Nina Mays

I can honestly attribute much of my success to the support of my two directors. They’ve been consistently encouraging and approachable—whenever I need guidance, run into challenges, or want to improve something, I know I can turn to them for help and direction. Their support has played a major role in my professional growth.

They’ve also given me the space to develop my skills and continue learning, while showing genuine understanding during important life moments, like when I had my children. That balance of support and flexibility has helped me stay in the field and continue progressing. I started in an entry-level role and have worked my way up, and their leadership has been a key part of that journey.

Be honest in everything you do. A former manager once told me to always be transparent with clients about what we can and cannot deliver. The moment you start overpromising or saying you can do something you can’t, that’s when deadlines slip and objectives aren’t met.

That advice has stayed with me. I make it a point to communicate clearly—either we can deliver, or, if there’s uncertainty, I’ll say so. I’ve even told clients, “I’m not sure if this is possible, but we can try if you’re open to it—I just can’t guarantee the outcome.” Being upfront builds trust and keeps expectations realistic.

I’d encourage you to find a career that feels genuinely rewarding. I’ve seen friends stay in roles they liked but didn’t love, often because the work environment itself made them unhappy. It’s hard to truly succeed or grow in a place where you feel miserable day to day.

Look for a company where you can communicate openly with your leadership. Both of my directors have an open-door policy, and I feel comfortable going to them with questions, concerns, or ideas because we’ve built that trust. That kind of relationship makes a huge difference. I’ve also heard from others who feel afraid to speak up to their managers, and it’s hard to imagine thriving in an environment where you can’t be open with your boss.

I think AI is starting to reshape the recruiting industry. Tools like ChatGPT and the newer AI features on platforms like Indeed can be helpful in identifying candidates, but there are downsides as well. I’ve seen cases where strong candidates were filtered out simply because their resumes didn’t include specific keywords or details the system was looking for. When I’ve gone back and reviewed those profiles myself, some of them turned out to be great fits for the project despite being screened out by the tool.

Because of that, I don’t think it’s wise to rely entirely on AI just yet. It can miss nuance and doesn’t always give candidates a fair chance. I make it a point to double-check results and sometimes reach out to candidates the system has rejected, just to be sure we’re not overlooking good talent.

Another challenge affecting the field right now is funding. Some projects are losing financial support, which makes it harder for field interviewers to find and transition into new opportunities.

Balance is very important to me—especially maintaining it with my clients. Right now, I’m fortunate to work with clients who are understanding of my responsibilities as a parent. If something comes up and I need to step away, I can communicate that openly, and they’re accommodating when I need to reschedule. I really value having that kind of mutual understanding and trust; it makes a significant difference in how I’m able to show up both professionally and personally.