Elevated Thinking
Industry information and inspiration for talent and clients.
Job Interviews: Turn Weakness Into Strength
I recently had a career exploration conversation with a talented marketing leader and they shared that they kept stumbling on the age-old interview question: “What’s your biggest weakness?” It’s a classic interview question—and it’s still very much alive in 2025. While it might seem like
Steady Your Search During a Rocky Economy
When headlines talk about tariffs, inflation, and economic uncertainty, it’s natural to feel anxious—especially if you’re searching for a new job. A rocky economy can make even the most seasoned professionals feel uneasy. But while it’s true that hiring may slow in some sectors, opportunities
Target Companies, Build Relationships, Get Hired
If you’re a marketing or creative professional searching for your next opportunity, you’ve likely felt the frustration of applying online and getting lost in the shuffle. The truth is, many companies already have candidates in mind—or they’re filling roles through referrals, recruiters, or internal networks.
Managing Anxiety During Your Search
Searching for a new job can be both exciting and stressful. The uncertainty, rejection, and long waiting periods can take a toll on your mental well-being. However, managing anxiety during your job search is crucial not only for your health but also for your ability
Using AI to Prep for Interviews
Job interviews can be nerve-wracking. Whether it’s your first interview or one in a long line of conversations, preparing effectively can make all the difference. That’s where artificial intelligence (AI) can help. By leveraging AI tools, you can improve your confidence, craft better answers, and
Boost Your Search with a Personal Website
If you’re struggling to stand out in your job search, a personal website could be the game-changer you need. I’ve been speaking with some incredibly talented marketing, creative, and communications candidates who are stuck in their job search. Some have been caught up in workforce
Job Search Trends to Watch in 2025
What a year 2024 has been for job seekers! Besides some significant fluctuations in the job market, we’ve seen a ton of change in how people look for jobs and how companies hire talent. We fully expect that we’ll continue to see a lot of
Unlocking Marketing Efficiency with AI
In a fast-paced marketing landscape filled with growing demands, AI can be a solution to streamline communication and improve efficiency. I recently listened to a webinar from Grammarly, hosted by their CMO Lena Waters, which shed light on the pressing challenges facing marketers today, such
Leveraging LinkedIn for Your Next Marketing Job
In today’s competitive job market, LinkedIn has become more than just a professional networking platform—it’s a powerful tool for landing your next marketing job. Whether you’re just starting your career or looking for a new opportunity, optimizing your LinkedIn presence is essential for standing out
5 Tips for the Modern Interview
Crushing a job interview requires more than just sprucing up your resume, LinkedIn profile, and/or portfolio. We talk every week with talented professionals who haven’t interviewed in quite some time and even if you’ve changed jobs in the last year or two, the job interview
The Job Market for Marketers
As a staffing firm that specializes in marketing, creative, digital, and design, we’re talking to many marketers every single week and one thing is clear: this is a challenging job market. I was excited to read Content Marketing Institute’s new “2025 Career Outlook for Content
Essential Skills for Marketing Success
In today’s competitive business environment, having the right marketing team is crucial for success. The right talent can make the difference between a campaign that falls flat and one that drives significant growth. But with the marketing landscape constantly evolving, identifying top marketing talent requires
The Power of Networking for Marketers
Networking is a fundamental skill for any marketing professional. In an industry that thrives on connections, collaborations, and constant learning, effective networking can open doors to new opportunities, partnerships, and insights. Whether you’re a seasoned marketer or just starting, mastering networking is crucial to your
The Future of Social Media Careers
In the fast-paced world of social media, change is the only constant. As platforms evolve and new technologies emerge, so too do the careers built around these dynamic environments. Whether you’re a seasoned social media professional or just starting your journey, keeping an eye on
Career Pathways in Email Marketing
Email marketing remains a cornerstone of digital marketing strategies, offering businesses a direct line to their audience. As the industry continues to grow, so do the career opportunities within it. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to climb the corporate ladder, understanding the career
Partnering With a Recruiter to Hire Marketing Talent
In today’s fast-paced digital landscape, businesses must stay ahead of the curve to maintain a competitive edge. One of the most critical aspects of achieving this is having the right marketing talent on your team. However, finding and securing top-notch marketing professionals can be challenging
Building Your SEO Portfolio
In the competitive field of SEO, having a strong portfolio is crucial for showcasing your expertise, demonstrating your impact, and standing out to potential employers. While resumes and cover letters provide a snapshot of your qualifications and experience, a well-crafted portfolio offers a deeper dive
The Evolution of Marketing Teams: 2025 and Beyond
As we cross the halfway point of 2024 and start approaching 2025, the world of marketing continues to transform with unprecedented speed, fueled by rapid technological advances and shifts in consumer behavior. This exciting evolution requires us to take a fresh look at the skills
Building Your Digital Marketing Career
In today’s fast-paced digital age, a career in digital marketing offers abundant opportunities for creativity, innovation, and growth. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to transition into a new role, building a successful digital marketing career requires a strategic approach. Here’s a comprehensive guide
Freelance, Agency, or In-House: Which is Best for You?
