Posts by Ashlyn Nelson
The Most Overlooked Career Skills Aren’t Technical
When people think about career growth, they often focus on technical skills: certifications, software tools, AI courses, resumes. However, technical ability alone is rarely what derails someone’s career. Problems often stem from poor communication, lack of follow-through, unprofessional behavior, or an inability to adapt. Individually, these skills may seem small, but together, they shape reputation,…
Read MoreQ1 Lowdown: Big Moves, Hard Decisions, and What’s Ahead
Inside this edition of The High Country Lowdown: Q1 Six Speed Stats, hiring conversations on counteroffers and tough searches, exciting team updates, and a reminder to join us at Business & Brews. Click here to read more
Read MoreStick Around and See What Happens
Here’s a (hopefully) relevant story… This week alone, I’ve been involved in or overheard no less than a half dozen fairly gloomy conversations or news stories about “What is AI going to do to my job, my future job prospects,” or worse yet… “my kids’ job prospects?” Spoiler alert, every story was inconclusive. So, because…
Read MoreThe Counteroffer Trap: What Really Happens After You Say Yes
Making the decision to resign is rarely impulsive. By the time you formally accept another offer, you have likely spent weeks evaluating your current role, reflecting on long-term trajectory, and weighing the risks of change against the risks of staying. Once you give notice, the response often shifts quickly. Compensation adjustments are introduced. Title changes…
Read MoreThe Cost of a “Unicorn” Search
Every search begins with good intentions. A leadership team sits down to define what they need in their next hire. The conversation is thoughtful and strategic. On paper, it makes sense. No one sets out to create a unicorn search. It develops gradually as additional stakeholders weigh in and new priorities surface. A role that…
Read MoreWhat We’re Seeing, What We’re Building: Q4 Lowdown
Inside this edition of The High Country Lowdown: Q4 Six Speed Stats, Monte’s thoughts on business cycles, recent blog highlights, and an invite to Business & Brews. Click here to read more
Read MorePreparing for 2026 in an Unpredictable World
In my Q2 2025 blog, I made a case that business cycles are no longer organic. They are man-made. Be it 9/11, the sub-prime implosion, or Covid… it seems our parents’ predictable recessions have gone the way of the dinosaurs, leaving us to invent new ways to forecast and act on what comes next. Clearly, bad things…
Read MoreThe Reset Button: What 2025 Taught Us About Work (and What’s Next)
If you asked our team what this year felt like, the answer would be simple. 2025 was the year everyone quietly hit reset. Not a fresh start, not a dramatic reinvention… just a much-needed pause to look around and ask, Is the way we are working still working for us? At High Country, we had…
Read MoreFlexibility That Works: Why Companies and Candidates Are Embracing Contract Roles
If you’ve spoken with our team recently, you’ve likely heard us talk about the rise of contract and contract-to-hire roles. Finance, private equity, tech… it doesn’t matter the industry. The trend is clear. More companies are leaning into flexible hiring models, and more candidates are embracing them. We’ve noticed this shift growing stronger month after…
Read MoreFrom Red Flags to Real Wins: Q3 Lowdown
Inside this edition of The High Country Lowdown, find our office podcast picks, Q3 market stats, interview red flags, and why people still matter more than AI. Click here to read more
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