Description

Our guest today is Garland Fuller, recruiter, inclusion and equity strategist, and podcast host. In this episode, we talk about interviewing with confidence, how to know when it's the right time to pursue a new opportunity, and how to navigate through returning to work in this post-pandemic period in a strong, thoughtful way. If you’re searching for your dream job or struggling to get back to work after the pandemic, then this wide-ranging conversation is for you!

Learn more about Garland and her story at: www.growingcareersandcompanies.com.

“You have everything you need to get where you're going”

02:57

At the beginning of our conversation, Garland explains the importance of our mindset while job searching. According to her, women tend to have less confidence when they apply for a position. However, succeeding in a job application always starts from believing in ourselves.

Garland’s tips to start believing in yourself:

• Make a playlist that gets you in the zone and listen to it when you want to feel confident.
• Meditate to calm your nerves and still your inner critic.

“Relationship building is a long game. So if you're going in with short game mentality, you're going to get short game results.”

08:11

Garland shares a few tips that can help you to stand out on a job interview or build more reputation in your industry.

1. Preparation. Do your research about the company before you go to a networking event or interview.
2. Have your elevator pitch ready. Don’t just think about what you can get but also what you can give.
3. Follow-up. You may not get the opportunity now, but if you keep following up, you may get a chance months later.

Garland is a recruiter in the commercial real estate field. According to her, there are many systems that need to be dismantled. The systemic issues, barriers to entry, and outdated HR processes all have to change. This will be a long journey but awareness is the key.

“If your job is not a challenge that you're looking forward to getting done, we need to look at your work.” 

17:23

Garland thinks that the future of work will be more flexible. The pandemic really affected the female workforce, so we have to find creative solutions going forward. This could mean more home-office days than before Covid or working flexibly in co-working offices.

Garland talks about how to discover what job actually suits you. Try volunteering, because sometimes you don't realize what you're good at until you're put into a position where money is not a part of it. Volunteer work counts as work experience too. 

The Final 3 Questions

39:36

• What is the lesson that has taken you the longest to learn?

To embrace who she really is and not be afraid to be herself.

• What are the principles from the Growing Careers & Companies Framework that resonate the most with you?

Vision, Growth, and Authenticity.

For Garland, vision means that you’re aligned with your own values. You’re moving in the same direction and are in sync with what your organization is doing.

• What do you hope others take away from your story?