Have you ever interviewed for a job and wondered why you weren’t hired? Are you curious about what employers really look for in a job candidate? My guest today is Jackie Ducci of Ducci & Associates and she will answer those questions and more.
Jackie is a hiring expert with over 15 years of experience in talent acquisition. During this episode, she shares the “inside scoop” about how hiring decisions are really made.
Did you know that captaining
a sports team is of interest to potential employers? And are you aware that
your attitude and how you dress for an interview is more important than where
you went to school?
If your teen or young adult is seeking employment, whether right after high school or later in life, this conversation is a must-listen.
About Jackie Ducci
After high school, Jackie shuffled off to college because that is what she was supposed to do. She ended up at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. and she was glad that she went. She loved living in Washington, D.C. Where she really felt lost was coming out of college. She was feeling like the real world was coming and she didn’t know what she was going to do. Jackie felt like her senior year was really tough because it was all on her now and she didn’t feel like she had help figuring it out. The college counselors were really well-intended but weren’t all that helpful in terms of concrete advice.
She tried a few things for a while and by chance ran into someone at a networking event who owned a small headhunting firm. They hit it off and Jackie remembers thinking that she could be a really good recruiter. He told her it was a commission-based job and that he had nothing to lose so she could give it a try. Jackie was confident that she’d be pretty good at it, so she figured she would try.
Jackie was good at
recruiting and wound up working at the firm for several years and then left to
start her own company, Ducci & Associates. It’s a headhunting firm and they
work nationwide.
Jackie thinks being entrepreneurial is in your blood. Her grandfather was an entrepreneur. During college, Jackie worked for a real estate business and didn’t enjoy the structured environment. It was draining her to be on a structured schedule. She realized that the nine to five grind wasn’t really what she was looking for. One of the things she enjoyed about the recruiting job was that the schedule was flexible. As long as she was doing her job and meeting her numbers, it was okay.
Episode Highlights
- The Real World Won’t Care Where Your Child Went to College
- Employers Are Looking For a Positive Attitude and Sense of Self
- Real-World Work Experience is Important
- Establish a Presence on LinkedIn
- Developing Leadership Skills in High School Will Help You Land a Job
- Interpersonal Skills Are a Must
- Common Mistakes To Avoid During the Hiring Process
- How Parents Can Help Their Teens Succeed
- Jackie wrote a Book to Share Her Insights and Advice
- Rather Than Finding Your One Passion, Find Something That You Can Stick With
- Jackie’s Advice To Her Teenage Self
Resources
Jackie’s Book: Almost Hired: What’s Really Standing Between You And The Job You Want
Article: The Real World Won’t Care Where Your Child Went to College