Things LinkedIn Doesn’t Know…
We asked some of our favorite candidates some things a future employer may not find on a typical LinkedIn page:
Chip Garner
What did you think you wanted to be when you grew up?
When I was very young, I recall desperately wanting to be an airplane pilot. I was fascinated by all things related to air travel - airports, airplanes, airplane food, those little plastic wings the pilots gave to kids. I would beg my parents to ask the stewardess (as that's what they were called in the olden days) if I could visit the cockpit, and they almost always said yes. It was like going to visit the Pope.
Do you have an interesting hobby?
I'm not sure buying shoes (most of which have gone unworn during the pandemic) qualifies as a hobby, so I would say learning Italian. So far, I can say "the green apple." I'll be fluent in no time!
What do you think is your best skill?
Empathy. I've always scored quite high on "personality" tests that measure such things. I've learned to use it as a critical business skill to read and match energies with people I'm meeting, quickly assess a room's emotional temperature, and accurately uncover motivations. It comes in quite handy.
Jenny Wang
What do you think is your best skill?
In terms of industry skills, I think I have a knack for truly understanding the broader media landscape, knowing what kinds of stories "work" and where, and being a go-to partner for journalists/reporters. In addition, I'm a "business of the business" person and am constantly thinking about organizational behavior best practices.
What would your roommates/ friends/ spouse say you're best at?
My friends would say I'm best at being a people connector - I love meeting new people and find all kinds of folks fascinating. I ask people questions about themselves not to make them feel good, but because I am genuinely curious about people, why they are who they are, and what makes them tick!
What're your strengths outside the workplace?
I think my number one strength is intellectual curiosity, and this bleeds into all parts of my life. As the daughter of a philosophy professor, I find myself constantly pondering the "bigger picture" and broader societal implications behind trends, happenings, and developments across different sectors and industries. I'm constantly on the hunt for the next interesting book, and I'm genre-agnostic in that I love sci-fi, biographies, historical fiction, etc. Fun Fact - The Atlantic is my absolute favorite outlet!
Talia Firenze
Do you have an interesting hobby?
I usually surprise people when I tell them I'm very into gaming. I bought an Xbox at the beginning of quarantine and that has been my biggest guilty pleasure / hobby for the past year! It's a great way to stay connected during socially distant times and relax your mind a bit after work.
What do you think is your best skill?
I think my best skill is my organization. Both at work and at home, I have a plan for everything. I love to keep a color-coded calendar to keep track of client work, and you'll find to-do lists all over my house.
What would your roommates/ friends/ spouse say you're best at?
While this may not be the best brag, I'm known for being able to argue for or convince anyone of anything. My family has always said they were surprised I didn't choose a career in law, considering that 5-year-old me could talk myself out of any situation or convince someone the sky was green!
What are your strengths outside the workplace?
I guess similar to the above, but on a more personal level, my strengths definitely lie in art. I have such a passion for interior design and graphic design, and I really enjoy decorating and organizing (of course) spaces of all kinds. I took a lot of more artistic classes in high school and college, but decided to keep that as more of a passion than a career. However, this also ties into the world of PR as I can use my graphic design skills to help with social content, pitch decks, and other things!
Isabel Berger
Three things you won’t find on my LinkedIn are:
That I love to read and finished over 25 books last year - it is the best escape and nice to be able to put your phone down for a bit.
My roommates would say I’m the best at finding the most random “never heard of this before” movies to watch. It’s a 50/50 chance they are actually good.
One of my best skills is my ability to multitask while on a treadmill. When my friend once asked why I walked for so long, my response was “well, I got busy...”
When I asked my friends what my greatest strength is, they said it is my ability to feel as if no time has passed when we are together.