In the dynamic and ever-evolving field of marketing, professionals can choose from several career paths, each offering unique opportunities and challenges. Among the most common career options are freelance, in-house, and agency marketing roles. Understanding the distinctions between these pathways is crucial for making an
Job Seeking + Games = Error Code
I often joke that there are two places where you can solve most problems: Nordstrom and the library. My adoration for the library grew when I learned that in addition to the typical offerings of books and movies, our local library also allows (free!) access
Graduates: Navigating Today’s Job Market
As college seniors prepare to enter the workforce, they face a challenging job market marked by increased competition and cautious hiring practices. In a recent interview on “Here’s Your Money Briefing,” Wall Street Journal reporter Lindsay Ellis provided valuable insights and strategies for graduating students
Tell Your Story With Marketing Metrics
Earlier this week, I spent an hour with a colleague who is looking to find her next marketing opportunity. I’ve known Alex casually for 8 years. I knew Alex did ‘marketing’, but I didn’t know what she did with any kind of detail. We talked.
Navigating Networking Nuances
Networking can feel uncomfortable, intimidating, or like swimming in uncharted waters for active job seekers. There are so many questions about how/when/where to do it right and a whole lot of conflicting information out there to confuse the subject more. For those that find networking
Marketing Yourself
In today’s job market, simply submitting a resume and cover letter may not be enough to stand out from the crowd. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or just starting out in your career, developing a compelling personal brand can make all the difference in landing
Modern Marketing Excellence
Mirror, mirror on the wall, who is the ‘fairest marketer of all’? I wrote this blog to help you think about marketing in the broadest way and, by doing that, remind you of the context in which you practice your craft and share a framework
Crafting Your Ideal Job Profile
Embarking on a job search can feel like stepping into a maze, with numerous paths and considerations to navigate. When you invest time to develop a clear understanding of your personal needs and wants, you’ll increase your job search confidence and success. In today’s competitive
Navigating Interviews: Dos & Don’ts
Searching for a new role is one of the top 3 most stressful periods of your life (along with moving and getting married). It isn’t something you do regularly, so it’s natural that you’re not an expert on resume writing, interviewing, choosing the right recruiters
Decoding AI’s Impact on Talent Acquisition
AI is such a hot topic and today, I’m exploring the impact of AI on recruiting. First, as a reminder, my team at Elevation Talent Group has two practice areas: human resources and marketing. We are experts in recruiting and hiring in both spaces. We
Getting Found on LinkedIn
FACT: More than 50% of companies recruiting on LinkedIn now use skills data to fill their roles. I’ve seen this fact (straight from LinkedIn) several times recently when I’m working inside of LinkedIn looking for great candidates and honestly? My eyes glossed right over it.
Interview With Confidence
Embarking on a job interview can be both exciting and nerve-wracking. As you prepare to showcase your skills and experiences, there’s often one hurdle that stands out—the tricky interview questions. Fear not, for these questions are not roadblocks but rather opportunities to demonstrate your capabilities
Is Your Resume Helping or Hurting You?
This is such a strange time to be looking for work – stranger than I’ve ever seen. When writing my recent Candidate Experience blog series, one of the biggest frustrations I heard was that applicants don’t feel their resumes are reviewed by human eyes and
Ready For the 2024 Job Market?
If you’re in human resources, your manager is likely to ask you, “What’s with the job market and how will we better manage resource planning and recruiting in 2024?” If this sounds familiar, this blog post is for you. How’s the Job Market? We are
A Portfolio Checklist for Designers
In the competitive world of design, where creativity meets functionality, your portfolio is your calling card. It’s not just a compilation of your work; it’s a visual representation of your skills, personality, and experience. Your portfolio is the key to unlocking doors to exciting opportunities
‘Tis the Season
The holiday season is here and while you might think hiring slows down in December, the job market doesn’t take a break … and neither should your job search! Contrary to popular belief, this time of year can be an excellent opportunity to make meaningful
A Fresh Approach to Problem Solving
Who doesn’t like a story about magic beans? In the 15 months my colleagues and I have posted blogs to this site, can you believe there have been no blog posts about magic beans? Me neither! Most of our blog posts present relevant and timely
The Broken Candidate Experience: Part 3
Attention Talent Acquisition Leaders: Can you feel it? Can you hear it? YOUR RECRUITING PROCESS IS BROKEN FROM SOUP TO NUTS! This is the last in the 3-piece blog series on how the Candidate Experience is affected by what is broken in the recruiting process.
