How to Embrace Authenticity: Shae Noble’s Job Search Success Story

Meet Shae Noble, the Interim Chief People Officer and Senior Vice President of Human Resources at Pacific University. In this job search success story, Shae shares how she embraced authenticity and leveraged LinkedIn and personal outreach in her search.

What do you do for a career? Who do you work for?

I am a passionate HR professional who leads with purpose and impact, having worked with companies around the world. Strategic and innovative by nature, I love to transform culture by aligning employee experience and optimizing people operations. I am recognized for my unique approach to human resources, which includes people-first, trauma-informed leadership with an emphasis on human connection to maximize business growth and stability.

Essentially, “I grow your business through pampering your people and protecting your ass…ets!” Currently, I am serving as the Interim Chief People Officer and SVP of HR at Pacific University, where I have provided stability and strategic leadership through the search process for a permanent replacement. As I onboard the new CPO, I am actively searching for my next fractional or full-time role.

How long did it take you to find this job?

It took me about six weeks to find this role.

How did you find your job? What resources did you use? What tool or tactic helped the most?

I found my job by leveraging LinkedIn and my personal network. The first step I took was reviewing my resume and scratching anything I had done previously that I wanted to avoid repeating. I amplified the projects that were my sweet spot and ensured my branding documents aligned with what I wanted to do in the future. I cast my net wide and did a combination of applications, personal outreach, LinkedIn posts (for visibility), and registering with recruitment firms. 

What was the most difficult part of your job search? How did you overcome this challenge?

The most difficult part of my job search was determining how I wanted to market myself. The HR field has changed so much and has so many components that it felt like the words I used to promote myself would determine the type of companies or roles I would attract. Learning to lean into imperfection was incredibly important for putting myself out there and not sweating the small stuff. I find the more I post authentically on sites like LinkedIn, the more I am attracting the type of roles and companies I am interested in working with. 

What is the single best piece of advice you would offer other job-seekers?

Hone in on your superpower trifecta, including who you are, what you value, and the type of company you want to secure an interview at. Then, ensure your branding materials (i.e., your resume, LinkedIn profile, portfolio, etc.) reflect those sentiments. As a certified recruiter previously, I’ve observed the employment market become highly specialized, and to land an interview at your dream job, you need to cater to the role you want to attract.

Why do you love your job?

I love my job because of the direct impact I can have on employee experience and company culture. It is fulfilling to see individuals take pride in their work when they know the organization and their direct manager support them and set them up for success. I especially enjoy mentoring young professionals and helping managers find new ways to foster collaboration among their teams. Ultimately, I believe in the power of human connection to transform the workplace, improve our net-promoter scores, and increase overall job satisfaction. Contributing to a purpose-driven and community-minded organization’s success is incredibly rewarding. 

Everyone’s job search story is different, but each individual story can inspire and empower others who are on their own unique path. We love to hear how our readers have found rewarding careers in Portland, and we want to share these stories with you to inspire you in your job search and to help us all better understand the local job market!