The Job Doctor - Tessa White

Latest Episodes:

Let's Meet "Mr. Maverick" Aug 07, 2023

Show notes

Chance Allred, a.k.a. Mr. Maverick, is Tessa’s former coworker and the subject of the chapter, “Lies and Politics,” in her book. Tessa recounts lessons she learned from Chance and asks him to share more details regarding his effectiveness in creating employee satisfaction, building culture, and “going fast.”

Read your environment.

As an employee, find out what’s important to the stakeholders and align yourself with it. Then, you can go fast and achieve results the company will value.

The key to employee retention is enhancing the employee experience.

Connect the dots between what’s important to the industry and company and what’s important to the employee. Effective strategies include recognizing employees for their work (among their peers), and building culture through things like serving together, team lunches, and intentional meetings.

5 Things Employees Want:

1. Money

2. The ability to progress and grow

3. To feel like they are making a difference

4. To love their boss

5. To love their peers

Advice for Leaders
Gain influence
Utilize your natural abilities to build relationships and set a vision.

You can read all about Mr. Maverick in Tessa’s book, The Unspoken Truths for Career Success, in the chapter titled, “Lies About Politics.”

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The Road Map to Your Next Promotion Is In YOUR Hands Jul 31, 2023

Show notes

Farrah finds herself as a new manager. Eager to do that job well and manage those under her successfully. She also wants those who are her direct reports to know their pathway up the ladder as well.
5 steps to becoming a better manager:

Get to know your employees. This means getting to know them on a personal and professional level. What are their goals? What are their strengths and weaknesses? What motivates them? The more you know about your employees, the better you'll be able to support them and help them succeed.
Communicate effectively. This means being clear and concise in your communication, both verbally and in writing. It also means being a good listener and being open to feedback.
Set clear expectations. Make sure your employees know what is expected of them in terms of their work, their behavior, and their contributions to the team.
Provide regular feedback. Feedback is essential for helping employees grow and develop. Be sure to give both positive and constructive feedback, and be specific about what you are seeing and how it can be improved.
Be a leader, not just a manager. A leader is someone who inspires and motivates others. They set a positive example and create a culture of trust and respect. If you want to be a better manager, focus on becoming a better leader.

Here are some additional tips for becoming a better manager:

Be adaptable and willing to change. The world of work is constantly changing, so you need to be able to adapt your management style accordingly.
Be patient and understanding. Managing people is not always easy, and there will be times when you need to be patient and understanding.
Be self-aware. Take the time to reflect on your own strengths and weaknesses as a manager. This will help you identify areas where you can improve.
Be open to feedback. Ask your employees for feedback on your performance as a manager. This can help you identify areas where you can improve.

Becoming a better manager takes time and effort, but it is worth it. By following these tips, you can improve your skills and become a more effective leader.

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Order Tessa's Book "The Unspoken Truths for Career Success: Navigating Pay, Promotions, and Power at Work"

From Public to Private - One of LIfe's Great Pivots Jul 24, 2023

Show notes

Lyle is a lieutenant in the police force. He wants to be an innovator in the areas of policy and culture and is considering a pivot to HR.

What are things to consider when moving from the public to the private sector?

AND

What is the best way to prepare for a role in HR?

Tessa explores differences in the public and private sectors and where she feels Lyle can make the most impact. She also discusses the importance of finding a role and a company that utilizes his unique skill set and aligns with his values.

To be a guest on The JOB Doctor Click Here
Order Tessa's Book "The Unspoken Truths for Career Success: Navigating Pay, Promotions, and Power at Work"

Don't Ask For A Raise, Show Them Jul 17, 2023

Show notes

Heidi works for a community health organization as a Family Nurse Practitioner. She has noticed discrepancies in her pay and that of her colleagues and isn’t sure how to approach a pay negotiation with HR.

How can I work with my manager to create a convincing proposal for a pay raise?

Tessa explains how to create compelling visuals and highlight things that differentiate you from other employees. She also explains the best way to make your manager an ally in pay negotiations.

To be a guest on The JOB Doctor Click Here
Order Tessa's Book "The Unspoken Truths for Career Success: Navigating Pay, Promotions, and Power at Work"

You Don't Get What You Deserve, You Get What You Negotiate Jul 10, 2023

Show notes

Eileen is making a career change within the healthcare industry. She is beginning pay negotiations and wants to make sure she is asking the right questions.

What questions should I ask during a pay negotiation?

Is PTO something that can be negotiated?
Tessa recommends choosing your top 3 things to negotiate. She provides multiple areas of negotiation to consider and questions to ask around each:

Salary
Bonuses
Benefits
PTO (possible at smaller companies)
Professional Associations/Affiliations
Continued education
Travel stipends
Paid electronics (laptop, cell phone)
Home office expenses
Title
Severance

GUIDELINES FOR NEGOTIATION

Do your research. Before you even start negotiating, it's important to know your worth in the market. This means researching salaries for similar positions in your industry and location. You can use online resources like Glassdoor or Salary.com to get this information.
Be confident. When you're negotiating, it's important to believe in yourself and your worth. If you don't, your employer will likely pick up on that and be less likely to give you what you want.
Be prepared to walk away. If you're not happy with the offer, be prepared to walk away from the negotiation. This shows your employer that you're serious about getting what you want and that you're not afraid to walk away from a good opportunity if it's not right for you.
Be flexible. It's unlikely that you'll get everything you want in a negotiation. Be prepared to compromise on some things in order to get what's most important to you.
Be professional. Even if you're not happy with the offer, it's important to be professional throughout the negotiation process. This means being respectful of your employer's time and being polite even if you disagree.

