The Hiring Circus: Kera Fonseca Shares Top 5 Tips to Job Hunting in 2022’s Economy

2022 has proven a challenging year for job seekers. Due to the economic volatility, many companies have instituted hiring freezes and layoffs. Today’s woman dreamer, Kera Fonseca, is the creator of The Hiring Circus, an online platform bringing key advice in a “humorous” and light-hearted way on Youtube and Tik Tok for job seekers. In this interview with Women Who Win, Kera reflects on her own career journey and setbacks, and shares her top 5 actionable tips on finding your dream job in today’s economy. Enjoy!

1. You are an advocate for driving change in the job seeking/hiring market and are the creator of The Hiring Circus in addition to your work at CVS. Tell us your story and what inspired your interest in this space?

I've been in their shoes! At one point, it took me 3 years to transition to a new career, and another time, several months of applying with no responses. I paid for 2 resume services and still was not having any luck. That's when I started researching and seeing just how much job searching has changed, and it's not for the better! It's much more restricted to those that 'match' the requirements exactly, which is a huge barrier to diversity in hiring. This video illustrates what I mean - https://youtu.be/qXua2VmN9VY

2. 2022 has been a challenging year for job seekers, with many layoffs and economic volatility. What are your top 3-5 tips for women looking for new roles?

It is an extremely difficult time.

First, remember that whatever happens, it does not diminish your worth. Not everyone is going to see your immense talent, so move on quickly from those that don't, and keep working to find those that do.

Next, diversify your job search. Apply to jobs online, but that should not be your only source, as this channel has become oversaturated. Think about what you want in your next role and company, and make a short list of companies to target. Make a list of what makes you uniquely awesome and back it up with stories.

Then, find people from those companies and preferably in those roles you are interested in, that are active on LinkedIn. Like and comment on their posts, and send a connection request. Reach out and let them know of your interest and see if they have a few minutes for an informational interview. This gives you an opportunity to see if your understanding was correct, and let them know the value you would bring. Ask for an introduction to others and keep getting to know people.

Once you see jobs to apply to, ask if they will refer you and pass on your resume to the hiring manager. The most valuable tool you have in getting traction in this job market is a referral.

3. You are active on youtube and tik tok, educating people on how to put their best foot forward in job recruiting, bringing "humor and common sense to the process" What are some of the most common pain points you see women experience in job recruiting?

Unfortunately, many of the same challenges that have persisted. One is the assumption of what a woman with children can do, and another is ageism, which also affects men to a lesser extent. This video addresses ageism: https://youtu.be/yiveVVe60Uc

4. As the platform for women dreamers, what is your next big dream?

I would love to build a platform where hiring is first based who the person is before looking at qualifications. So many people are overlooked due to shortcomings that can be overcome. What really matters is whether the person is a culture match to the company, the manager, the team, and the position. That is something that does not change, and if that criteria is not met, the hire has little chance of succeeding.

Bio: Kera Fonseca is a lifelong creative problem solver and in her many times as a job seeker, she became immersed in how to make it better. She can be found supporting job seekers on LinkedIn with inspiring posts, offering help and support wherever she can. She brightens Monday mornings with hilarious short videos on typical scenarios faced by job seekers, delighting her audiences on The Hiring Circus which can be found on YouTube and TikTok.