The HR Pivot

Hosted by LaShaunique Plummer

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120

Latest episode

Oct 2026

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About the show

The ultimate guide to pivot to HR or within HR in 90 days or less. Learn how to create a marketable resume, sell your hottest transferable skills, and interview as a pivoter. Do this all w/o another HR degree or certification. I pivoted in 90 days with no bells or whistles and stayed with my company for 6 years! Learn how I and my clients get interviews w/o applying, land interviews after 4 days of applying, get fast-tracked in the interview process, and land $18k-$40k salary increases even while pivoting.

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October 22, 202621 min

120. How to Keep Growing Your HR Career When Life and Health Get in the Way: Monique’s Journey to HR Director

What happens when you’re ready to grow your HR career, but life and your health are making it harder to show up with confidence? In this special episode of the HR Pivot Podcast, I’m joined by Monique Williams, an HR leader and perimenopause coach, to talk about her journey from HR manager to HR director while navigating postpartum changes, perimenopause, and the self-doubt that came with them. Monique shares how she spent nearly 10 years trying to move beyond the HR manager level, why she was determined to keep growing her career after becoming a mom, and how perimenopause affected her confidence, focus, and experience at work. In this conversation, we’ll explore: How health changes and major life transitions can affect your career. Why you can lose confidence in your abilities even when you have the experience to move forward. How perimenopause can show up at work, from brain fog to struggling to find your words in important meetings. How to keep pursuing promotions and career growth without pushing yourself to the point of burnout. Why getting the right support matters when you want to advance professionally while navigating personal challenges. Monique also shares how she helps women understand the connection between perimenopause and their careers so they can continue pursuing their goals and showing up as strategic partners at work. And if you’re ready to take your HR career to the next level, join us for the Pivot with a Pay Increase Summit, happening November 2–3, 2026! This FREE virtual event features HR mentors sharing practical insights and strategies to help you pursue better opportunities, grow your career, and increase your earning potential. Register for the summit here: https://www.balangize.com/mentorshipsummit

October 20, 202641 min

119. How to Align HR Strategy With Business Goals: The Interview Answer That Gets Offers

What does it really mean to be a strategic HR professional — and how do you prove it in an interview? In this episode of The HR Pivot Podcast, I’m breaking down one of the toughest interview questions HR professionals are facing: how do you develop HR strategy that connects with business priorities? Many candidates make the mistake of talking only about HR initiatives, like employee engagement programs, town halls, or talent development. But hiring managers want to understand how you think about the business, identify problems, and connect your work to meaningful business outcomes. In this episode, I share how to: Understand the difference between HR initiatives and business strategy Connect your HR experience to business outcomes, including operations, revenue, and other organizational priorities Build a compelling career story that sets the tone for your interview Prepare for strategic interview questions without sounding rehearsed Ask stronger questions that demonstrate your business acumen and strategic thinking I also explain why you need more than confidence to interview successfully in 2026. From preparing for five to ten hours before your first interview to learning how to evaluate your own performance, I’ll help you understand what it takes to communicate your value and stand out. If you’re getting interviews but struggling to turn them into offers, this episode will help you rethink your approach. And if you want to grow your HR career or make a successful pivot with a pay increase, join me at the HR Mentorship Summit for two days of free mentorship and practical strategies to help you move forward. Ready to connect your HR experience to the business impact hiring managers want to see? Book a free 60-minute consultation call so we can talk through your specific situation, what’s happening in your resume and interviews, and what you need to do to move forward. Schedule your call here: https://airtable.com/appzCth1DVPXGHTix/pagGT2MCWXEbrEUVH/form

