Christy Spilka
Q: Where did you attend college?
A: Florida Atlantic University
Q: What degree did you receive?
A: Bachelor’s Degree in Communication and a Minor in English
Q: Did you attend your dream college?
A: No, I didn’t really have a dream college. At the time, I lived near FAU and it was the logical choice for me.
Q: Do you think your college education was necessary for your success in business?
A: I think it helped. I learned a lot about communication and became a more informed writer. Both of these are helpful in my field and in leadership. Having a degree also helps to have more opportunities. Some jobs require a degree.
Q: Who or what led you to your current career path?
A: In my senior year I had a friend who worked for a company that had a headhunting sister company. My neighbor was a headhunter so I knew a little about it. I really had no idea what I wanted to do with my career at the time. I didn’t do any internships (which I would recommend). She said they were hiring so I applied and interviewed. The job sounded interesting so I accepted the offer.
Q: Was your current career your first choice, or did you switch?
A: Thankfully, that job worked out, I fell in love with recruiting and have been in that field ever since.
Q: Was mentorship significant to your business journey?
A: Sort of. I haven’t had any “official” mentors. I’ve had people who I respect and have learned a great deal from. I’ve also learned from people who had styles that I did not want to emulate. I recommend being observant of both. I also read and absorbed a lot early in my career. I was constantly reading books about leadership and business. I would recommend this - it really helps to ramp your experience and will set you apart from your peers. Just look for top business or leadership books and you’ll find many.
Q: How do you approach networking and the building of professional relationships?
A: This is important. You learn from others and it is helpful for when you are looking for a new opportunity. You can also join associations and gain leadership roles through these associations. For example, I joined a talent acquisition association and within a few years I became Board President. It has been a great experience. I’ve learned from it and have met so many people in my industry. It also helps build thought leadership and further develops your personal brand, which is also good for your career. To get started, I would look for groups and associations in your career of interest. Just Google it. For example, marketing association or software development user group. Once you’re involved, look for opportunities to volunteer and at some point you could take on a leadership role.
Q: What is the ratio of males to females in your business?
A: Human Resources tends to have a higher ratio of females. In recruiting, it’s pretty mixed.
Q: Have you observed or been affected by a wage gap between men and women in your field?
A: I can’t say I’ve personally been affected. My advice would be to conduct market research on the role of interest. Check multiple sources like payscale.com, salary.com and other reputable sources. Know your worth. Once you gain more experience, your ability to earn more goes up. Take on stretch projects and look for opportunities to learn and gain experience. Don’t think of anything as “not your job” or “outside of your pay grade”. The more you learn and the more projects you take on, the higher your career - and earnings - will climb. With market research in hand, negotiate. Ask for a figure that is supported by the market/pay range for the position. In today’s world, the pay range is often posted. Sometimes though it’s a big range or includes bonus. Ask questions to understand the actual salary range and how much of it is bonus or other incentives. Combined with your market research, you can then assess if the pay rate is fair. Remember that there’s more to negotiate than salary, and in some cases, the first offer may not be the best you can get. You can also sometimes negotiate the amount of days you can get for paid time off and other things. In some companies and as you move up in the company there could also be an opportunity for equity. The more experience you get and the more you can demonstrate proven success, the more you can negotiate. Knowing your Value by Mika Brzezinski is a good book.
Q: How have you asserted yourself as a powerful woman in your field?
A: I don’t think of it as power. I do speak at industry events and work to ensure that my brand and thought leadership is strong.
Q: What has been your biggest tool in gaining credibility in the business world?
A: Getting out there. I write articles, wrote a white paper, speak at events and so on. I also joined an industry association and joined the board. All of this helps to build credibility. You need to know what you are talking about so it’s important to learn all you can and gain experience. Within my companies, I work to build credibility by building trust with others and having a high say:do ratio. If I say I’m going to do something, I do it. I build goals that are stretch goals but also achievable. When I say I’ll achieve X, I know I can achieve it and I do. This builds trust. I recommend the book the speed of trust by Stephen Covey. Also recommend the book Emotional Intelligence 2.0 Learning about emotional intelligence or “EQ” will help you gain credibility and build trust.
Q: How does social media, if at all, impact your business?
A: LinkedIn is important in my role. I remain active there and ensure my profile is up to date and supports my brand as a TA leader who has been successful executing large scale transformations and also gives back to our industry. Social media is also a great recruiting tool so my teams use it for that purpose too.
Q: What is the best piece of advice you have ever been given?
A: Get out there and network.
Q: Lastly, what would be the number one piece of advice you would give to your high school self?
A: Have fun and enjoy yourself! This is also a great time to try new things - learn how to cook, take up a couple of hobbies, etc.
