Welcome to the job interview experience.

Lechia Elam is an HR veteran with more than 20 years of experience in the industry,

working across the corporate and nonprofit spaces.

Currently, Lechia is the founder in principle at Magnificent Differences Consulting,

a trusted HR partner that teams up with organizations, primarily non-profits, to provide

tailored HR services. On the side, her company also does volunteer career coaching for professionals,

many of whom are from diverse backgrounds. She is an established thought leader who is known for providing insight on HR, specifically

when it comes to DEI and hiring from both the employer and employee, that's you, perspective.

Today we're going to discuss the top three mistakes Lekeaia commonly sees while coaching job seekers how to

rise in your current job instead of just switching employers. The best way to pitch yourself for a

promotion, how to get to the next level in your career when feeling stuck, and much more. Lekea,

welcome to the job interview experience. Thank you, Matthew.

I'm so happy to be here and talk to you and your listeners today.

Can you catch us up on your career, the highs, the lows, and what led you to where you are today?

Certainly.

Like you said, I've been doing this.

Sometimes I get, I shock myself when I say the number for over or close to 25 years in the HR field.

And I remember, you know, so long ago sitting back saying, what do I want to do being

confused about my career, being confused like I couldn't find a place that I felt like I belonged.

And I really said, I want to advocate for people. And how do I advocate for people? I have so much, you know, to share. I have so much information. But what do I do? It's like, I want to be an HR director. I'm going to be an HR director one day. That was at that point, the height of where my dreams went. And then so I ended up as an HR coordinator.

And over the years, you know, just worked my way up until I hit a ceiling.

I did not have a degree.

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