Career Compass

Friendships at work help retain employees, but workplace romances can divide teams and are tricky for both the organization and the staff to navigate. In this episode of Career Compass , Hosts Vernon Williams and Kevin Abbed are joined by employment law attorney Louis Lessig to untangle the various aspects of workplace romances. Hear the pros and cons of office romance, appropriate office behavior...

Throughout the pandemic, virtual interviews became a necessity, and for a variety of reasons, experts believe they are here to stay, perhaps with some combination of in-person interaction being added. In this episode of Career Compass , hosts Vernon Williams and Demetrius Norman are joined by Ty Smith , Vice President & Director of Permanent Placement Services at Robert Half, to discuss how to exc...

Season 6 of Career Compass kicks off with a look back in time, because in order to know where you are going, you must first know where you’ve been. Join hosts Vernon Williams and Aly Sharp alongside HR expert and Utah Tech University faculty member, Dr. Chris Healy, PhD, SHRM-CP , as they take historical look back at the field of Human Resources. During this episode, you'll learn about key pieces...

Data analytics is one of the most popular and growing focus areas within the field of human resources. HR was once reliant on instinct and intuition, but today, successful organizations are using complex information gathering tools to implement informed business decisions. In Career Compass' Season 5 finale, hosts Vernon Williams and Aly Sharp speak with Davida Smart , Senior People Analytics Anal...

66% of workers ages 18-24 ranked learning new skills as the third-most important perk when evaluating new job opportunities. In this episode of Career Compass , hosts Vernon Williams and Kevin Abbed speak with SHRM HR expert Laurie McIntosh on how Training and Development programs are a win-win for the employees and the company. Learn what potential learning opportunities might be available to you...

With employment laws constantly changing, HR professionals need to stay updated on policy and compliance issues that create safe, equitable and productive workplaces. In this episode of Career Compass , hosts Vernon Williams and Aly Sharp are joined by SHRM Knowledge Advisor and HR expert Katie Brennan to discuss the critical role of legal compliance in operating a successful organization, and exp...

Knowing that high levels of employee engagement promote retention of talent, foster customer loyalty and improve organizational performance, it’s no wonder why companies are focused on the employee experience. In this episode of Career Compass , co-hosts Vernon Williams and Kevin Abbed are joined by people experience guru Eric Garvey to explore employee motivation, engagement and best practices to...

In March 2022, there were two openings for every unemployed person. The fact is, there is a war for talent and recruiting the best employees has never been more challenging. During this episode of Career Compass , hosts Vernon Williams and Aly Sharp are joined by Senior Manager for Talent Acquisition at ARC, Adrienne Ables-Sinclair as she describes best practices in securing top talent. Other topi...

Compensation and benefits are much more than the salary or wage that an employee earns. Join hosts Kevin Abbed and Aly Sharp, alongside HR industry expert Megan Nail as they explore everything from unique benefits like pet insurance to the importance of expanded mental health coverage. During this episode, learn how employee needs have shifted over the past few years and the role that compensation...

With bias in the workplace costing companies billions of dollars, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DE&I), is no longer a catchphrase, it is an imperative. During this show, your hosts Vernon Williams and Aly Sharp are joined by the Senior Diversity Officer of the Carlson School of Management at University of Minnesota, Dr. Angela Spranger as they discuss the rewards and positive impact of working...

In this episode of Career Compass , hosts Vernon Williams and Aly Sharp are joined by SHRM CHRO Jim Link to preview the upcoming Season 5 topics and the journey through various human resource career pathways. Link shares stories from his own HR career journey, from intern to member of the C-Suite, highlighting how HR roles such as data analytics, talent acquisitions and training/development are sh...

In this episode of Career Compass , hosts Ledia Dobi and Kevin Abbed are joined by Ryan Becker , HR Manager for Major League Baseball’s Washington Nationals, taking listeners through his journey that began supporting local sports teams to today, serving in a leadership role for a major sports franchise. Along the way, he offers advice and insights for emerging professionals who may be looking to m...

Hiring the best workforce is not only important for meeting operational goals, but also a critical factor in maintaining an organization's financial solvency. According to SHRM research, the added cost of replacing an employee is consistently 6 to 9 months of their salary, and with employees leaving in record numbers, it’s increasingly important for organizations to develop effective talent acquis...

