Tip That Scale

To be prepared, you don't have to be a boy or girl scout. We learn from an early age that there are some things you need to know before you go. It's mostly research, but sometimes, it requires us to go deeper, depending on the situation. Inflation and its effect on your standard of living, salary expectations, opportunities for promotion, and a company's plan for the future are just a few things y...

Employers are calling employees back to the office, and many employees are not happy about it. After several years of remote work as an option, it seems to slowly being going the way of the dodo bird , but why? We share our thoughts on what companies are doing and breakdown the possible reasons for these new policies. Resources: Remote Work Statistics and Trends in 2023 (Forbes) How Remote Work Ca...

It's time to hear a new voice.  That's why PR and publicity are in the world of communications. Claire Wilbanks , a recent university graduate with a degree in Communications, visits Tip That Scale to talk with Nichole about her current journey to a career in PR. Claire shares where she started, why smart PR is essential, and why this career path is so important to her. She also shares some insigh...

“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." Sometimes you have to get into it, no matter the outcome. In this episode, we are sharing some straight talk and covering several topics that hinge on some of our personal feelings about what's going on right now. It's less about layoffs, although it's mentioned. Instead, we discuss contributing factors to where we a...

We are exploring career shifts, transitions, and changes. Don't think this is a replay of Episode 7: Career Transitions and Changes (Feb 3, 2023). In this episode, we are giving you a new spin and insights about career shifts from a new perspective, with a glimpse into our personal journey. Resources: 4 Steps to Making a Successful Career Change (HBR) How to Prepare for a Career Change: Step-By-St...

A business function that flooded the job market because of layoffs is talent acquisition and recruiting. Six to nine months in, what's available for recruiting professionals? Most would believe this group has an inside scoop on hiring, but is that reality? RESOURCES: SHRM - The Society of Human Resources Management SHRM HR Jobs The U.S. added 339,000 jobs in May. It's a stunningly strong number #t...

Sometimes we need help, and that help comes in many forms. For some, it's a tribe that will hype you up. For others, it's breaking through barriers of shame and embarrassments. For all, it's making sure we protect ourselves with the tools to overcome. Let's talk about vulnerability, success, self-awareness, and being honest with ourselves about what we need. RESOURCES: George Carlin - Stuff (YouTu...

Prioritize your mental health. Maintain mental clarity. Use meditation to help you cope with stress and anxiety. Breathe. Enjoy this bonus episode, a meditation experience from Amy Reedman, Wellness Coach and Consultant. Be sure to listen to our conversations with Amy in Episode 21: Prioritizing self-care in stressful tim es #meditation #meditationexercise #breathe #mindfulness #wellness #selfcare...

Navigating emotional well-being post-layoff and self-care strategies for job seekers are vital components of mental health. We're talking to Amy Reedman, Wellness Coach and Consultant, on this episode of Tip That Scale. Amy has over 20 years of experience in wellness and self-care. Her work and instruction can help us all to better manage our mental health in times of stress and uncertainty. ⁠Epis...

Since we launched Tip That Scale, we've wanted to hear and share layoff stories. Not to cause more harm but to empower you and to help others. Well, we're finally doing it. And it makes sense the first layoff story we share is one of ours. You can share your layoff story with us, and we will share it on a future episode of Tip That Scale. Please DM us on Instagram or Twitter or email us the subjec...

There's a lot of chatter on the web about networking. We are often encouraged to network when we experience a layoff or when we want to change career direction, but are we doing it right? Is it networking or is it just more work? Listen to Nichole Wesson , Ron Brantley , and AJ Modi as they uncover the answer. Resources: The secret to great opportunities? The person you haven't met yet (TED) How t...

One thing we all have in common whether you are in a junior role, mid-career, or an executive is that we all have a LinkedIn profile. To be more specific, LinkedIn has over 900M members in more than 200 countries and territories worldwide ( About LinkedIn ). You can only imagine how challenging it can be to be everything to everybody with those numbers. Ron , AJ , and Nichole are talking about som...

Few job seekers know the ins and outs of applicant tracking systems or ATS, but almost every organization has one. They can help a recruiting team manage candidate submissions. They can also be challenging to get around, through, over, and under. In this episode of Tip That Scale, Nichole Wesson , AJ Modi , and Ron Brantley talk about the ATS and share their thoughts and experiences with this area...

