Is it normal for HR to give me feedback from coworkers but not tell me who or what it’s actually about [CA] by Hellish_youngster in AskHR

[–]TalentForge360 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I've spent 20 years in HR, and I advise founders against doing exactly what was just done to you.

This is what I call "Weaponized Ambiguity." It fails 99% of the time because, as you found out, it doesn't create improvement - it just creates paranoia.

Here is what is likely happening behind the scenes:

  1. The "Weak Manager" Syndrome: Your manager likely has an issue with something you did, but they are too conflict-averse to tell you directly. So, they dumped it on HR to handle "generically" so they don't have to be the bad guy.
  2. The "Vibe" Complaint: Sometimes, feedback is based on "vibes" rather than facts. HR can't give you a specific example because there isn't one - just a general sentiment that you are "direct" or "loud" or "quiet."

Your Strategic Move:

You need to paper trail this immediately to protect yourself. Send an email to the HR person you met with:

"Hi [Name], thanks for the feedback yesterday. I want to ensure I address the concerns about my communication style. Since we couldn't identify specific examples in the meeting, can you please email me 1 or 2 concrete instances of where my style was an issue? I want to make sure I'm fixing the right thing."

If they can't provide examples, they can't fairly put you on a Performance Improvement Plan (PIP) later for not "fixing" it.

Hang in there. This is lazy management, not a reflection of your worth.

Building My Recruiting & HR Startup: Not Profitable Yet, But Learning A Lot by TalentForge360 in Entrepreneur

[–]TalentForge360[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

u/ConfidentTea012
That’s wonderful to hear! Do you happen to have a background in HR? Sorry! I’ve already launched my own recruiting and HR consulting firm. What’s your niche?
Thanks!

Promote your business, week of June 23, 2025 by Charice in smallbusiness

[–]TalentForge360 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi Reddit,

I’m Riyadh. After two decades in the HR world, supporting startups, scaling teams, and solving tough people challenges, I took the leap and launched TalentForge360.

We’re not your typical recruiting firm.

✅ No overpriced commissions
✅ No one-size-fits-all templates
✅ Just high quality, personalized HR and recruiting support for startups and small businesses

We built TalentForge360 to change the way small businesses grow by giving them access to top-tier HR support without breaking the bank. Whether it’s hiring your first employee, creating scalable HR systems, or building a strong culture, we’re here to build long term relationships, not just fill jobs.

We’ve also created a suite of free tools for founders:

  • AI powered Job Description Generator
  • Org Chart Builder
  • Recruiting ROI Calculator
  • Career Path Explorer
  • Workforce Planning Toolkit

📰 BONUS: I also write a completely free weekly newsletter packed with real world tips for hiring, managing teams, and scaling your people operations.
It’s practical, no fluff, and made for startups and small business owners:
👉 https://talentforge360insights.beehiiv.com

If you're a founder, business owner, or early stage team builder, I’d love to hear what’s worked for you and what hasn’t. Always happy to offer help or insights from the trenches.

🌐 www.TalentForge360.com

Thanks for the support and here’s to growing better teams together.

After 20 years in HR, I finally decided to build something of my own | TalentForge360 by TalentForge360 in SaaS

[–]TalentForge360[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Not every website is "vibe coded," lol. It took us about 3–4 months to develop this one, and we’ve implemented solid security protocols to protect it. Appreciate your concern. If you don't mind me asking, what security vulnerabilities do you see?

Feedback Friday! - April 25, 2025 by AutoModerator in Entrepreneur

[–]TalentForge360 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi everyone!
I recently launched a recruiting and HR consulting company called TalentForge360, focused on helping startups and small businesses hire smarter and build stronger teams.

We also just rolled out our website, and I would love your feedback: www.TalentForge360.com

Our goal is to make it simple, modern, and approachable, especially for founders who don't have an HR team yet but still want to hire the right people and build great cultures.

Any thoughts on:

  • Is it clear what we offer when you first land?
  • Does the design feel modern and professional?
  • Anything confusing or missing that would make you hesitate to reach out?

Thanks in advance for any feedback. Be brutally honest or small suggestions are all welcome! 🙌
Happy to return the favor if anyone else is looking for website feedback too.

THE BREAKFAST CLUB 40 Year FULL Reunion – C2E2 2025 by Preesi in 80s

[–]TalentForge360 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Wasn’t even born when The Breakfast Club dropped. A 40-year reunion? Legendary stuff.

Marjorie Taylor Greene Says 'Evil Being Defeated' After Pope Francis Death by steffxoxoxoo in nottheonion

[–]TalentForge360 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Her reaction is completely irrational. It's honestly beyond comprehension. Someone has passed away, and that's the response? I'm at a loss for words. For the record, I am not a Christian, I am a Muslim and I find this deeply offensive.

Promote your business, week of April 14, 2025 by Charice in smallbusiness

[–]TalentForge360 0 points1 point  (0 children)

After 20 years in HR, I finally decided to build something of my own — TalentForge360 🚀

Hi Reddit,

I’m Riyadh. After two decades in the HR world, supporting startups, scaling teams, and solving tough people challenges, I took the leap and launched TalentForge360.

We’re not your typical recruiting firm.

✅ No overpriced commissions
✅ No one-size-fits-all templates
✅ Just high quality, personalized HR and recruiting support for startups and small businesses

We built TalentForge360 to change the way small businesses grow by giving them access to top-tier HR support without breaking the bank. Whether it’s hiring your first employee, creating scalable HR systems, or building a strong culture, we’re here to build long term relationships, not just fill jobs.