10 Steps to Take After Your Interview
The interview is over, and you’ve walked out (or hung up) with a sense of relief and accomplishment. Don’t relax too much, though, because what you do in the next 24 hours after a job interview can be just as crucial as your performance during
Your Team’s Social Contract
You want to improve your team’s performance? Of course. We all do. This blog offers you a time-tested tool that most of us take for granted – the social contract. What are your social contracts? Family? Classmates? Members of your management team? All levels of
3 Steps for Easy Connecting
Many candidates that I speak with wonder how to better leverage their LinkedIn connections to assist their job search. When you get to the point in your career where you’ve amassed several hundred connections, there’s a good chance that your next opportunity lives within that
The Broken Candidate Experience: Part 2
Attention Talent Acquisition Leaders: Didn’t hear me the first time? LOUDER for those in the back: YOUR RECRUITING PROCESS IS BROKEN FROM SOUP TO NUTS! This is the second in a 3-piece blog series on how the Candidate Experience is affected by broken processes. My
Rejection is a Gift
In the competitive world of job hunting, rejection can feel like a heavy blow. It can test your self-esteem and leave you questioning your skills and worth. The key to a successful job search, however, lies not just in landing the dream job but also
Psychological Safety at Work
Sometimes we just need a clue or tool as a starting point to solve a problem. Often, the issue we are dealing with is familiar; we just need a framework to get on the right path. This blog is about a framework to improve your
Social Media & Your Search
In today’s digital age, social media is not just a platform for staying connected with friends and family; it’s also a valuable tool for job seekers. With millions of professionals and companies active on platforms like LinkedIn, Instagram, X, TikTok, and even Facebook, leveraging social
The Broken Candidate Experience: Part 1
Attention Talent Acquisition Leaders: YOUR RECRUITING PROCESS IS BROKEN FROM SOUP TO NUTS! Don’t believe me? The candidate experience is collectively the worst I have ever seen throughout my career. But there’s hope! Most of the problems can be fixed – IF you care about
Network Your Way to the Perfect Job
Are you tired of tirelessly scrolling through job boards and submitting applications into the digital abyss? I’ve talked to many job seekers recently who are struggling to get any traction in their search. When I hear this, my #1 question is “how much are you
Reinventing the Middle Manager
Do you ever find yourself reading an article that seems to have arrived in your inbox at the perfect time? For me, that happened last week. I read, How to Make a Pivot in the Latter Half of your Career, by Mario Lyons. The article
Key Takeaways: Chicago Innovation Summit
The 2023 Chicago Innovation Summit was filled with an exciting mix of speakers from a wide variety of businesses and backgrounds. There were three different panels throughout the event, “From Startup to Scaleup,” “AI Vs. IQ,” and “Combating Climate Change.” Each panel provided vastly different
Confident Virtual Interviews
Prior to the pandemic, the first round of interviews was generally a phone screen. They were impersonal, left virtually no opportunity to interpret social cues, and left people feeling worse than a pat down by the TSA. Except the TSA lets you know right away
Being a Better Boss Matters
I don’t know about you, but there have been more than a few times when I woke up in the middle of the night staring at the ceiling asking myself, “What’s wrong with me? Why can’t my teams work together? Why do my teams seem
Self Love in a Job Search
Two months ago or so I picked up a copy of All About Love by Bell Hooks—a not-too-long page turner about, as the title suggests, loving yourself. It’s taken me all this time to get through the first three chapters to no fault of the
Help Your Recruiter Help You
Job changes are in the top 3 of the most stressful events you will go through in life along with purchasing a home and getting married. It is wise to equip yourself with the intel you will need to remove painful obstacles during your search.
