Krystal Hicks | Founder of JOBTALK, LLC

Tell us about YOU!!    Krystal is a Career Strategist who provides one-on-one counseling to professionals in transition, as well as recruiting and employer branding consulting for employers. She founded JOBTALK, LLC in 2019 and continues to run her practice full-time while also teaching a number of college-to-career classes at the University of New Hampshire.

What makes you different/stand out in your industry?  While I think everyone who works in career counseling is probably in it for the right reasons, I think the paths we all took to get here really matter when it comes to what we can share with our clients. I’ve worked in staffing, higher ed career services (advising 230+ majors), and corporate recruiting all before I launched my practice. I know of other people in this space who came from backgrounds that had nothing to do with hiring or recruitment, and more power to them, but the first-hand insight I’m able to provide my clients makes all the difference. I think the trust and credibility I have with them is born from the fact that I’ve been the one reviewing resumes, implementing Applicant Tracking Systems, counseling hiring managers on their selections, negotiating salary, etc. It also means they’re getting behind the scenes knowledge which can translate into competitive advantages for them as they move their search or transition and that is what makes the difference.

What do your clients love about you? I think my clients love the fact that they know they’re always going to get the real deal with me and that my advice comes from experience, not just education or reading best practices. Job hunting is incredibly personal, so while my advice is always strategic and meant to drive them forward, I still see my clients as “the sum of all their parts.” The work we do together is never transactional in nature, and I know they appreciate that, especially since so much of their job search can sometimes feel that way. 

What is the best advice you can share with others?  Something I say to my one-on-one clients regularly, “Understand what you value and recognize that there is a really big difference between compromise and sacrifice.” Instead of talking ourselves into knots, trying to be all things to all people, try stepping back for a minute to recalibrate. There’s a reason 47 million people quit their job in 2021 and more than 50% of them changed fields completely. What once served us, may not always do so, and that’s not only normal – that’s growth. There is something really transformative that can happen when we PAUSE and do the introspective work to figure out who we are now and what this version of us needs – professionally and personally. 

How has the Women’s Business League helped you?  I joined the Dover, NH WBL chapter about two months ago and – WOW – I can’t even believe how welcoming this group has been. Everyone is so quick to share referrals and support each other’s business. Since the majority of my work is with individual job seekers from all over the country, I work remotely from home. I didn’t realize just how much I needed this community until I met everyone! I genuinely look forward to the bi-weekly meetings.