James Alire is someone you want to know.  James owns 5J Media , a media company that offers video production and editing, audio engineering, web services, and motion graphics. And, like so many, he was laid off from a corporate position in 2022.  In this episode, Nichole and AJ talk with James about his passion for IT and media production and how freelancing while working in a corporate role helpe...

You can't turn anywhere without hearing about AI (and ChatGPT), and it's only the beginning. Nichole and AJ have some thoughts about AI. The discussion was prompted by how job seekers are using ChatGPT in their job search. From there, the conversations expanded to include personal feelings, hope, some concerns. and questions on the impact of AI on the labor market. How do you feel about AI and Cha...

Tip That Scale is back* this week after a much-needed break. Guess what we are talking about? You guessed it. We are talking about downtime and what it means to take a break. It doesn't matter if you were laid off or are currently working. Everyone needs time to rest and reset.  Welcome to Tip That Scale, hosted by  ⁠ ⁠ Nichole Wesson ⁠ ⁠ ,  ⁠ ⁠ AJ Modi ⁠ ⁠ , and  ⁠ ⁠ Ron Brantley ⁠ ⁠ . TTS is the...

What is  ⁠Nichole ⁠ saying about a break this week? A lot of good things can come from a break. Let's take one and not be afraid to do what's best for us, whether in our personal lives, at a job, or from a podcast. Resources:  ⁠ Need a Break? 52 Ways to Do It--When You Need It Most⁠   ⁠40 Ways to Give Yourself a Break How to Take a Break from Work (and Why You Need To) 7 Ways to Recharge W...

Racism is hard to deal with on any day. Consider what it feels like during a job search? It's one thing to be rejected because you aren't qualified. It's another level when your qualifications aren't the issue. Nichole Wesson , AJ Modi , and Ron Brantley , your Tip That Scale co-hosts are discussing racism and what the experience looks like in the hiring process. Resources for Candidates:  Glassdo...

A younger workforce is influencing several factors in the job market. Whether it's remote and hybrid over in-office or the flexibility of the gig economy, younger workers are contributing to some significant changes in today's work environment and hiring. This is bonus content and what didn't make it into Episode 12: Ageism and Your Job Search . Tip That Scale is hosted by Nichole Wesson , AJ Modi...

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) , " ageism has serious and wide-ranging consequences for people's health and well-being." Now, add ageism as an issue and barrier to financial security and the ability to manage day-to-day needs. An older workforce barred from the hiring process because of age is a major problem with significant repercussions.  Nichole , Ron , and AJ talk about agei...

"We want to schedule an interview." Getting invited to an interview can be a long process. Unfortunately, due to the current market, it’s challenging to gain stats for how many applications submitted end up with an interview invitation. The market is that uncertain; nevertheless, we can always prepare and plan for when we get the interview invite. Nichole , Ron , and AJ talk about interviews, what...

Recent layoffs have done more than affect the job market. It's affecting salaries and challenging many salary expectations. The topic of salaries and pay stems from one of AJ's recent conversations. We're sure others are experiencing the same frustration and questions as they head into job pre-screens and interviews with recruiters. Does the advertised pay align with the requested requirements, re...

One day you are working 40 hours or more, and the next, your daily calendar is wide open after the layoff.  How are Ron , AJ , and Nichole , the hosts of Tip That Scale, navigating their life after their layoff? Yes, they were laid off, too. Each has a unique approach to what they are doing now and their plans for the future. You may hear some tips that are perfect for you. Like, rate, follow, and...

We can only hope the current downturn in the market that's influencing so many layoffs ends soon. But so much rests with corporate leadership.  Sometimes you can be too close to the problem that you can't see a solution. Ron , AJ , and Nichole discuss options for corporations and what they can do to prepare for the future.  Episode References: Coach Carter (movie) Three Differences Between Manager...

Now may be the right time to consider a career transition or change. Your skills and experience may be ideal in other positions and departments outside of where you were previously. But where? Nichole , Ron , and AJ share some ideas for Sales, Marketing, Talent Acquisition, and Technology professionals in approaching your job search. It may be time to pivot and look at other job opportunities that...