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As we close out Women’s History Month, we want to take a minute to highlight some of the women who help make up our Talent Team. We interviewed team members and asked them to answer a few questions about their careers in staffing. Looking to learn more about our team or break into the industry yourself? Read on for some key insights and advice!
• Tell us a little bit about your background/how did you get into staffing?
• What’s your favorite part about your job?
• What’s your best piece of advice for someone new to the industry?
Sarah Frank
• I’ve worked in staffing since I graduated college. I initially was contacted from posting my resume on a job board. My father was a factory worker, and I received a call about working in staffing for manufacturing, so I felt I had a leg up!
• I enjoy meeting new people weekly and learning about different positions and companies.
• Don’t take rejection personally.
Claire Hickner
• My career in IT staffing started in 2016. At the time, I had just moved to Chicago and was looking for a position where I could put my strengths to work, learn something new, and meet people. I was very green and eager to dive in.
• My favorite part about this job is building relationships with subject matter experts in their field. This position gives me the opportunity to forge authentic and reciprocal connections with passionate people.
• The advice I typically give to someone entering the staffing industry is to stay curious – always ask more questions. Working with people (clients and/or candidates) is inherently complex. There’s always something else you can uncover to help you prepare and run a more proactive book of business.
Faith Harris
• Becoming the Consultant Care Associate at Solving IT is my first corporate full-time job out of college. I majored in Psychology at the University of Notre Dame and was always intrigued by the “people” side of that subject. There is, of course, science that makes up the basis of it but I was always interested in connecting with people, understanding them, learning more about them and their choices. I wanted to focus more on people in a way that allowed me to be the helping hand or listening ear they needed in whatever journey they were on. In staffing, you are helping people further their careers which in turn can change their lives for the better, and I wanted to be a part of that!
• My favorite part of my job is getting to connect with and talk to our consultants monthly. During these conversations you get to learn so much about what they do, their personalities and little tidbits that they decide to share with you. I enjoy being their confidant when they have questions or need advice.
• Advice that I would give to someone new is to be open. This industry never has a set way of moving. You need to be open to change, people, opportunities, and know that unexpected things are not always bad, but can teach you a great deal. Be willing to always learn and grow!
Alanna Pacelli
• I started my career in staffing right out of college at a large staffing firm in the Chicagoland area. I was so excited when I got my first job as a Recruiter! The first thing my dad said when I told him was, “You’re in the right industry, you’ve always loved to help people and be on the phone!” I am forever grateful for the training and experience my first job gave me. It helped me grow into my role as an Account Manager and eventually to Leadership at Solving IT!
• I’ve always loved that my job allows me to make an impact both within and outside our company. As a leader, it’s rewarding to be able to coach my team, provide them with the support they need to succeed in their role, and celebrate their victories. It also is humbling to hear positive feedback about a consultant’s experience with Solving IT or that their life was greatly affected because we helped them get their dream job.
• Whenever things didn’t go according to plan, one of my old co-workers would remind us that “It’s not what happens, it’s how you deal with it”. The best piece of advice I can give to someone new in the staffing industry is mistakes will happen but it’s about turning every challenge or mistake into a lesson learned. We deal with people daily, so there are always new opportunities to take the different situations that arise and apply what you’ve learned in the past to help make a meaningful future decision!
Vanesa Beganovic
• Right after graduating college, I joined a SaaS company selling IT solutions focused on teleconferencing, which turned out to be in hot demand with the rise in remote work. I enjoyed working with IT decision makers in tech sales, but I always wanted to be in an HR or recruitment role. I found IT recruiting to be an intriguing way to blend my fascination with IT and love for connecting with people. Going from selling technical software to providing companies with technical talent was a great transition for me!
• My favorite part about being an IT recruiter is that I’m still working with IT leaders, but instead of selling companies technical software, I’m now providing them with technical talent- which I think is even more rewarding!
• The best advice I have for someone starting off in recruiting is to network and nurture professional connections. There will always be a demand for talent- the more people you know- the better off you are!
Khristiana Randazzo
• I was in retail management for about 6 years prior to staffing. During that time, I was able to really refine my communication skills and I had exposure to a lot of HR trainings and on the job experiences. When I was looking to make a career switch, I considered which skills would be the most transferrable, and staffing seemed like a natural transition. I’m so glad I made the move.
• I really enjoy working with our candidates and consultants and helping them to refine their resume, interview skills and working with them throughout their contract with our clients. It’s so rewarding when a consultant expresses how grateful they are to you for helping them land the job.
• Advice that I would give to someone new to staffing is that it can take some time to ramp up. Be consistent, ask questions, and don’t get discouraged. Also, don’t be afraid to follow up with people a few times. You likely will have to!
