<![CDATA[Jenn Gile

<![CDATA[Jenn Gile - Blog]]>Wed, 15 Apr 2026 07:23:46 -0700Weebly<![CDATA[My resume coaching questions]]>Wed, 16 Oct 2019 16:40:35 GMThttps://www.jenngile.com/blog/my-resume-coaching-questions

I failed a lot when it came to making a career transition from government to tech. I had the wrong network, terrible LinkedIn presence, and an old school resume. Then I got smart and hired a badass coach (💓 Amanda Townsend of BoldChange 💪) who helped me get my stuff together. Now I'm paying it forward, because you better believe it's a game, and you need to learn how to play.

That’s why I teamed up with the Swing Shift for their Career Catalyst series. Today I got to share my experiences (i.e. many failures) with an amazing cohort of people who are ready for their next big thing.

Check out my top 5 questions for rethinking YOUR resume.

Question #1:

"Explain your job to me like I'm a 5-year-old...or a cat."

Most people over-complicate their resumes, forgetting that the people who will read it might not be familiar with your job and probably have less than 2 minutes (if we're being generous). If you can't explain your role in simple terms, you're not going to be able to write a compelling resume.

Bonus advice: the target audience of your resume is usually a recruiter, not the hiring manager.

Photo by Luiza Sayfullina on Unsplash

Question #2:

"What are you proud of?"

We tend to undervalue our accomplishments...DON'T.

Maybe it's something that was part of your previous role, or a side hustle, or your work with the PTA. The things you're proud of are likely the things you need to be showcasing on your resume.

Own it.

Photo by Sharon McCutcheon on Unsplash

Question #3:

"What skills does the job require?"

Although many companies are moving towards sourcing candidates based on accomplishments, skills are still a big part of the process.

I like to group skills by categories, and I always advocate for a non-technical section. Click here for a report from the IBM Institute for Business that explains why!

A skills list I helped my mentee put together

Question #4:

"Why was your job important?"

In other words, why did you get paid?!

Why did the company need you?

How did YOU ensure the company's success?

Photo by Alexander Mils on Unsplash

Question #5:

"Who did you impact? How?"

Last, but not least, what mark did you leave? Did you impact your coworkers? Department? Customers? I WANT TO KNOW!

Potential employers are less interested in what you know how to do, and more interested in what you have accomplished.

]]><![CDATA[Lessons from the coxswain's seat]]>Tue, 08 Oct 2019 07:00:00 GMThttps://www.jenngile.com/blog/lessons-from-the-coxswains-seat9159080

A coxswain's job is simple: Maneuver a 60ft, 200lb, $55k boat around busy and often dangerous waterways, while listening to a coach's instructions (who is motoring along side in a small boat) whilst coaching and motivating a team of 8 athletes who are rowing so hard that some actually make themselves sick. And if you're in Seattle, it's probably dark and raining. Piece of cake.

Most non-rowers think of the coxswain as a loud mouth with a Napoleon complex who shouts commands. That's only partially accurate...

A loud mouth after a race

I was a nationally and internationally competitive coxswain for adult men's and women's crew teams for 10 years. It was a great way to establish lifelong friendships, get onto Seattle's gorgeous waterways, and develop my leadership and public speaking skills. Not to mention a habit of waking up way too damn early.

Humble. Unflappable.

Those are the words I use to describe a great coxswain, and they are the characteristics I've taken back into life. Humility and unflappability became the foundation of how I facilitate and coach.

Early mornings aren’t without reward

Humility
There is no place for ego in a boat, and no where is that more true than the coxswain's seat. After all, it's THE MOST uncomfortable seat in every. single. boat. The coxswain literally gets the leftover space that isn't being used by the rowers. But humility isn't just about being ok with bruises and getting splashed in the face. It's servant leadership at its finest.

When you do it right, the rowers get the credit.
When you get it wrong, you're the one to catch hell.

Imagine attending a conference where they keynote speaker screams at you and talks only about themselves. *SIGN ME UP*
Coxing - like public speaking - is more than just shouting commands. It's knowing which words are motivating, how to pull the team out of a rut, and when to shut the heck up. None of this is possible without humility.