Decoding the Job Search Silence
Searching for a job can be a challenging and often frustrating process. You spend hours crafting the perfect resume and cover letter, you apply to promising looking opportunities, and you eagerly await a response. Sometimes the silence can be deafening as you’re left wondering why
“Tell Me About Yourself”
“Tell me about yourself” is one of the most common questions a job seeker can be asked in an interview, yet many job seekers are unprepared when the moment inevitably arises. This is a missed opportunity because this open-ended question gives you a chance to
Perspective: Viewing Labor as a Supply Chain
‘Plan your work, work your plan.’ I’m a big fan of quotes like that. When I hear self-help advice like that, it stirs my mind to think something like, ‘Yes, I need to do that!’ Maybe you, too? Alas, this blog post is NOT about
Women Inspiring Women at ASA’s THRIVE Virtual
The American Staffing Association’s THRIVE Virtual conference was held on April 27th, 2023. Not only was THRIVE a wonderfully executed virtual conference with stellar presentations, a fantastic moderator (@Diana Mertz), and poignant topics … you even left with a Spotify playlist to keep you striving
Expert Series: Rita Chen, Chicago Marketer
This spring I’m celebrating twenty years in the recruiting industry. My daughter helped me determine that I’ve interviewed more than 12,000 people over the course of my career. 12,000! That number prompted me to reflect on certain interviews and people who have inspired me along
Are Signing Bonuses Worth It?
Did you ever look at your list of open jobs and wish you could “phone a friend” like contestants did on ‘Who Wants to be a Millionaire?’ This week’s blog suggests recruiting managers should phone a friend – their CFO – for help in making
The Job Market is NOT a Used Car Lot
Earlier this week I read a blog from a firm called Boost Pricing about the importance of getting to the real story when a firm loses a proposal because of price. It was short and concise and reminded me of some important lessons I had
Let’s Get Real, It’s Tough Out There!
“Let’s be careful out there.” Some of you might recognize that quote from the 80’s tv drama, Hill Street Blues. Those five words closed the morning roll-call scene that started every episode. The message, ‘it’s tough out there, take care of yourself and your partner’.
A Healthy Dose of Podcasts
Sometimes our worlds can seem upside down with so much that we cannot control. Continued economic strife, job (in)security … there are days that so much negativity around us can start to feel like “too much.” In my ongoing daily efforts to harness my own
5 Ways College Students Can Find Internships
College students, are you taking advantage of summer internships? Having an internship is an important career-booster that can help you achieve better job search success once you graduate. Having some professional work experience prior to graduation will help your resume stand out in a sea
Are There Better Alternatives to the Annual Appraisal Process?
Your heart begins to race, your palms get sweaty, there might even be drops of sweat forming on your forehead. Clearly, you’re anxious. I’m guessing this description is familiar to all of us. Since this is a blog about HR themes, I’m also guessing you
The Pros and Cons of ChatGPT in Marketing
As technology continues to advance and transform the way we do business, chatbots and AI-powered tools are becoming increasingly popular in the world of marketing. One of the most exciting and innovative tools in this space is ChatGPT, a state-of-the-art language model developed by OpenAI.
Using Notion to Organize Your Career
Whether you find yourself in an unexpected job search or you’re facing the first quarter’s performance review season, trying to remember your accomplishments, accolades, and achievements can be a challenge. Despite the plethora of organization and productivity tools (here are some good ones), there’s always
HR Models vs Methods
Models are used in all sorts of business functions: supply chain, financial, sales and marketing, IT, or HR. Models help us organize the complex and give us labels for big ideas. I eagerly clicked on McKinsey’s December 22, 2023 article, HR’s new operating model. Unfortunately,
Six Tips To Sustain Your Self-Confidence
Job seekers, you are going to experience ups and downs on your job search journey. It’s inevitable. You might start off with tremendous enthusiasm, and then the reality of the search process settles in. You might apply to many job postings without getting any response.
(Easier) Goal Setting
With the blank slate of a New Year ahead of us, it’s only natural to think about getting organized with your personal (and professional!) goals. Pen and paper checklists are certainly a gold standard for feeling accomplished as you move from one task to the
Talking About Pay Transparency With Your Team
On October 13th, our Elevated Thinking blog was about pay transparency and we explained the topic, discussed the coming changes, and suggested strategies to plan for the new requirements. Since then, pay transparency has become an even hotter topic for managers. Today’s blog digs deeper
Four Tips for Marketers During Turbulent Times
There is no doubt that we are in one of the most unique economic periods in U.S. history. We have uncertainty on a multitude of interconnected factors including a volatile stock market, continuing supply chain issues, inflation, interest rates, consumer spending, labor market factors, and
5 Minute Refocusing
With the holidays quickly approaching and our newsfeeds inundated with economic strife and workforce reductions, staying focused can seem impossible. With our feeds and brains constantly distracted, maintaining clarity and calm can be an uphill battle. While taking time to focus is hard, starting small
DEI Success? Count On It.
Why is DEI so hard to “get right” at so many firms? This post explores what I believe is the single most important reason: measurement. Before diving into the reason DEI is hard to get “right,” ask yourself, “is Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) really
Elevation Talent Group is Now Certified Woman-Owned
DARIEN, IL (October 31, 2022) – Elevation Talent Group is proud to announce its certification as a Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE). Elevation Talent Group is a staffing solutions provider specializing in marketing and human resources talent for temporary, temp-to-hire, and direct hire opportunities nationwide. Elevation
Yes, You Can Negotiate!
