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Cynthia Wright is an experienced Recruiter with 16 years of Recruitment experience in both corporate and agency environments.

She is currently a Senior Corporate Recruiter with Jacobs Technology, a multi-billion dollar defense company.

Cynthia has interviewed and hired hundreds of candidates in disciplines such as: Engineering, Finance, Marketing, Sales, and Information Technology. 

Cynthia is a former columnist for The Telegraph (Nashua, NH) and wrote a career column called  The Wright Stuff. She is a contributing career expert for The Employment Times in New England and has also written a syndicated column with Knight Ridder’s News2Use feature. Cynthia continues to publish her columns nationally.

Cynthia holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Rutgers University and a Masters Certificate in Human Resources from Southern New Hampshire University.  She currently resides in Nashua, NH and can be reached at: thewrightstuffnh@gmail.com.

Thank you Cynthia for taking the time to answer some questions for us!  To start, please tell us about the latest project you've worked on.

My latest project is my new book: 366 Tips for a Successful Job Search. It is both a perpetual calendar and a comprehensive job search/career book, with a valuable job search tip for each day of the year (with one extra tip for leap year). It is available on: Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com, and through Rosstrum Publishing.com.

Have you received any awards for your work?

Not yet, but I hope too.

Do you also do speaking engagements or seminars?

Yes, quite a few. I speak to graduating seniors at colleges and universities about networking, and how to navigate through the job search process. I also speak to local networking groups and civic organizations.

How has your education, profession or background helped you in your writing career? Or conversely, how has you writing success helped you in your profession?

My profession is the reason I started writing. I noticed that after being a professional recruiter and interviewing candidate for 16 years, I realized that people still do not know how to navigate their way through the job search process. This encompasses writing resumes, networking, interviewing, and everything else. So I decided to do something about it. My first professional writing job was for the Employment Times in Minneapolis/St Paul. I got such a great response from my article that I decided to pitch my work to The Employment Times in NH/MA, which is closer to where I live in. They liked the material and I’ve been writing for them ever since.  That led to the Sunday career column for The Telegraph (Nashua, NH).

As far as my writing helping me in my profession, it has helped from a networking perspective. People know who I am and are more likely to reach out and send me resumes, which makes my job as a Recruiter much easier. It has also afforded me the opportunity to do a lot of community outreach and help candidates with their job search.

What kind of other works (books, scripts, poems etc.) have you had published?

My career column (The Wright Stuff) has run in The Telegraph, Nashua, NH for five years. For the past eight years, my career columns have been featured in The Employment Times. I continue to write for them regularly. My very first published work (and the first time I got paid to write) was a script for a radio infomercial called The B1 Bomber, explaining the benefits of B vitamins.

Is there any aspect to your profession that gets you in touch with your readers directly?

Yes, since I am a Recruiter, I often attend job fairs and other career events that enables me to talk to my readers and prospective candidates.

What will your next project be?

My next  project is a sequel to my book and the working title is: 366 Ways to Survive Corporate America. Once you land the job with the help of my first book, you will need 366 tips (at least) to survive Corporate America!

Who inspires you on a personal or business level?

On a business level, it would be Jack Canfield, the writer of the Chicken Soup for The Soul Books and other inspirational materials. The book that really reached me is: The Key to Living the Law of Attraction. It’s an important book because it teaches how to avoid the pitfalls that prevents a person from reaching their goals. Anyone who has a vision or a dream needs to read his book. On a personal level, it would be my parents. They always encouraged me to do whatever it was that made me happy, regardless of the practicality of the idea. No matter what idea I came up with, they have always encouraged me to go for it.

What type of work is the most rewarding or satisfying for you?

The most rewarding and satisfying work for me is teaching people how to get a job. Whether it’s in a column, a book, on TV, on the radio, or just one-on-one with candidates, that’s what I am the best at and what I love to do. It’s my true passion.

What can you recommend for writers who are just getting started and are trying to make a name for themselves?

Just write. It sounds silly, but that’s what I did. When I had to use my recruiting experience to write a career-related column, I decided to start locally. I went to the editor of the classified section of the paper, and at the time I had no idea what I was doing. As it turned out, he was looking for local talent to write a career column. When I pitched the idea for a column our country was coming out of its last recession, so the timing was good. Needless to say, it worked out well. I got a bio, a by-line, and a picture. I was also featured in a prime spot in The Telegraph every Sunday for five years.

New writers may also want to check out on-line sites. They are always looking for writers, and can help get a writers name out there with some good exposure.

How did you get started as a writer?

I have always written, so I can’t really say when I got started. I was encouraged to write by my parents and all of my English teachers starting in junior high school. I always knew that it was something that I liked to do, and I continued to do it.

Which is your favorite book/work published? Is there a favorite?

The Grapes of Wrath is one of my favorite works of fiction.

What does a typical work day look like for you?

Generally, my day consists of interviewing candidates, and when I’m not interviewing, I am sourcing (finding candidates) for the openings I have to fill. I attend job fairs, college career fairs, networking events, and I speak at these events as well. I also meet with my hiring managers to discuss offers, new position descriptions, and strategies for finding the best talent.

Have you ever had a mentor, or someone who sparked your passion for writing?

Not really. I am self motivated, and my passion for writing was sparked by my need to communicate.

Who is your favorite writer/author?

John Steinbeck

Finally, a most important question: what was the last song you sang out loud when you were by yourself?  :)

That is an important question. The last song I sang out loud was Second That Emotion by Smokey Robinson and The Miracles. I love that song!

Thank you Cynthia! We wish you ongoing success with your column and your book 366 Tips for a Successful Job Search!