Joanne Weaver

About this Episode

Joanne Weaver, who co-runs a design recruiting agency in New York City, discussed her dual career in recruitment and music. She highlighted the importance of networking and tailoring job applications to specific roles. Joanne emphasized the need for efficiency in communication and the value of understanding both job seekers and clients. She shared her journey from starting her agency during a financial crisis to having built a successful business. Joanne also discussed the significance of connection and authenticity, both in her professional and personal life, recommended the show "Alone" for its exploration of human resilience, and talked about her semimonthly show on LinkedIn live with two other design recruiters, Jared Tredly and Erica Fortgang for Design:Unfiltered @DesignedXTalent

Keep listening until after the outro music for a bit of tape from our first attempt at recording (Internet connection problems) where Joanne talks about how being a singer and being a performer helps to understand the clients and job seekers she works with.

A few specific points from the episode:

• Joanne's work as a singer, including albums, performances, and cover songs
• Her musical style blends jazz and trip-hop, with inspiration from sci-fi and the Voyager probes
• Her indie band, Broanne, and their EP "We're Totally Blowing Up"
• Her view of the job of a recruiter: matching clients with candidates and guiding them through the hiring process
• Her journey started at a nanny agency in London, eventually leading her to start her own recruitment agency in New York City
• Initial struggles in starting her agency and stresses the importance of networking and building personal connections
• Meeting her business partner, Rebecca Levy, through a mutual connection — advice, "take the lunch"
• The need for taking breaks and disconnecting to recharge
• The 2008 financial crisis impacted her business but also led to new opportunities
• Tailoring resumes and portfolios to specific job opportunities
• A tip on standing out in the job market: be efficient and professional in communications
• Common fears like not being good enough and encourages leaning into those fears
• Strategies for overcoming anxiety: focus on service and giving to others
• Stresses authenticity and connecting with others in both personal and professional contexts
• The value of small moments of connection, which can lead to larger opportunities.
• The importance of connection and talking to people
• Recommendation for Tunde Oyeneyin's audiobook, "Speak" and the show "Alone" for its exploration of human connection and survival
• She plans to begin work on a cabaret show about an unnamed 80s/90s pop sensation, inspired by recently reading their biography

Episode Links

• Rebecca Levi
• Steve Jobs' commencement speech to Stanford’s 2005 graduating class — “Of course it was impossible to connect the dots looking forward when I was in college. But it was very, very clear looking backward ten years later,” Jobs said. “So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something-your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life.”
• Twisted Spritzer
• Ryan Adams - "Wonderwall" (Oasis cover)
• Simon Sinek on Design Matters in 2015 — With Debbie Millman
• "Speak" by Tunde Oyeneyin
• Tara Mohr's "Playing Big"
• Ted Lasso clip — When Rebecca "makes herself big" to build up courage
• Tony Robbins
• Alone (TV series)
• Voyager Golden Record
• Joanne Weaver Group
• Design:Unfiltered on LinkedIn
• Design:Unfiltered replays on YouTube
• Joanne Weaver's music on Spotify
• Twisted Spritzer
• Broanne