There’s plenty of negative news that LinkedIn would like us to believe—flashy click-bait newsfeed articles hawking headlines of major Titans of Industry cutting and slashing jobs … but there are good things happening out there. Hiring remains at a strong clip and there are many
Digital Marketing Talent Trends
The dynamic labor market we’ve experienced over the past two years is showing some signs of stabilization to pre-pandemic levels. Unemployment and labor force participation are leveling out and as recent New York Times article says, “unemployment is low, and hiring is strong. But there
“Show Me the Money”
Companies are increasingly adopting pay transparency practices to address gender pay gaps and increase employee engagement to build trust. Pay transparency is a policy in which companies voluntarily give compensation-related information to all employees. You might be asking, “why is pay transparency so important right
Where Are All the Workers?
Last week I attended the Illinois Search and Staffing Association’s Midwest Staffing Owners & Executives Retreat. The agenda for this event was packed with really strong speakers and we managed to mix in some fantastic networking, including a hilarious masquerade murder mystery dinner. The real
Yes, There’s Time to Network
Indeed, there is time … and it doesn’t have to be scary! Avid readers of our blog will remember how my last article covered the topic of digital networking and how making connections from home isn’t just possible, it can be effective. Today we’re going
Culture = Dollars and Sense
What makes a great company culture? It’s a question leaders often ponder, since they understand the tangible and intangible value that a great culture can have for an organization. Owners want a great culture. Employees want to work at a company with a great culture.
Find Gold Talent in Your Silver Medalists
What’s new and noteworthy about the silver medalist topic in recruiting? I found references to the term in Google going back 10+ years. Google the phrase “silver medalist recruiting”. 948,000 results. So why write about it again? Two words: Direct Sourcing. If you’re a hiring
Post-Pandemic Networking
As a recruiter I’ve been to hundreds of networking events—some with better appetizers than others—and while I miss the selection of onsite events, I realize that they’re not everyone’s ideal way of spending time. A warm, curated, and cared for network is a big help
Six Rules for Success: Employee Engagement
The importance of retaining your employees is common sense. Retaining your best employees means retaining knowledge, continuity, team strength, customer relationships, and more. If you’re like most companies, employee retention is challenging right now. Employees who stayed with you during the worst of the pandemic
“What’s Love Got to Do With It?”
Apologies (and credit) to Tina Turner, but her iconic song title is the perfect title for this short essay about Marcus Buckingham’s new book, Love and Work and a related article in the Harvard Business Review, Designing Work that People Love. (HBR, May-June 2022). Let’s
AI & the Future of Social Media
We recently listened to an interesting Social Pros podcast featuring Paul Roetzer, Founder & CEO of the Marketing AI Institute. Paul’s organization is “a media, event, and online education company making AI approachable and accessible to marketing and business leaders around the world.” In this
Key Takeaways: Deloitte’s CMO Survey
The CMO Survey by Deloitte is conducted bi-annually by Duke University and the recently released 28th edition provides “insights into the latest trends impacting the world of marketing and how marketers are engaging with the ever-changing landscape.” Today we’re looking at the top 5 takeaways
9 Trends: The Future of Work
We all know that the pandemic created dramatic changes in the world of work. We also know that much is being written and discussed about the state of work today and predictions for the future. Most articles focus on remote, in-the-office, or hybrid, but this
Welcome to Elevation Talent Group
It’s a thrill and honor for us to share our new company with you. My name is Lana Johnson and I’m the CEO and co-founder and together with my husband, Jim, our goal is to create a unique company that helps others flourish, whether it’s
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Be Inspired
I couldn’t let another day go by without sending a massive shoutout your way. While we wait for the next steps, I want to thank you for being more than just a talent acquisition agent; you’ve been a mentor and a source of inspiration every step of the way.
I’m going to be honest–I get serious anxiety from interviews, always have. Even when I’m well-prepared! But your continuous support, upbeat and warm attitude and guidance helped me navigate through each nerve-wracking step with confidence and provided invaluable insights that I will carry forward in my career and future interviews.
I’m VERY glad to have crossed paths with you. Thank you for being an exceptional mentor and for believing in my potential! It’s very clear that you genuinely care about the people you work with, and that’s what makes you amazing.
I would like to shout out Sharon Potsch and Elevation Talent Group for finding me and bringing this amazing opportunity to my attention. Sharon walked me through the entire hiring process and was an absolute pleasure to work with, and I can’t thank her enough for her help!