Odyssey Information Services recruited me from a leadership position at a Fortune 500 company. How did that happen?? It came down to three factors: Trust, right fit, and quality
Building a trusting relationship with my recruiter
My recruiting journey started with a good relationship with my recruiter, which was built over a 10-year period.
My recruiter, Kevin Killingsworth, did try to recruit me for other positions with different clients over the years, but he never pushed me to take a job that I felt did not align with my career goals. That’s exactly why I’d take or return Kevin’s calls.
Occasionally, my recruiter called just to check in. I valued that quality! That is also the reason I heard him out on the opportunity that I eventually accepted.
Occasionally, my recruiter called just to check in. I valued that quality! That is also the reason I heard him out on the opportunity that I eventually accepted.
I believed that he and I were aligned on my professional goals and that he genuinely cared where he placed individuals, including myself.
Right role, right time
Kevin was a bit more persistent with presenting this role. Like other positions he presented, I would begin by politely saying I wasn’t interested. But this time he asked me to hear him out because he believed it was the right role for me.
As I listened, I took into consideration multiple professional and personal factors.
The consulting role that he was pitching—and I ultimately accepted—offered the platform to leverage my technical skill set as well as my leadership capability. I enjoy leading technical teams. With this role, I was not only given the opportunity to lead, but to build a team from the ground up.
With this role, I was not only given the opportunity to lead, but to build a team from the ground up.
This opportunity to add an entire team to an established IT organization also showed that the client had a great deal of trust in Odyssey and respect for the quality of its professional services group.
Bottom line, I believed it was the right role for me at the right time.
Outweighing the fear of contract work
I would be lying if I said leaving my permanent position to take on a contract role didn’t scare me, but I felt that this opportunity (role & client) outweighed my fear of contract work.
Sometimes over a long career, you end up in “a good job,” but you’re not fulfilled because of the company’s culture and questioning whether the senior leaders have a clear path to the future.
From my earliest interactions with Odyssey’s leaders, I knew it was going to be the right company for my career because of the level of professionalism they display in every aspect of their business.
In addition, while researching the company, I noticed pictures of consultants on its website who were celebrating their 10-year anniversaries with Odyssey’s clients. This really resonated with me because I wanted to be in a position where I could grow with the company.
I plan to stay with Odyssey for a long time because I trust every level of the organization.
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