FeedKristin Condon, CHRP - Toronto
Why recruiting...
Recruiting is my passion - just ask anyone who knows me - personally or professionally. Some people may ask - why recruiting? Actually, most people ask this question, as for many, recruiting is only seen as a cumbersome and never-ending challenge. Yet, to me, I see it as the amazing opportunity to help someone - two people actually - the candidate AND the hiring manager.
First, to help someone find a job that is the perfect fit for them - one that excites them, takes them to the next step in their career or in their life - this is extremely rewarding. Second, to help a company grow/improve/sustain what they have through hiring that excellent candidate - this is equally fulfilling.
The beginning...
I started in the recruiting world 10 years ago. I had just finished university, graduating with a degree in History, and thought - what am I going to do now??? I did not want to be a History teacher, so that limited my job prospects that were related to my degree. My father, trying to help out his only daughter (well really, he just wanted me to move out of the house!) referred me to the owner of a small boutique IT recruitment firm that he had used to hire IT professionals. I met with the company for an interview and was hired on in a junior role - to be trained from the ground up. I thought "this will tide me over until I figure out what I want to do."
This was one of the best and hardest experiences I ever had. I learned about recruiting from the agency perspective. Where your credibility, your level of service and the quality of candidates you put in front of your clients (and the quality of roles that you put in front of your candidates) are everything. I learned all the basics and then some. And most importantly, I not only learned that I like recruiting, but that I was good at it!
From there I decided to build my career and completed a post-graduate diploma in Human Resources Management along with my Registered Professional Recruiter designation. My next step was an opportunity to work for a medium size accounting firm, where I was recruiting internally for the firm to place accounting type roles as well as recruiting for the firm's clients.
This provided a wide range of exposure recruiting for a variety of roles in a variety of industries. It also provided me with my first experience as a corporate recruiter. My passion for and experience in recruitment grew.
I was then hired on by one of my client's as an HR Generalist/Recruiter.
This was a great compliment as they brought me in-house based on their experience with me as an external recruiter. Working for this leading edge, entrepreneurial company allowed me to be very hands on and build upon my portfolio of positions to recruit for - from call centre, to IT, to Marketing and of course, the heart of any organization, Sales. I managed majority of the recruitment for this company and realized that recruitment truly was my calling. I also realized how much I loved Sales.
After 3.5 years in this role, I moved to one of the top insurance companies in Canada, where I managed recruitment for the Ontario and Atlantic regions and worked on recruitment strategy and process on a regional and national level. This was an extremely exciting and challenging role. I had the ultimate "corporate" experience.
Today..
Today, I am part of the Sales Talent Agency team - as a Talent Consultant - a job that allows me the opportunity to work with people (which I love), in recruiting (which I love), and specializing in sales (which I love).
After 10 years in recruiting, I feel I found the perfect role - one that excites me, that I am passionate for and that has taken me to the next level in my career and in my life. The exact thing I want to help find for other people!!!