I'm the slacker laying down INSIDE the bow.

Unflappability
I was not an easy-going kid, but I now have a reputation as the person who stays chill because it's all going to be OK. Coxing taught me how to stay calm, and project calmness, especially in the face of danger. Rowers face the rear of the boat (a.k.a. the stern) and they can't see what lies ahead. Rowers don’t like surprises and very last thing they need is their coxswain freaking out.

Step 1: Breath.
Step 2: Tell them what you see.
Step 3: Tell them your strategy.

Whether it's an inexperienced coxswain about to push us into a bridge abutment, a stubborn flock of Canada geese, or a seaplane landing on the race course...

San Diego Crew Classic 2013

And with any luck, you’ll win a race and your reward is getting tossed in the drink.

Clearly my feet needed a wash

For a great article on the impact and importance of coxswains,
check out NPR's "The Secrets of the Coxswain."

Join me in the coxswain's seat for the 2012 San Diego Crew Classic
with the talented women of the Pocock Rowing Club.

]]><![CDATA[Mind + speech networking hacks]]>Fri, 26 Jul 2019 07:00:00 GMThttps://www.jenngile.com/blog/mind-speech-networking-hacks

Originally published on LinkedIn.

"Your network is your net worth"

In 2017, I discovered just how right Porter Gale was.

My network was painfully inadequate for helping me make a career transition, so I put myself through a gauntlet of 2-3 networking events and informational interviews EACH WEEK for 8 months. Yes, that was exhausting as it sounds. But I made it work because I adapted everything I knew about building relationships.

I shared my hacks at the ATD Puget Sound Summer Networking Extravaganza - read on for some easy tips to change networking from frustrating to fruitful.

Your Networking Mindset
Before I get to the hacks, you need to know a bit about the different networking mindsets. In March 2019, Adam Grant released a podcast episode entitled "Networking for people who hate networking" - and one of his guests was LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman. Hoffman, who spent a large part of his career helping people create better networks, found that people approach networking with one of four mindsets:

Connect to immediately trade favors
Connect to get a favor with the intent to return the favor later
Connect for the sake of connecting with others
Connect with the intent to help because they believe in helping others

Most people approach networking with mindsets 1 and 2...usually because we wait to network until we really, desperately need help. But you're unlikely to get the right help from someone you just met. The right help usually comes from someone with whom you already have a relationship. You can meet tons of people regardless your mindset...but unsurprisingly, the most successful relationship builders are from the 4th category: the Givers.

Adam summarized with this simple advice:

Don’t focus on what you can get. Focus on what you can give.

The Mind Hack to Improve your Networking
My favorite way to help people change to this 4th mindset is:

Pretend the person you're going to meet is your customer.

When you frame someone as a customer, you become more inquisitive, more empathetic, and you want to help them solve their problems. This quote attributed to Dale Carnegie really sums it up:

To apply this simple mindset hack, mentally set up the following scenario:

If this person were my customer,
what would I want to know about them?
What questions would I ask?

The great thing about this mindset is that it doesn't just help you set the foundation for strong new relationships - it's also a great way to improve those existing relationships.

The Speech Hack to Improve your Networking
The speech hack is a two-parter. First...

STOP leading with questions like "Where do you work?" and "What do you do?

We ask those questions because they're easy, but the answers are usually boring and don't generate further conversation. Instead, use a question that cuts straight to the person's interests, motivations, and needs. Here are my four favorites:

What is your biggest challenge?
What are you here to learn? or What brings you here?
What’s the Next Big Thing you have coming up?
What are you most excited about at the moment?

For more ideas, check out Networking 101: How to make a connection.

Interested in a workshop on Mind + Speech Networking Hacks? Contact me!

]]><![CDATA[5 ways to make your LinkedIn posts shine]]>Mon, 15 Jul 2019 07:00:00 GMThttps://www.jenngile.com/blog/5-ways-to-make-your-linkedin-posts-shine

Originally published on LinkedIn.

