Melissa’s Memos
Executive Presence Isn’t Charisma
Executive presence isn’t charisma. It’s not a firm handshake, a powerful wardrobe, or the ability to command a room. Those things can exist alongside executive presence. But they are not it.In 20+ years of talent acquisition, hiring at every level, from manager to C-suite, here’s what I’ve consistently seen distinguish leaders who have it: They…
Read MoreHaving to Prove You’re Great at Your Job
Nobody talks about the specific exhaustion of being great at your job and still having to prove it. That’s the part of a senior job search that doesn’t get enough airtime. You’ve led teams. You’ve driven results. You’ve navigated the hard stuff — budget cuts, reorgs, underperformers, ambiguous mandates. You’ve done it with your name…
Read MoreStop Over-Explaining
Most senior leaders don’t lose offers because they’re underqualified.They lose them because they over-explained. I’ve sat on the hiring side of thousands of interviews over 20 years. And the pattern at the Director level and above is remarkably consistent. The candidates who don’t move forward aren’t the ones who lack experience. They’re the ones who…
Read MoreA Season of Intentional Hiring
There’s a lot of noise about the job market right now.Some say it’s terrible.Some say it’s thriving. The truth, as usual, sits somewhere in the middle. From what I’m seeing every day working with candidates and hiring teams, this is a measured market. Not frozen. Not booming. Measured. Companies are still hiring, but with more…
Read MoreDon’t Let Near-Misses Shake Your Confidence
One of the hardest parts of this job market? It’s not always rejection.It’s comparison. You can have the right background.The Interview well.You Built strong rapport.And you still did not get the offer. Not because you weren’t good enough.But because someone else was just slightly more aligned.That’s the part people don’t talk about. In tighter markets,…
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