Melissa Grabiner

Senior Talent Acquisition Partner

Hi there - thanks for stopping by. 😊

👋 Follow me for daily tips on Job search advice, HR & Talent Acquisition wisdom, productivity tips and heartfelt inspiration.

✍️ 𝗕𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽𝘀: I collaborate with B2C and B2B brands through sponsored LinkedIn posts, promoting products and services that genuinely benefit my audience.

⭐️ 𝗔𝗱𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗿𝘆 & 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: I serve as a trusted advisor to early-stage companies and partner with organizations to help optimize their Talent Acquisition strategies.

Please send me a message here or reach me at melissa@grabiner.us

🚀 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗮 𝗰𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗺𝗲 𝗮𝘁: 
𝗵𝘁𝘁𝗽𝘀://𝘁𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲.𝗶𝗼/𝗺𝗲𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗿

Top 1% Job Seeker Coach & Advisor - over 500 Job Seekers Coached!

Whether you're struggling to get interviews, making a pivot, or trying to bounce back after a layoff, I offer straightforward help that actually get results. 

My offerings and how I will help you win: 

🔸 Resume rewrites that showcase your true value
🔸 LinkedIn profile makeovers to attract recruiters
🔸 Interview coaching & salary negotiation tips
🔸 Personalized job search strategy & mentorship
🔸 Networking support to help you open real doors

𝗔𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗺𝗲:

I am an Entrepreneur, Content Creator and HR and Talent Acquisition professional with over 2 decades of experience. On LinkedIn, I am considered one of the biggest thought leaders having over 472,000 followers. 

I am Ranked #2 Female LinkedIn Creator Worldwide and Ranked #1 HR LinkedIn Creator in the USA.

In the past year, my posts have amassed 2.1 million engagements and over 194 million impressions. I have been a guest on over 60 podcasts and host various LinkedIn Live Events.

I have been interviewed by The Wall Street Journal, Harvard Business Review, Market Watch, Fast Company, Indeed Business and was featured three times on the Times Square Billboard in New York City.

Additionally, I am also a multiple award-winning Global Senior Leader with blended HR and Talent Acquisition multi-industry experience. 

• Created and built a strategic Talent Acquisition Function from inception for one of the largest companies in the world.

• Eighteen years' experience managing over 35 direct reports with zero attrition.

• During my career oversaw all hiring activity for over 25,000 employees.

• Expert in building and executing full talent solutions and strategies for both large and small organizations. 

• Skilled at full life cycle recruiting for various roles across numerous levels and functions.

Senior Talent Acquisition Leader

Speaking from my own experience.....

I'm happy to announce that NO company, title or paycheck is worth your peace or health.

Choosing your well-being first is always the smartest career move you can make.

Let’s be real: job hunting can really mess with your head.

The waiting, the rejections, the ghosting, the self-doubt.

Here are 8 ways to build your confidence during the search:

1. Reframe Rejection 
↳ Every “no” is one step closer to your “yes.”

2. Track the Wins – 
↳ Keep a “confidence file” with wins.

3. Update Your Resume Like a Highlight Reel 
↳ Own your impact, not just your job titles.

4. Celebrate Small Steps 
↳ Applied to three roles today? That counts.

5. Reconnect with Your Network 
↳ Don’t isolate, reach out. Most people truly want to help.
 
6. Keep Learning 
↳ Take a course, read a book, attend a webinar. 

7. Speak Kindly to Yourself 
↳ Replace “I’m not good enough” with “I’m still becoming.” 

8. Protect Your Energy
↳ Rest isn’t quitting. It’s recharging so you can come back stronger.
 
Job seekers, sending love and light. 💘

🍀 Please share to motivate job seekers.
🍂 Follow me, Melissa Grabiner, for more like this.

I was laid off twice in five years.

And each felt like a punch to the stomach.

I made a decision that I was done letting a CEO decide my fate.

