Remote jobs sound great—until the company calls you back into the office.
In this episode, Julia Toothacre talks with Lara Nichols, Senior Managing Director of Global Talent Management at Markel, who oversees recruiting across the U.S. and globally. With decades of experience in HR and talent strategy, Lara shares what job seekers need to know as return-to-office (RTO) policies evolve. They dive into how hybrid expectations differ around the world, what “remote” really means in 2025, and the hidden challenges of global hiring. Lara also shares what recruiters actually look for in resumes, why most cover letters don’t matter, and how job seekers can avoid getting caught off guard - before and after the offer.
Explore all the Control Your Career episodes: https://ridethetidecollective.com/podcast/
Connect with Julia on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliakrussell/
Episode Blog Post: https://ridethetidecollective.com/2025/04/09/season11episode3/
Learn more about the Career Advancement Intensive: https://ridethetidecollective.com/coaching/intensive/