It's been awhile since I've posted as my life has been all over the place and I've had to focus on personal things. However, one thing I've realized is how truly appreciative I am of the profession I've chosen. It's given me the flexibility to be there for my children when they've needed me and remained lucrative enough so I can continue to fund their Barbie/Mickey Mouse habits.
As someone who's been in sales for the past ten years, I've learned the true meaning of "Persistence BEATS resistance." I'm a pro at picking myself up, dusting myself off and giving it my all time and time again. And recently this has been tested more than ever. As a recruiter, I pride myself on the reputations I've made both with my clients and my candidates. "It's NEVER the first sale, but rather the SECOND that's impressive," my husband always says...and he couldn't be more correct. Over the past few months, I've relaunched my business, The Corporate Ladder, to the warmest, most enthusiastic response. New clients are calling in almost daily, and candidates whom I haven't heard from in years are getting back in touch...either looking for new positions or referring their amazing friends who are in search of their own "golden ticket." These events allow me to forge ahead and make looking my teary eyed daughter in the face to say, "Mommy has to go to work today," a little easier.
The amazing part of my career is that not one of my dreams or ambitions included recruiting. It was something I tried on the suggestion of a great friend who thought I'd be good at it. Orthopedic Surgeon; Veterinarian; Copywriter...those were all the things I aspired to be. But never a recruiter. The only thing I knew about recruiters was that I hated them. Why you might ask...Well, after completing my masters degree two weeks after my father had died, I was somewhere between coherent and numb. So I picked up the New York Times (how ARCHAIC) and started calling all of the ads that looked appealing. One in particular caught my eye - Conference Coordinator for International Company.This ad was posted by a recruiter, so we set up an appointment to meet. The first thing she told me was that I needed to take my masters degree off my resume because it was going to scare potential employers since I didn't have the experience to back it up. Great...so happy I wasted four million dollars and the past 18 months of my life. The next question was -"What do you want to do?" My reply? "Anything, as long as I'm NOT AN ASSISTANT!" Three interviews and an interrogation later, I landed my first job as a Conference Coordinator (read-glorified assistant). But when I asked her to see if they would give me $24,000 instead of the $23,500 they offered, she said she had already accepted the job on my behalf and I started that Monday. After a few choice words and a big YOU SUCK, I hung up the phone, called my mom, and was officially employed on February 10, 1997...my 24th birthday. Pretty ironic that now I'm a recruiter AND I place assistants for a living...good thing I got over my issues.
I may bitch and complain about the candidates who fall off the face of the earth or the clients who take forever to make a decision only to hire an internal referral at the last minute, but at the end of the day, I'm truly blessed to do what I do. I get to help people, foster some amazing relationships and make really good money...all while balancing a life in the suburbs with two kids, a great husband and a bounce house in the backyard.
Thank you to all those who have joined me on my journey. My new chapter has begun...and I'm so happy to have all of you along for the ride!
Good night and happy job hunting,
The Job Yenta
After 10 years of recruiting, and thousands of candidates later, it's time to put my thoughts, rants, raves and stories on "paper." If you've ever applied for, recruited for, or worked at a job, then read away. I promise, you'll find a little bit of everything in here. Happy Job Hunting!
