Tara Turky-Haynes is a People and Talent Acquisition executive that builds and scales people functions. Most recently, she led Global People & Culture Strategy at Leaf Group for 400+ employees. She now partners with organizations to strengthen hiring, people operations, and equitable talent practices.
TAKEAWAYS
Interviews Are Conversations
Whether you’re a job seeker or a recruiter, it’s about walking away with the ability to say: I got a 360 view of this person and I’m able to clearly asses if this is a good fit. If you’ve been at one company a long time, it’s not easy to condense your experience on the spot. To get really good at telling your story, I recommend using a method like STAR - situation, task, action, and results.
Resume Requirements Have Changed
The job market today is fundamentally different than it was 10 years ago. Recruiters are no longer just evaluating whether you can do the job, they want to understand how you create impact.
Focus on the most relevant 10–15 years of experience.
Lead with Impact, Not Responsibilities
Replace passive language like “responsible for” with outcome-oriented statements such as: “Built…” “Led…” “Launched…” “Changed…”
Demonstrate adaptability to emerging technology.
Even a working knowledge of new tools and technologies matters. Include relevant courses, certifications, workshops, or hands-on experience.
Take inventory of everything you actually do.
Projects, volunteer work, cross-functional initiatives, mentoring — all of it can reveal valuable skills and leadership patterns when viewed strategically.