Speaker: Jocelyn
How has BossmakeHer changed your life?
Jocelyn: I would say that BossmakeHer changed my life in the sense of it showed me what was possible, particularly for me at a time in my life when I was incredibly uncertain because I had just gone through a RIF after being a high performer for nearly 8 years in an industry that I love. And also just showing you that there's a whole group of women who are willing and ready to level up, but also need support in various ways, both professionally and emotionally. Also showing me the sense of how closely tied our professional identity is to our emotional selves as we advance through our careers. And BossmakeHer really gave me a platform and a space to explore that and feel comfortable expressing my vulnerabilities around that concept.
What part of the BossmakeHer program made the biggest difference for you, and why?
Jocelyn: There are a few parts of the BossmakeHer program that made a big difference for me. I would start with definitely just the general space in the platform itself and the structure of the courses and the classes. I was unemployed for the majority of my time with BossmakeHer after being unexpectedly included in a RIF. And the structure of the program really gave me a sense of routine that I needed. On top of that, definitely the professional branding and resume service and the feedback that came from that, that has been imperative, and I think definitely led to me landing my current role.
What three words best describe BossmakeHer, and why?
Jocelyn: The three words I would use to best describe BossmakeHer in my experience would be Supportive, Collaborative, and Grounding. I really needed that at a time where I felt none of those things after being unexpectedly included in a RIF and having my identity so tied to my professional self and the grounding and supportive aspects really made an influence, I think, on my ability to land my next role.
Based on your BMH experience, what advice would you give a friend who is navigating the job search process on her own?
Jocelyn: Advice I would give to someone who's navigating the job search on their own, certainly network as much as you can and be aware of your personal brand and to seek help if you are not someone who naturally is very good at that, maybe marketing friends, your PR folks. I would also not be afraid of AI in the sense of helping you to pinpoint your strengths and weaknesses, maybe tweak your resume, not to copy or to use that format, but just to show you the other possibilities and how they may tie in to different fields or even your field in a different way.