Negotiating a job offer can be daunting, but it's important to remember that you have the power to get what you want.

To be a guest on The JOB Doctor Click Here
Order Tessa's Book "The Unspoken Truths for Career Success: Navigating Pay, Promotions, and Power at Work"

Ben and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Workplace Jul 03, 2023

Show notes

Ben is a member of the LGBTQ+ community and has worked for the same company for 17 years. His manager makes political comments related to LGBTQ+ issues that make him uncomfortable. Previous conversations addressing this have been unsuccessful, and he doesn’t know what to do.

What is the most effective way to address a manager who creates an unsupportive work environment by sharing political beliefs?

Tessa shares why it’s best to confront the situation head-on instead of going to upper management. She explains how to use “magic phrases” to keep the conversation going and avoid either party feeling cornered:

- Is that what you intended?

- Do you see it differently?

- Is there something I am missing or don’t understand?

She also recommends being crystal clear in the conversation by explaining what you expect, what you’ve observed, and asking if this was intended.

To be a guest on The JOB Doctor Click Here
Order Tessa's Book "The Unspoken Truths for Career Success: Navigating Pay, Promotions, and Power at Work"

The Job Offer: Prioritizing What to Negotiate Jun 26, 2023

Show notes

Sarah enjoys her job in ecommerce but feels that there is little room for growth. Her current pay is not on par with market value and she needs guidance in addressing this with management.

If I’m already at the top of my pay range but my duties and responsibility have increased, how can I best approach a raise?

Tessa provides scripts to use with your manager. She explores potential responses from management and how to counter each using a variety of tactics such as if-then statements and even counter-offers as a last resort.

Should your resume be creative or strictly business?

AND

Should you include your “side hustle” on your resume?

Tessa explains the most important parts of a resume: the value proposition, professional highlights, and your secret sauce.

To be a guest on The JOB Doctor Click Here
Order Tessa's Book "The Unspoken Truths for Career Success: Navigating Pay, Promotions, and Power at Work"

The Bad Manager Blues Jun 19, 2023

Show notes

Hannah is struggling to communicate with her manager of 8 months and recently received negative feedback in a performance review. She is confused and unsure of how to improve the situation.

How can I build a trusting relationship with my manager?

AND

Should I go to HER manager for help with the situation?

1) Remove tension in the relationship by working on the negative feedback provided. Check in with your manager for input on how things are progressing. If your manager is struggling to provide specifics, use a scale and ask what it would take to get to a 10.

2) Set clear objectives and encourage discussion. Meet every 2 weeks to discuss priorities and to get the manager’s input.

3) Develop advocates in other departments.

To be a guest on The JOB Doctor Click Here
Order Tessa's Book "The Unspoken Truths for Career Success: Navigating Pay, Promotions, and Power at Work"

Lost in the Job Search Jungle Jun 12, 2023

Show notes

Jeremy worked in SEO for 8 years before he moved into ecommerce and realized it wasn’t a good fit. He is currently unemployed and having a hard time breaking into the field of product management.

How do you transition from one career to another?

What is the best way to format a resume that lacks job experience for the job you are applying for?

Tessa shares tips on gig work, using courses and certifications to convey skills, and optimizing a resume.

To be a guest on The JOB Doctor Click Here
Order Tessa's Book "The Unspoken Truths for Career Success: Navigating Pay, Promotions, and Power at Work"

Fractional Forever: Ditching the Corporate Grind Jun 05, 2023

Show notes

Richie recently left the corporate world to work for himself and is experiencing the benefits and challenges that it entails.

If the grind of self-employment is too much in later years, how do you tolerate working for someone else after working for yourself?

How can you tell if a prospective employer is a good fit for you culturally?

How long should you stay in a role that makes you uncomfortable?

Tessa explains how fractional employment can be the perfect option for those looking for something that lies between corporate and self-employment. She also discusses the types of work environments that suit project oriented employees.
What is fractional employment?
Fractional employment is a type of employment in which an employee works part-time for several different employers during the week. This type of employment is becoming increasingly popular, as it allows employees to have more flexibility and control over their work hours. Fractional employees typically work for a set number of hours per week, and they may be able to choose which days and times they work. This type of employment can be a good option for people who want to work from home, or who want to have more time for other commitments, such as family or education.

To be a guest on The JOB Doctor Click Here
Order Tessa's Book "The Unspoken Truths for Career Success: Navigating Pay, Promotions, and Power at Work"

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