October 14, 202628 min

118. Who Should NOT Expect a Pay Increase When Pivoting Into HR

While I believe most professionals should aim for a lateral move or a pay increase when changing careers, there are a few skills you need to succeed once you land that role. In this episode, we’ll be breaking down three areas that could make your transition more challenging: troubleshooting unfamiliar problems, communicating effectively with leaders, and taking ownership of your own onboarding and development. We’ll also talk about imposter syndrome, why having a degree or certification doesn’t automatically prepare you to make decisions, and how your transferable skills can help you navigate situations you’ve never faced before. The good news? These are skills you can develop. You don’t have to know everything before stepping into a new role, and you don’t have to rely on your employer to teach you everything. That’s why I created the HR Pivot Crash Course. It includes the tools, resources, and decision-making guidance I wish I’d had when I first transitioned into HR, so you can learn to troubleshoot, navigate workplace challenges, and feel more confident in your ability to succeed. If you want to pivot into HR or another role with a pay increase without feeling like you’re setting yourself up for failure, this episode is for you. Ready to figure out what’s holding you back from landing the HR role you want? Book a free 60-minute consultation call so we can talk through your specific situation and what it will take to help you move forward. Schedule your call here: https://airtable.com/appzCth1DVPXGHTix/pagGT2MCWXEbrEUVH/form

October 7, 202626 min

117. Pivoting to HR With a Pay Increase: Why You Don’t Have to Take a Pay Cut

What if pivoting into HR didn’t mean taking a pay cut? In this episode of The HR Pivot Podcast, I’m breaking down why so many professionals assume they have to take a step back financially when they pivot — and why that doesn’t have to be your story. I’m sharing the three biggest reasons people undersell themselves during a career pivot: misunderstanding what they actually qualify for, feeling like they should be grateful just to get their foot in the door, and believing what other people tell them about what they can earn. I’ll also talk about how to look beyond the job description, understand the level of the role you’re actually pursuing, ask better questions in interviews, and approach compensation with more confidence. Because your ability to pivot isn’t just about getting the HR title — it’s about positioning your existing experience so you can move forward without unnecessarily starting over. I’ve seen clients pivot into HR with significant pay increases, and in this episode, I want you to start thinking differently about what’s possible for you. And if you’re ready to stop guessing about what roles you qualify for, how to position your experience, or what you should actually be targeting in your next move, book a free 60-minute consultation call with me. We can talk through your specific situation, what’s happening in your resume and interviews, and what you need to do to move forward. Schedule your call here: https://airtable.com/appzCth1DVPXGHTix/pagGT2MCWXEbrEUVH/form

September 30, 202630 min

116. What Recruiters Are Really Looking For When You Don’t Have the HR Title

You don’t have the exact HR title. So how do you get recruiters to take you seriously when you’re pivoting into HR? In this episode, we’ll be breaking down three things that can make the difference between being overlooked and getting taken seriously—even when you don’t have the exact HR title or experience. We’ll talk about why your resume may be holding you back, especially when it’s filled with generic summaries and task-focused bullet points instead of showing your impact, outcomes, scale, and the challenges you’ve actually handled. We’ll also get into why your interview skills matter more than you may think. Simply telling recruiters, “No, I don’t have direct experience,” isn’t enough. You need to know how to communicate your transferable skills and tell your story in a way that gives them a reason to believe you can do the job. And finally, we’ll talk about asking better questions. The questions you ask can reveal how much you understand about the role, the business, and the problems they’re trying to solve—and that can significantly change the level of credibility you have in the room. So if you’ve been waiting for the right HR title, collecting more certifications, constantly tweaking your resume, or wondering why recruiters aren’t seeing your value, this episode is for you. It’s time to stop chasing the title and start showing what you can actually do. Ready to figure out what’s really holding you back from landing the HR role you want? Book a free 60-minute consultation call so we can talk through your specific situation, what’s happening in your resume and interviews, and what you need to do to move forward. Schedule your call here: https://airtable.com/appzCth1DVPXGHTix/pagGT2MCWXEbrEUVH/form

