Finding My Calling in the Recruiting Industry: A Journey of Passion & Purpose – by Casey Wright
Not many people grow up dreaming of a career in the recruiting industry. I certainly fall into that category. I studied Psychology in college. After deciding against going the medical school route, I found myself a recent college graduate with a Psychology degree. I was not really sure what I wanted to do in life. After a short stint working for a large insurance broker, I realized the insurance industry just didn’t fill my cup. So I did a lot of soul searching to try and determine what to do next.
From Sales Hesitation to Recruiting Success
I had a lot of mentors and people I trust recommend I get into sales. But for some reason growing up I associated most sales jobs with the sleazy salesmen often depicted in the movies. Someone told me I needed to find a product or a service I found interesting in order for a sales role to be fulfilling, but after coming to the realization that there wasn’t much of a market for selling footballs, I ended up landing in the recruiting industry.
Through my lifelong involvement in a wide variety of sports and other activities, having attended multiple high schools, and just an innate interest in getting to know people from all sorts of different backgrounds, I have always had a large network of people in my life. My thought was at some point, most people will either be in the market for a new job, or looking to hire, so I felt this industry would allow me the opportunity to have a positive impact on the lives of as many people as possible.
The Power of Talent Acquisition & Career Placement
I often say that the three biggest decisions people make in their lives are their house, their spouse, and their career. We get to have a big influence on one of those decisions. It is pretty cool and rewarding to witness the difference you can make in people’s lives. It’s also a big responsibility and not something to take lightly.
Recruiting is Sales- But It’s Different
Don’t get it wrong, recruiting is definitely a sales role, but I think it is very different than most other sales positions. To have a successful career in this industry, you have to have a healthy balance of competitiveness and compassion. I have seen plenty of people try and make it in our industry using many of the traditional hard sales, and pushy tactics that may make someone successful in many other sales roles, but often lack the empathy that allows them to truly understand what motivates people in order to help them find the right fit.
If you sell someone a truck and they don’t end up liking it, they can trade it in for a different vehicle. If you sell a client software package that isn’t quite right, although it might be a headache, they will be able to find another product that is a better fit for their needs. But we are dealing with people’s livelihoods. Helping a candidate find the right job or helping a client identify the best fit for their company can completely change the trajectory not only of their careers, but their entire lives.
Focusing on Meaningful Connections, Not Just Placements
We meet with hundreds, if not thousands of people each year. We try our best to make some sort of positive impact on the lives of each one of them. Sometimes that’s simply offering words of encouragement and being a sounding board for people who are at a difficult stage in their lives. Sometimes that’s providing people with market knowledge, interview tips, and resume advice. Other times it is through a little bit of tough love by helping people set realistic expectations. This might seem counterintuitive and contradictory to the way I was first trained in this industry. My first thought when I meet new people isn’t, “who are they going to hire from me” or “where am I going to place this person.” Rather it’s how can I be a value add for this person? What is our relationship going to look like three, four, five years from now? We take the time to genuinely get to know everyone we meet. We seek to understand what motivates them, their values, what makes them unique, and ultimately what culture they will thrive in best.
One of the most common phrases I heard early in my career was “butts in seats.” This made it evident that many of the people I worked with were only concerned with how many people we could place and how quickly. This transactional approach, instead of a relationship-building approach, disgusted me. Ultimately, it was a huge factor leading towards owning my own company.
What Makes Chief of Staff Different
At Chief of Staff, we focus most on truly making connections that matter. We’d rather never work on a search versus placing someone with a company that isn’t the best fit for both their professional and personal lives. There is no fee I have ever been paid that’s worth a fraction of my reputation. We avoid the temptation to push people to close a deal. Our team focuses on the best interest of our candidates and clients. We help create loyalty from our contacts and friends of the firm for life.
There is no simple answer to the daily question of “What makes Chief of Staff different.” The only way to truly answer that question is by showing people with our actions and results. We are a contingent firm. One of the great benefits is we don’t charge anyone a penny unless a company hires our candidates. In fact, we provide all sorts of value completely free of charge such as:
- Help our clients understand exactly what type of person they need to hire
- Give our clients a better understanding of the current market
- Sell the opportunity and find ways to promote the organization
- Set compensation expectations
- Point out red flags to be cognizant of
- Share resumes for comparative purposes
Kansas City’s Trusted Recruiting Firm
Over 300 companies in the Kansas City area trusted us to be their Talent Scouts and go-to recruiting firm last year, and that list continues to grow. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us any time with questions. If you just give us an at bat, I am confident you will all be very pleased with the results.
After nearly two decades in this industry, I am beyond confident that I have found my true calling in life. I look forward to helping make a positive impact on the lives of many more people throughout the Kansas City community, and beyond, for years to come.
Thank you to all of our clients, candidates, and friends of the firm. Thank you for your loyalty, friendships, partnerships, and faith in Chief of Staff to continue as Kansas City’s go-to recruiting firm. There has never been a cooler time to live in Kansas City. We are honored to have the opportunity to help support the lives of so many people that make our community so special!
Written by Casey Wright
President & Owner at Chief of Staff KC
Currently hiring and need a helping hand? Haven’t had a smooth job search?
Reach out to Chief of Staff KC with any questions you may have, and we’ll pair you with a dedicated recruiter that is motivated to find the right fit for you. Let’s get started.
