Hiring for Skills, Not Degrees: The Good, the Bad, and the Reality Check
Release Date: 06/04/2025
A New Understanding of DEI in the Workplace
Control Your Career
DEI has become one of the most misunderstood workplace initiatives. In this episode, I sit down with Bridget Baggett, career strategist and founder of Twisted Career, to unpack the ripple effects of recent executive orders aimed at dismantling DEI programs. We go deep into the facts, the nuance, and the impact these shifts are having on professionals, hiring practices, and workplace culture. We approached this conversation with intention and respect, doing our research, checking definitions, and aiming to speak across perspectives. Our goal wasn’t to push an agenda but to cut through the...
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Hiring Expectations Abroad: Advice for U.S. Professionals Going Global
Control Your Career
Ready to take your career overseas? Here's what you need to know! If you're a U.S. professional considering a move abroad, or just curious how hiring works outside the States, this episode is a must-listen. Julia sits down with Omar, a seasoned talent acquisition lead at Beontag, who shares an insider perspective on how European hiring really works. From resume formatting and cover letter norms to interview etiquette and notice periods, they cover the key cultural and procedural differences that can make or break your international job search. The episode provides valuable insights for job...
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Unemployed for over 800 days: Why you may be overlooked for jobs
Control Your Career
800 days without a full-time job. One man’s story pulls back the curtain on hiring bias, grief, and grit. In this deeply personal and powerful episode of Control Your Career, host Julia Toothacre speaks with Francis "Tank" Rhodes about the realities of long-term unemployment, especially post-pandemic, and despite having years of experience in HR and operations. Together, they discuss the importance of empathy, transparency, and community support in recruitment. The episode offers practical advice for job seekers and urges hiring professionals to recognize candidates’ diverse experiences...
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Navigating Career Breaks and Re-entering the Workforce
Control Your Career
Taking a career break doesn't break your career if you know how to handle the return. In this episode of Control Your Career, host Julia Toothacre sits down with Jamie Dye, Talent Acquisition Team Lead at M3 USA, to talk candidly about career breaks, why they happen, how to talk about them, and what returning to work really looks like. They discuss the hiring process in biotech and medical research, offering practical advice on resume formatting, and interview authenticity. Jamie shares her personal experience taking six years away from the workforce to raise her daughter, her unexpected...
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How to Stay Motivated When the Job Search Keeps Knocking You Down
Control Your Career
Let’s talk about the part of job searching no one likes to admit: rejection, fear, and feeling like you’re not enough. In this episode of Control Your Career, Julia sits down with Danny Cohen, President of Roc Search and One Life Science, to talk about the emotional weight of rejection, how fear shows up in the job search, and what candidates can do to stay focused and confident. With nearly 25 years of recruiting experience, Danny brings insight, energy, and empathy to this honest conversation about the realities of today’s job market. From decoding ATS systems to interview prep tips...
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Hiring for Skills, Not Degrees: The Good, the Bad, and the Reality Check
Control Your Career
What if your degree didn’t matter and your resume wasn’t the most important part of your job application? In this episode, Julia Toothacre sits down with Katie Rakusin, Senior Director of Talent Acquisition at Merit America, to unpack what competency-based hiring really looks like and why it’s changing how professionals get hired. Katie shares her journey from special education teacher to recruiting leader and explains why focusing on skills over pedigree creates more equitable and effective hiring processes. We cover the big questions job seekers are asking right now: Do you really need...
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Why are Job Seekers Ghosted by Employers?
Control Your Career
Think recruiters are ghosting you on purpose? Think again. In this episode, Julia Toothacre speaks with Orlando Haynes, North American Talent Acquisition Leader at The Mosaic Company. Orlando shares his journey from candidate to recruiter, emphasizing the importance of honesty in resumes and the hiring process. We talk about the volume recruiters are up against, how the applicant tracking system actually works, and why timing is everything when you’re applying. Orlando shares actionable advice for tailoring your resume without going overboard, how to prep for interviews with intention, and...
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Job Board Secrets Unveiled: Your Ultimate Guide to Job Searching Success
Control Your Career
Most job seekers are using job boards the wrong way and wasting time because of it. In this episode, Julia Toothacre interviews Julie Calli, Chief Marketing Officer at Lensa. They discuss how job seekers can effectively use job boards like Lensa. Key points include understanding the difference between job boards and job aggregators, utilizing AI tools for resume and cover letter enhancement, and the importance of personal branding. They also address job scams, the role of AI in hiring, and the benefits of job alerts. The episode emphasizes the need for job seekers to engage fully with job...
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Hiring Truths You Need to Hear: Mid-Season Recap
Control Your Career
Job search advice is everywhere, but what’s real and what’s outdated? I’m cutting through the noise and giving it to you straight. In this special episode, host Julia Toothacre, a career coach and strategist at Ride the Tide Collective, recaps the major takeaways from the first three episodes of the season and digs even deeper into key hiring and job search topics. She shares crucial clarifications about the ATS, resume writing, interviewing, and how the job market is shifting in 2025. Plus, Julia previews exciting conversations coming up in the second half of the season, including...
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How RTO Trends Impact the Job Search: Insights from a Senior Talent Leader
Control Your Career
Remote jobs sound great—until the company calls you back into the office. In this episode, Julia Toothacre talks with Lara Nichols, Senior Managing Director of Global Talent Management at Markel, who oversees recruiting across the U.S. and globally. With decades of experience in HR and talent strategy, Lara shares what job seekers need to know as return-to-office (RTO) policies evolve. They dive into how hybrid expectations differ around the world, what “remote” really means in 2025, and the hidden challenges of global hiring. Lara also shares what recruiters actually look for in...
info_outlineWhat if your degree didn’t matter and your resume wasn’t the most important part of your job application?
In this episode, Julia Toothacre sits down with Katie Rakusin, Senior Director of Talent Acquisition at Merit America, to unpack what competency-based hiring really looks like and why it’s changing how professionals get hired. Katie shares her journey from special education teacher to recruiting leader and explains why focusing on skills over pedigree creates more equitable and effective hiring processes.
We cover the big questions job seekers are asking right now: Do you really need a cover letter? Can AI hurt your application? What does the ATS actually do (and not do)? Katie brings real-world clarity to these hot topics, with insights that help you stand out without overthinking every application.
You'll also learn how to navigate job interviews, craft better resumes, and avoid one simple application mistake that could get you disqualified instantly, without even knowing it.
If you’ve ever wondered how to get noticed in a skills-first hiring process or how to make sure your voice doesn’t get lost in the age of AI, this episode is a must-listen.
Explore all the Control Your Career episodes: https://ridethetidecollective.com/podcast/
Connect with Julia on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliakrussell/
Episode Blog Post: https://ridethetidecollective.com/2025/06/04/season11episode7/
Learn more about the Career Advancement Intensive: https://ridethetidecollective.com/coaching/intensive/