Recently, I was part of a racial equity workshop within my department. We used a word cloud generator to learn more about our commonalities as a diverse group of people. Topics ranged from the benign, like music and food, to provocative ones like justice. Overall, it provoked great conversation and…

Job-searching at any age is challenging. Learn strategies to age-proof your resume to keep you in the applicant pool longer! In the past, I have written about job-searching and its challenges. But I have avoided talking about one area within the topic that I have felt little control over: ageism…

Our interview questions can sometimes thwart attempts in hiring the best candidates. Learn how to identify some clunkers and replace them with quality questions! Let’s do some guided imagery to kick off this post. Imagine this: You and your team will need to hire a new person to round out…

Perhaps I am no longer responsible for helping White people learn about race and racism? Back in 2021, I joined the departmental racial equity planning committee at a nonprofit workforce development organization. After nearly 20 years working in diversity/equity/inclusion (DEI) in higher education, I thought it would be a good…

How long do you hold onto a memory? When do you know when it’s time to let it go? Why is it important to have this pin on a blazer I wear at a new job? I began to ask myself this question this past week after receiving a new…

This month is the one-year anniversary of starting my new job as a departmental manager. Earlier this year, I wrote about the top 3 lessons I learned as a first-time supervisor. Those lessons were hard-earned and have helped me develop strong relationships with my staff and earn their trust. In…

Every year since I began working in my field, the summer months were filled with hours dedicated to learning something: a new skill, a different style for an existing project, re-writing an existing policy. I would fill my days with unending activity, believing it was because I wanted to get…

It can be challenging to define what ‘belonging’ looks like in the workplace. But how people experience belonging can change their feelings related to where they work. LaFawn Davis, from Indeed.com, defines belonging at work as “a feeling of community with the people and environments that make us feel connected.” …

I have recounted over the years my experience looking for a job in my chosen field. After losing my job to a college closure in 2018, it took me several years to re-enter my field as a departmental manager. …