I got the greatest compliment!

"I just love the content you post, it's eye catching and thoughtful and inspiring. That is why I attended the New Tech Seattle that night, it was because of your posting. Can you give me tips on what I can do to improve my own content & posting?"

Check out my tips, tell me what you think, and share yours!

Tip #1: Include an image (or video)
This is #1 for a good reason: people like images. They catch the eye and subtly communicate information about the post.

When linking to external content, double-check that you like the default image before posting.
When you don't like the default image or it there isn't one, then choose something relevant to upload. This extra effort might take you a few minutes, but it's worth it! If I don't have a great photo on my phone (e.g. from an event), then I love the free images from Unsplash.
Be careful posting multiple images in the same post - sometimes they can look really bad because of the way LinkedIn crops the view. You can preview how they'll look in the draft, and then you should weed out images that look bad or use a collage tool to combine into one image.

Tip #2: Lead with the headline
Treat your post like a newspaper. you want the important stuff 'above the fold' so that it's visible in case people don't click on '...see more.' You could choose...

A question meant to generate thought or responses
An attention grabber with compelling information/news ('Did you know...') or a call to action ('Check this out...')

Tip #3: Keep it short(-ish)
Some rules are made to be broken, and I regularly break this one. BUT, it's a good starting point. The current max length is 1,300 characters, and I've literally only gotten close to that ceiling once (see below). If you think you need a longer post, help your reader's eyes by:

Using emojis (e.g. ✔) as bullet points
Separating blocks of text with an extra line

Tip #4: Use (but don't abuse) @ tagging
If you're writing about a person or an organization - totally tag them! When I write about events, I typically tag the organizer, the host (might not be the same organization), and featured contributors.

Lately, there's been a lot of talk about 'spam posts' - i.e. tagging everyone you know so that it shows up in their notifications. My take is don't tag everyone, but do tag people you're sure will want to see the post. I use tagging to invite people to events since LinkedIn Events is still in Beta...

Tip #5: Use appropriate hashtags
Hashtags are a newer feature in LinkedIn, and I'm seeing a decent amount of adoption. As much fun as it is to make up your own random, funny hashtags...don't...

Use the LinkedIn search bar to research relevant keywords (e.g. #networking) - you'll see how many people follow the hashtag, and of course you can opt in to following it.
People seem to be more likely to follow a company page than a company hashtag. For example, F5 Networks has 159,917 followers vs #f5networks has 134 followers.

What are your tips?

]]><![CDATA[Networking 101]]>Sat, 15 Sep 2018 07:00:00 GMThttps://www.jenngile.com/blog/networking-101

Originally published on LinkedIn.

You're in a room full of strangers at an event. You're probably feeling apprehensive about how to approach people, make a meaningful connection, and not be totally awkward. No big deal. The good news is almost everyone dreads this stuff - even extroverts. But with some preparation and thoughtfulness, you can totally rock your next networking opportunity.

Start off right
Ditch the question: What do you do?
Instead try: What brings you here?
I love this question because it cuts straight to the chase...
Why are you here and how can I help you?

Listen with the intent to help
I talk with a lot of people who assume that they have nothing to offer - and that's just not true! Everyone has the potential to help, even students, job seekers, and people early in their careers. Your contribution could be:

A job lead
A connection with someone else
Suggestion for another event
Knowledge about your industry/work
Information about educational opportunities
A friendship

Listen with the intent to learn
As you're hearing about their reason for being at the event, chances are good that you'll find out what the person does or wants to do. Follow up with questions like:

What do you like about [doing whatever it is they do]?
What excites you about [fill in the break]?
What do you find challenging?
What are you looking to do next?
What do you want to learn?
What did it take to get into [field or industry]?

Don't afraid to talk about non-work topics!
Be memorable by finding a personal connection. I usually start with something generic that's a good launching point, such as:
What do you do for fun?