I started two small businesses, and I only wish I had done it sooner.

Here’s what I’ve learned along the way: 

💡 A layoff doesn’t define you. It often redirects you.

💡 You have more skills than any one job can contain.

💡 Reinvention isn’t starting over. It’s starting smarter.

💡 The best career move you can make is betting on yourself.

💡 Your network is your lifeline, invest in it before you need it.

💡 The things that feel like endings are often just your wake-up calls.

💡 Security doesn’t come from a paycheck, it comes from adaptability.

💡 Confidence grows when you take action, not when you wait for permission.

My layoffs didn’t end my career.

They gave me the power to redesign it, and I've never been happier. 🧡

"I'd give anything to have a job right now."

As a resume writer, I hear this from all of my clients. 

Job seekers are burnt out from:

💡 Being ghosted
💡 Long interview processes
💡 Getting rejected without feedback
💡 Job postings that disappear overnight
💡 Roles that turn out to pay far less than advertised
💡 Endless assessments and take-home projects with no follow-up
💡 Employers who want “10 years of experience” for an entry-level role
💡 Interviewing multiple times to be told they went “in another direction”

Job seekers are not asking for the world.

They are asking for fair hiring practices, to be treated with dignity and respect and to be given a chance.

🩷 Please share if this resonates.
🙏 Follow me, Melissa Grabiner, for more.

I'm not going to lie.
 
Being a mom who’s always worked outside the home has been HARD.
 
Trying to balance a career and motherhood was challenging even on the best of days. 
 
But somewhere along the way my sons were watching.
 
They’ve grown into kind, thoughtful and hardworking young men.
 
And as a mom, truly, what more could I possibly ask for?
 
To every working parent:
 
You may not always feel like you're getting it right.
 
But your presence, your effort and your love all add up.
 
One day, your child(ren) will look back and realize you were their greatest example. 💓

I hope this is your week.

❤️ To get the interview
❤️ To hear a response
❤️ To be given a chance 
❤️ To receive the job offer
❤️ To finally feel seen for the value you bring
❤️ To have something go right after so much waiting

If not, know that nothing last forever.

I was laid off twice in five years, and looking back, both layoffs ended up being the best thing that could have happened.

Because they pushed me into chapters I never would’ve stepped into on my own.

You might not see it yet, but something better can come from this moment too.

And if you know someone who’s struggling in silence, reach out. 

A message, a lead, a recommendation, or a little encouragement can change everything for someone else 💗 

🍀 Please share to inspire job seekers.
🍂 Follow me for more like this!

I've been laid off twice in the last five years.

Both reshaped me and only one made me feel human.

The first time:
↳ The conversation was transparent, and human.
↳ My manager cried when she and HR delivered the news.
↳ I was told face-to-face with respect, empathy and compassion.
↳ My manager gave me a glowing reference and we're still close today.

The second time:
↳ My manager couldn't even make eye contact.
↳ There was no humanity in the process. Absolutely none.
↳ I found out through a cold calendar invite with no explanation.

Here’s the truth: 

Layoffs happen. 

But humanity, respect and compassion should never be the parts that gets cut.

Entersekt

Information Security Compliance Administrator

Administration of compliance , Including :
*Maintenance and safeguards  for data management
*Security Audit evidence gathering(Support ISO27001, PCI DSS,SOC2 and other internal and external audit programs)
*Maintenance, correspondence and administration of digital certificates.

Assisting auditors during compliance audits:
*Gathering and maintenance of Business as Usual evidence
*Remediation correspondence with Auditors

Security Project Monitoring:
*Support the continuous improvement of security policies and standards.
*Co-ordination of multiple compliance and security projects
*Support awareness activities to ensure continuous improvements to the security culture for the 
 organisation.
*Reporting on weekly basis/ad-hoc concerning project progress

Business-As-Usual Monitoring
*Daily reviews of compliance documentation to enable easy to find context and content per project
*Provision for methods to maintain frequency of data reviews for compliance

Reporting and Correspondence:
*Maintain and follow ups with responsible resources
*feedback when required for internal reporting

Certificate authority Management 
* assist with getting batches signed off

Administration on KnowBe4(course selection & Distribution, onboarding as well as offboarding users ,updating of role and manager changes.