Human resource professionals play an important role in attracting, developing and retaining talent, which is directly tied to an organization’s ability to operate with purpose and achieve results. In this episode of Career Compass, hosts Vernon Williams and Kevin Abbed are joined by Walter Bond . Following his success as a shooting guard in the NBA, Bond is now a motivational speaker recognized fo...

The pandemic prompted many employees to reevaluate their careers and the types of work they want. In fact, 4.35 million U.S. workers quit their jobs in February 2022. Similarly, employers across the board report challenges hiring and retaining talent, providing students and emerging professionals with some exciting opportunities as they launch their careers. In this episode of Career Compass , hos...

Students and emerging professionals face many difficult situations and must overcome challenges both at home and in the workplace. In this episode, co-hosts Vernon Williams and Ledia Dobi take you on an inspiring journey with guest Sam Demma, who suffered three career-ending sports injuries before pivoting to become an amazing entrepreneur and keynote speaker. Sam discusses how to overcome adversi...

Technology's ability to connect everyone regardless of location is prompting both employees and companies to approach work from a more global perspective. In this episode of Career Compass , hosts Erica Young and Kristy Parola speak with Cheyenne Tabb, a senior analyst at PepsiCo, about her experience working in talent management for a globally recognized brand. Cheyenne discusses the opportunitie...

Interviewing skills are a critical piece in landing any job opportunity, so learn how to set yourself apart. In this episode of Career Compass , hosts Erica Young and Kristy Parola are joined by special guest Jerrin Strayhorn, Manager of Talent Acquisition & Campus Relations at the Thurgood Marshall College Fund to discuss how students and emerging professionals can ace the next job interview. You...

The distinction between home and work life continue to intersect due to a myriad of societal factors. Employees are bringing their whole selves to the workplace and asking companies a to meet many of their needs. In this episode of SHRM's  Career Compass , join hosts Vernon Williams and Erica Young, alongside special guest Jes Osrow, the co-founder and DEI specialist at The Rise Journey and Head o...

The average student loan debt in the U.S. exceeds $30,000 and can take years to repay. In this episode of SHRM's Career Compass , join hosts Vernon Williams and Kristy Parola in a discussion with Aaron Smith, the co-founder of Savi , an organization committed to “tackling the student debt crisis.” In this informative episode, listeners will learn how and why student loan debt occurs, tactics to mi...

We all want to earn and save more money, but studies indicate only 57 percent of U.S. adults are financially literate. In this episode, get on the pathway to financial enlightenment with hosts Kevin Abbed and Kristy Parola, who are joined by special guests Hassan Thomas and Remy Green, the creators of the financial literacy brand and podcast FYI FLI , (For Your Information: Financial Literacy and...

Success in any organization depends on successfully managing relationships in all directions, not just with supervisors. In this episode of SHRM's Career Compass podcast, hosts Vernon Williams and Kevin Abbed are joined by special guest Kaithlyn Kayer, SHRM-CP, a senior consultant at Evans Consulting, to discuss effective communication with managers, peers and stakeholders at every level. During t...

The idea of being your own boss is very attractive and with 62% of U.S. billionaires being self-made, why not give it a shot? In this episode of SHRM's Career Compass podcast, hosts Erica Young and Kevin Abbed are joined by special guests Emily Arnold, Associate Consultant at Franklin Advisory and Kendra Ward, Co-Founder and COO of unboXt, Inc. as they discuss the rewards and challenges of startin...

In Part 2 of this two episode series on the power of personal branding at work, co-hosts Erica Young and Kevin Abbed continue their conversation with SHRM Director of Brand Communication, Chris Kenny on how developing your personal brand can help you advance in your career. EARN SHRM RECERTIFICATION PDCs FOR LISTENING TO THIS EPISODE This episode is Part 2 of a two-part series on the power of pers...

In today’s fast-paced, technological society, your personal brand could be the difference between getting the job and earning a promotion or missing an important opportunity. In this two episode series on the power of personal branding at work, co-hosts Erica Young and Kevin Abbed are joined by SHRM Director of Brand Communication, Chris Kenny. They explore how personal branding impacts success in...