You never know what you might learn. I recently shared with someone that I love to be creative in my personal life through cooking, gardening, and sewing - she immediately related to my gardening obsession and we had a great conversation. Shared experiences are the foundation for trust, and trust is essential for the person wanting to establish a relationship.

Make your pitch
Throughout this conversation, you'll have plenty of opportunities to share about yourself. Practice your pitch in advance to make sure it's brief, informative, and engaging. Be able to explain yourself 30 to 60 seconds - the more someone drones on about themselves, the less likely a connection is forged!

Check out this great article on Elevator Pitch Examples and Writing Tips.
LinkedIn Learning offers a 13 minute course on Giving Your Elevator Pitch that I think is fantastic and on-point.

Keep it going after the event
If you want to stay in touch with the person, make the ask:

I've loved getting to know you! What's the best way to stay in touch?
Can I connect with you on LinkedIn?
Let's get coffee sometime - how's your schedule look in the next couple of weeks?

However you decide to communicate, make sure you take some time during the days/week after the event to follow up with a note that references something specific from your conversation. Consider setting yourself periodic calendar reminders to follow up and maintain the relationship. And finally, make sure to say...

]]><![CDATA[4 steps to expanding your professional network]]>Mon, 03 Sep 2018 07:00:00 GMThttps://www.jenngile.com/blog/4-steps-to-expanding-your-professional-networkOriginally published on LinkedIn.

Until about a year ago, I kept my professional network limited almost solely to work contacts. As a federal employee based in Seattle, I really didn't see a need for networking and like many people, I realized how wrong I was when I decided to make an industry change. I used four methods to expand my network, which I'll talk about in ascending order of impact.

Shapr
Meetup/Eventbrite Events
Professional Organizations
LinkedIn

Method 1: Shapr - a.k.a. networking for introverts
I discovered Shapr in late 2017, after hearing about the app from a friend who described it as "networking for introverts." The concept is essentially the same as a dating app. You create a profile (using LinkedIn), identify interests, and the app uses an algorithm to match you based on your interests, location, and professional experience. If both people want to meet, Shapr connects you and you choose how to communicate with each other.

Pros: Low effort, low risk of "rejection", free version available.
Cons: Shapr added a premium version that really cut into the quality of the free version, and consequently the quality of my matches really decreased.

Method 2: Meetup/Eventbrite Events
Meetup and Eventbrite are fantastic resources for finding local events that you might otherwise miss. Do a key word search for something related to your professional interests (e.g. women in technology, professional development, HR) and find local events. During peak job searching, I averaged 4-6 events per month and would have done more if I didn't have a family that I wanted to get home to!

Pros: Learn something! Meet people with similar interests.
Cons: Many events have an admission fee, timing often isn't great for parents.

My favorite groups: Learnapalooza (LAP) Lite, Ladies in Seattle Tech, New Tech Seattle.

Method 3: Professional Organizations
I joined the local chapter of the professional organization for learning and development people (Association for Talent Development - Puget Sound). I easily could have joined just for the events, but I'm a "go big or go home" type, so I became the volunteer program manager for the "Under the Hood" event series. Volunteering has been a great experience, as I get to know more people in the local community and help connect other professionals with opportunities.

Pros: Membership gets you free access to benefits, such as events.
Cons: Requires an annual membership fee that might not get you access to the national membership.

Method 4: LinkedIn
Last, but not least, is a platform that requires some bravery to use to its full extent. My LinkedIn tactic was to search for people based on their job titles and geography - for example I looked for L&D professionals in Seattle. After connecting, I would send a message asking for an informational interview. Probably 30% of people would respond to those messages, and from there I set up coffee dates and phone calls. Perhaps it is unique to the L&D community, but I found this method most useful because it let me forge personal connections with people who were really willing to help out a stranger.

Pros: Meet a TON of people quickly!
Cons: High risk of rejection.

How do you network?
As an extroverted introvert, expanding my network scary but ultimately worth it.
A) I got a kickass new job
B) I get to give back through event planning, and
C) I met a ton of really cool people.
Have you been working on expanding your network? What have you done and how's it been going?

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