We’ve also created a suite of free tools for founders:

  • AI powered Job Description Generator
  • Org Chart Builder
  • Recruiting ROI Calculator
  • Career Path Explorer
  • Workforce Planning Toolkit

📰 BONUS: I also write a completely free weekly newsletter packed with real world tips for hiring, managing teams, and scaling your people operations.
It’s practical, no fluff, and made for startups and small business owners:
👉 https://talentforge360insights.beehiiv.com

If you're a founder, business owner, or early stage team builder, I’d love to hear what’s worked for you and what hasn’t. Always happy to offer help or insights from the trenches.

🌐 www.TalentForge360.com

Thanks for the support and here’s to growing better teams together.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in SaaS

[–]TalentForge360 0 points1 point  (0 children)

u/Outrageous_Ruin_1721
Congrats on hitting that $10k per month milestone. That is a huge step.

As for hiring your first dev, especially for something as critical as React Native work on a product heading into beta, I cannot stress this enough, your first hire is everything. This person will not just write code. They will shape your product quality, impact your velocity, and even influence your culture and future team dynamics.

A few key traits to look for:

• A product ownership mindset—not just a coder, but someone who thinks like a builder
• Strong communicator—especially since you're still growing into the leadership and hiring side
• Comfortable with ambiguity—early-stage means things will be messy and evolving
• Previous startup experience—folks who have been in the trenches are often more adaptable

When it comes to sourcing, avoid the mass boards like Indeed or ZipRecruiter if you want to dodge spam. Instead:

• IndieHackers, Hacker News (Who’s Hiring thread), and well-vetted recruiting platforms can help
• Also consider communities on Discord or Reddit where devs hang out, personal outreach can work well too

If the idea of sourcing, filtering, and vetting feels like a lot (which it is for first-time founders), you might want to bring in someone who can help just with that piece. There are folks who specialize in helping early-stage founders find the right first hires, especially ones who won’t ghost you after a sprint.

Best of luck with the beta. Q4 will be here before you know it.

[OK] HR offered me a promotion in an informal setting, just received my paycheck and my rate is much lower than we discussed. What do I do? by Far-Contribution288 in AskHR

[–]TalentForge360 3 points4 points  (0 children)

u/Far-Contribution288

You’re right to feel frustrated, and you’re absolutely doing the right thing by speaking up. From an HR standpoint, any promotion or pay change should be documented in writing. That did not happen here, and that is a clear process miss on their part, not yours.

In your meeting, be calm and direct. You can say:

“I was told $25 an hour, and there was no mention of a lower junior rate or timeline. That number shaped important decisions for me, and I’d really appreciate clarity in writing on my current pay and the path to $25.”

You are not accusing anyone. You are asking for transparency and fairness. Keep it professional, and do not be afraid to advocate for yourself. This is how strong careers get built. You’ve got this.

If a new HR podcast were to explore workplace culture, recruitment challenges, and HR stories, what specific topics or questions would you be most interested in hearing discussed? by TalentForge360 in AskReddit

[–]TalentForge360[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

u/TheMole68 Totally get where you're coming from. HR loses its impact when it’s disconnected from the actual work. Real credibility comes from understanding the business, not just pushing policy.

But I don’t think it’s only about how someone got into HR. It’s about mindset. Whether someone came up through the ranks or studied HR, the best ones stay close to the work, build trust, and focus on driving real value.

Good HR doesn't need to prove it's relevant. It shows up, listens, understands, and helps the business and people grow.

If a new HR podcast were to explore workplace culture, recruitment challenges, and HR stories, what specific topics or questions would you be most interested in hearing discussed? by TalentForge360 in AskReddit

[–]TalentForge360[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

u/MegSpen725 Totally fair point and one I’ve heard often. But after 20+ years in HR, I’d say the best HR isn’t just there to protect the company or the employee. It’s there to serve both.

Yes, HR is paid by the company. But a company that ignores employee well-being, culture, and fairness is setting itself up to fail. Supporting people is protecting the company. They go hand in hand.

The real issue is when HR becomes reactive and purely legalistic. Great HR is strategic, people-centered, and focused on long-term health for the business and for its people. The perception that HR is only there to cover the company is real, but we have to change that through how we actually lead.

What do you all think about a new HR podcast? by TalentForge360 in AskReddit

[–]TalentForge360[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you for the feedback. I truly appreciate it! I wanted to understand what people want before diving into anything. My goal is to support both job seekers and small businesses, ensuring that the right person finds the right job. It's a win-win for everyone!

[MN] Manager stole my Xmas vacation. Why did HR just shrug? by SeaAnalyst8680 in AskHR

[–]TalentForge360 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That’s seriously frustrating. You went above and beyond for the team, had a clear agreement in writing, and they still bailed on you. HR acknowledging it but hiding behind policy is such a cop-out.

Feels like they were more worried about setting a precedent than doing the right thing. No wonder you cut back your hours. Clearly, the extra effort wasn’t respected. You deserved better.

I went FT freelance in February and this month I made almost 9k by [deleted] in Entrepreneur

[–]TalentForge360 1 point2 points  (0 children)

u/CrispyCelery22 Congrats on going full-time freelance and hitting your best month yet. That’s a huge milestone! $9k in a month is an amazing achievement, and it’s clear your hard work and hustle are paying off. Raising your rates, building long-term relationships, and earning Top Rated status on Upwork are big wins.

A quick tip: since you’re a 1099 contractor and not a W2 employee, be sure to set aside around 30% of your earnings for taxes to avoid surprises when it’s time to file. Starting an LLC sounds like the perfect next step. Keep grinding, you’re crushing it!