when considering if a company is right for you!In this episode, you will specifically learn how to identify…What is most important to you - is it flexibility, alignment with values of the company, the background of the leadership team, etc..?What is different from today - identifying things you love with your current company and what are things you wish you could change.What is the health of the company -how are they handling the hard times as well as how they celebrate the good, are they in an industry that has been impacted lately by the economic rollercoaster, and how much have they been hiring lately.What questions to ask about the company's culture - identifying what questions to ask to get tangible answers from the company and how they handle different situations on a day to day basis.Links mentioned…Career Investigation Worksheet I’m Karen Weeks, the CEO & Chief Shine Officer (aka transformation coach) at KDW Coaching, the host of the Shine at Work podcast, award winning culture leader (currently leading the People team at Ordergroove), a speaker and published author. My purpose is to help career-oriented humans get unstuck so they can shine bright in business and in life.  And I know how that feels, I navigated a career from theatre & the arts to HR (with lots of twists and turns there) to expanding my career into coaching as well. I am a recent Charlotte transplant where I live with my husband and furry babies.  Connect with Me!WebsiteInstagramLinkedInYouTubeTwitterAs always, please consider subscribing, leaving a rating and review anWelcome to the Shine at Work Podcast! On this show, your co-hosts Karen and Dan will shine a light on your job search so you can land a role that lets you flex your strengths and progress your career in an environment you actually look forward to working in each day. From creating a stand-out resume, to confidently negotiating your salary, to finding your footing as a new manager, you can expect to hear actionable advice to help you shine your brightest in your role. Karen D. Weeks is the CEO and Chief Career Coach of Shine at Work Coaching. She has over twenty years of HR experience, including as CPO at Ordergroove. Dan Carr is a Shine at Work Career Coach with over a decade of recruiting experience helping high-growth startups expand with top talent. Connect with Us! Website Instagram Karen Weeks on LinkedIn Dan Carr on LinkedIn