September 23, 202641 min

115. The Fear of Overselling Yourself Is Costing You HR Jobs

Ever worry that you're overselling yourself when you apply for an HR role? Sis, there's a difference between overselling yourself and telling a better story. In this episode of the HR Pivot Podcast, we're talking about one of the biggest things I see holding HR professionals and aspiring HR professionals back: the fear of claiming what they're actually capable of. You might have the degree. The certifications. The years of experience. The transferable skills. But because you don't have one specific skill, title, or requirement listed in the job description, you count yourself out before the company ever gets the chance to evaluate you. And when you constantly focus on what you haven't done, you end up underselling yourself on your resume, in interviews, and throughout the entire hiring process. We're breaking down: Why the fear of overselling yourself can actually lead to underselling yourself Why you don't have to lie or claim experience you don't have to position yourself as a strong candidate How to recognize the skills and experiences you're discounting Why you need to stop letting your boss take all the credit for work you actually helped lead or drive How to connect your HR experience to business and financial outcomes Why better storytelling—not "faking it until you make it"—is the key to selling yourself authentically The 3 strategies I use to help clients tell stronger stories in interviews Why leading with your impact can completely change how a hiring manager sees your experience How to stop counting yourself out of HR roles simply because you don't have the exact title or years of experience they're asking for Because here's the truth: selling yourself isn't lying. It's showing people what you're actually capable of. If you're getting interviews but struggling to land the offer or you're constantly applying for roles that aren't actually the roles you want—it may be time to take a closer look at how you're positioning yourself. You don't need to know everything before you walk into your next HR role. You need to know how to communicate the value of what you already bring to the table. Ready to stop underselling yourself and learn how to tell your story in a way that actually lands? Book a free 60-minute consultation call and let's talk about your specific story, where you're getting stuck, and what it will take to help you land the HR role you actually want. Schedule time to speak with me here: https://airtable.com/appzCth1DVPXGHTix/pagGT2MCWXEbrEUVH/form

August 20, 202624 min

114. Is the HR Certification Worth It? (Why I Let My PHR Lapse)

In this episode, LaShaunique shares her insights on breaking into HR without relying on certifications, emphasizing the importance of experience, partnership, and effective communication. She debunks myths about certifications and offers practical advice for HR career pivots.

August 13, 202619 min

113. How to Renegotiate Salary After Lowballing Yourself For an HR Role (Without Losing the Offer)

Ever set a number in a phone screen for an HR Role... and then found out mid-interview process that the role is worth way more than what you agreed to? Sis, you're not alone. In this episode, I'm answering a question I got recently from someone with 8 years of HR experience who stayed inside a recruiter's stated range ($60–65K) — only to realize after more research that she should've started in the 70s. We're breaking down: Why the number you give in a phone screen becomes the benchmark the entire process anchors to The real risk of trying to "correct" your number mid-process (and why it can get you pulled from consideration) When and how to counteroffer the right way — and how big of a jump is actually reasonable Why leading with "I have X years of experience" during negotiation actually loses you money The 3X framework: how to position yourself as revenue, not an expense, so companies want to pay you more Why I'm not a fan of sticking inside a posted salary range — and what to say instead If you've ever taken an offer that felt lowballed, you know the slow burn of regret that follows. This episode is about making sure that's not your story. Ready to stop leaving money on the table? Book a free 60-minute consultation call and let's map out your number — based on your background, your goals, and what it'll actually take to get you there, no guesswork. Schedule time to speak with me here: https://airtable.com/appzCth1DVPXGHTix/pagGT2MCWXEbrEUVH/form

August 2, 2026Episode 11241 min

112. 5 Strategies HR Leaders Need for Difficult Conversations (With Employees, Your Boss, Business Partners, and at Home)

Most HR leaders didn't sign up to be the "hard conversation" person. And even if you don't mind having difficult conversations, there really isn't a handbook to handle ALL the different types. The one who has to tell an employee something they don't want to hear. The one who has to push back on your boss. The one who has to hold the line with a business partner who's not seeing eye to eye with you. And if you've been avoiding one of those conversations right now? I get it. Avoidance feels safer. It's not. It's just delayed. In this week's episode, I'm breaking down 5 strategies HR leaders need for difficult conversations — with employees, with your boss, business partners and even at home. And I'm pulling back the curtain a little — sharing behind-the-scenes live training I've done with my own clients, both new and experienced HR leaders, on this exact topic. You will hear us get into 5 fails I see HR leaders make over and over in these conversations — the ones that quietly make the hard moment even harder.

July 7, 202647 min

111. How to manage HR transformation in 2026 while avoiding burnout with Patrick Sutton

In this episode, Patrick Sutton shares insights on HR transformation in 2026, the impact of AI, managing burnout, and developing future-ready HR leaders. Discover practical strategies for leveraging AI, fostering creativity, and maintaining well-being in a rapidly evolving HR landscape.Want to work with me? DM me on Linkedin