IT Compliance Administrator

Allan Gray Proprietary Limited

Service improvement, monitoring and integration.

Business role creation , reviewing and amendments.

Application Access Audits (verification of correct access is granted) &  ensuring all relevant access has been revoked in the case of user having left the organization / changed teams.

Mcafee machine / user recovery as well as Mcafee DLP port release 

Retail IT Apps supported

WDS/ Hornbill, Central park, Stadium, Siebel, Symantec VIP manager, Varonis ,Moorgate, Flex, Active Directory, Slack, Jira, ITSM, Global protect, MFA portal, Global Protect ,Cisco Jabber,mcafee DLP ,AD+,Calabrio

I.T Analyst

Investec

I currently fall under the Access management team .

Here we create, terminate and manage access for staff on applications such as card400,Lotus notes,Equation,Bizflow,The channel,Panorama,Jira,Synergy,Confluence,Finance,Rewards,Radar,Documentum,TLM,confirmation,Idemia,Smartstream,Transunion, Aveksa, E4 as well AD groups

Other aspects of my job function involve mobile support (setting up wifi an emails),migrating mailboxes from onPrem to office 365,remote 1st line desktop support, user & mailbox creation, Helpdesk, tracking email delivery/failure queries, Cisco Jabber, service improvement.

IT Support Specialist

I am currently a NOC agent,my responsibilities are monitoring network links,following up with the client to confirm power if link goes down,log the fault with the service provider(I.E telkom) if action is required,create a ticket on our system for the incident,update the call as additional information is obtained,send out sms and email notifications to the client and relevent contacts from when link fails till its back up,log calls for service desk(email and telephone), provide remote support for a variety of clients(installations,uninstall,trouble shoot etc),produce CRC errors as well as CPU utilization reports daily, produce abandoned call list,provide first call resolution if applicable,assist service see,password resets,pull age analysis reports of tickets older than four days,provide after hours support.

Support Engineer(Noc)

BSi STEEL

I interned at BSI STEEL LTD where I had been working since January 2014, I was part of the help desk and onsite support team, my responsibilities ranged from logging and managing calls placed through to help desk on KASEYA as well as logging all Microsoft AX fault logs on JIRA, Assisting with backups, User creation on AD, Manage company Guest Wifi accounts, Setting up Share drives and rights ,Active directory Setting up and authorizing users on blackberry Exchange server, administrating the PABX system, Setting up user telephones, all procurement of consumables and hardware to also administering the monitoring, renewal, cancellation and acquiring of new cell phone and data contracts, setting up of new devices and sim swaps.

IT Intern

Experienced I.T professional with 10 years experience within the I.T field.
my experience is across
industries and in varying roles- my skill set covers but is not limited to Policy and procedure creation and review, Evidence gathering for PCI,3DS&DSS,SOC2 requirements, Access Management, Certificate Management , Distribution of security&compliance-training ,Reports for BAU activities such as user training, policy signoffs.
My Highest Tertiary qualification is currently a post graduate degree inInformation Technology from the Tshwane University of Technology
followed by a National Diploma in Information Technology (Information Systems and Tech Management) from the University of Johannesburg.
In addition I also have a certificate in Business Risk Management from the University of Capetown, Microsoft's AZ-900, SC-900 & (ISC)²' CC certifications.

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The Battle

Melissa Grabiner

Hemiah (Junior) Khumalo

Followers

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taplio

The Battle

Melissa Grabiner

Hemiah (Junior) Khumalo

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Melissa Grabiner's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

Performance ScoreMelissa Grabiner's LinkedIn Performance