Real talk for job seekers, founders, executives, and TA pros. From a talent acquisition executive who's seen it all.
I'm a talent acquisition executive with 20+ years in the game.
I lead global hiring for a living.
Which means I've been asked a lot of questions.
"Dear Andrea, I accepted an offer, then a better one came in. Is it ever okay to back out?"
— Two Offers, One Conscience
"Dear Andrea, the CEO wants to 'just hire friends' for the first 10 roles. How do I stop this?"
— Startup Nepotism Survivor
"Dear Andrea, my hiring managers take 2 weeks to give feedback, then blame me when candidates drop. Help."
— Recruiter, Not a Magician
"Dear Andrea, I'm a first-time founder. Do I need an HR person, a recruiter, or a therapist?"
— Founder, Barely Sleeping
The questions people are scared to ask their boss, their board, their recruiter, or their group chat.
So I'm making it official.
Welcome to Dear Andrea.
A classic advice column. Anonymous and honest.
For job seekers trying to get hired.
For founders and executives trying to hire well.
For TA pros and hiring managers in the trenches.
If it touches hiring, recruiting, your career, or working mom chaos, it's fair game.
I've built and led talent acquisition teams at scrappy startups and global companies. I've read the resumes, sat in the debriefs, and made the offers. I know what happens after you hit "Apply." I also know what founders and hiring managers get wrong on their side of the table.
Here's how it works:
You send your question.
You sign it with a clever pen name.
I answer it, straight up, like I would for a friend.
Let’s go back to the glory days.
"Ghosted in Gainesville." "Headcount-Approved, Pipeline-Empty." "First-Time Founder, Zero Recruiters." Bring your best.
What happens in Dear Andrea stays in Dear Andrea.
Ask Andrea Anything
First column drops next week.
Talent acquisition executive. Former D1 athlete. Mom of three. CEO of my household.
Let's go!
Andrea
