I started out doing candidate sourcing and market intelligence research at a boutique, retained executive search firm, and later moved into Executive level full lifecycle recruiting. How I got this job: This was my “what do I do next?” career transition – I knew I was a strong researcher, and I loved talking to people. I did a lot of research on where I could combine these skills, discovered recruiting might be a good fit, and rewrote my resume to be VERY specific on who I was/what my skills were/how they aligned to this role. I found this job on LinkedIn. What I learned: I get my energy from people- hearing stories, problem solving, being consultative, and helping people on their career journey. I was lucky to land at a small firm where I got incredible and unlimited coaching and training. I learned that I love learning – every day I had to learn something new about a company or industry or job, and it never got old. However, the high intensity, big city culture of Washington, D.C. was not for me.

This was my first job out of college. I was a History major and this company did neat history work (museum exhibits, archival projects, historical research for litigation). It seemed like the PERFECT fit for me. How I got this job: I researched companies where I could use my history degree, identified an alumnus who worked at the company, and reached out to her to learn more about her career. She let me know when they had an opening, and I applied. What I learned: I disliked the solitude and monotony of this kind of research. I am still a history nerd in my free time, but I discovered that I really thrive when I am interacting with and meeting new people. The coolest part? I helped discover and build content for the National WWII Museum in New Orleans, including uncovering some inspiring stories of heroism and courage in the National Archives.