We spend a lot of time helping companies find great people, so we thought it was time you got to know some of ours.
This year marks 25 years of Hire Ventures, and the people behind the work are a big part of that story. We sat down with three of our recruiting consultants, Lily Rincon, Lauren Weghorst and Jen Powell, to talk about recruiting, hiring, candidates and what they’ve learned from doing this work every day.
“What does a typical day look like for you?”
Lily: “Lots of conversations. I’m either talking with candidates, working with a hiring manager or figuring out where we’re going to find the right people. It moves fast.”
Lauren: “It’s usually a mix of sourcing, screening calls and staying close to hiring managers. No two days look exactly the same, which is part of what I like about it.”
Jen: “Some days I’m on calls most of the day. Other days I’m researching, reviewing resumes or following up with candidates. There’s definitely no standard day.”
“What’s the best part of the job?”
Jen: “Getting to call someone and tell them they got the job. I still love making that call.”
Lily: “For me, it’s when you know you got the match right. The company is excited about the person, the candidate is excited about the opportunity and it makes sense on both sides.”
“Lauren, where do you see hiring teams get stuck?”
Lauren: “A lot of it comes down to getting clear on the role before the search starts. Sometimes different people on the team have different ideas about what they need, and that can slow everything down. And sometimes the search itself helps you get clearer. You talk to candidates, learn what’s out there and realize you need to adjust. That’s not a bad thing. You just have to be willing to have those conversations.”
“Lily, what’s one thing people get wrong about recruiting?”
Lily: “That the best candidates are the ones actively applying. A lot of the strongest people we talk to aren’t looking at all. You have to know where to find them, how to reach them and how to get them interested enough to have a conversation.”
“Jen, what do you wish more people understood about the recruiting process?”
Jen: “That a resume only gets you so far. You have to understand the company, the team and what someone is going to walk into once they take the job. It’s not just matching experience to a job description.”
“What does Hire Ventures do differently?”
Lauren: “We work as an embedded part of the client’s team. We get to know the business, the people and what they’re really looking for. Then we get in there and do the work, from sourcing and screening candidates to staying close to hiring managers and keeping the process moving. We’re not just sending resumes over and waiting to hear back.”
Lily: “We’re also not working toward a placement fee. The focus is on finding the right person for the company. And because we work fractionally, clients can bring in recruiting expertise when they need it without having to add another full-time recruiter.”
“When does a growing company know it’s time to bring in recruiting help?”
Jen: “Usually when recruiting starts falling onto the CEO, HR leader or another senior person who already has more than enough on their plate. Open roles need attention, candidates need follow-up and hiring managers need someone keeping the process moving. When no one really has the time to own it, things start slipping.”
Lauren: “It can also happen when a company is growing quickly and the internal recruiting team is overwhelmed. Maybe there’s a wave of hiring, several hard-to-fill roles or simply more recruiting than the team can realistically handle. That’s often where fractional recruiting makes sense. We can step in, work as part of the team and take on the work without the company having to immediately hire another full-time recruiter.”
“What’s one thing every hiring manager should do before starting a search?”
Lauren: “Get aligned internally. Know what the role needs, who should be involved and who’s making the final decision.”
Lily: “And if you find someone you really want to hire, don’t let weeks go by between steps.”
“What makes a candidate stand out?”
Jen: “Follow-through. Responding when you say you will, being prepared and communicating clearly all matter.”
Lauren: “I’d add good questions. Strong candidates want to understand the company and the role too. The questions they ask tell you a lot about how they think.”
“What advice would you give candidates?”
Lily: “Be honest about what you want. Don’t talk yourself into a job you already know isn’t right just because you feel pressure to take something.”
Jen: “Keep your resume current and stay connected to people even when you’re not actively looking. It’s easier to keep relationships going than to rebuild them when you suddenly need them.”
“What’s your favorite part about working at Hire Ventures?”
Lauren: “The team. People really do help each other. If you need another opinion on a candidate or a different way to think about a search, someone will jump in.”
Jen: “I have the freedom to do what’s right for the client and the candidate. It’s not about hitting a quota.”
Lily: “The flexibility and the trust. I get to do good work with good clients, and I really enjoy the people I work with.”
“If you could use one word to describe the Hire Ventures team, what would it be?”
Lily: “Collaborative. We lean on each other all the time. If someone has a tough search or needs another perspective, people step in. That carries over into how we work with clients too.”
Lauren: “Generous. People here share candidates, ideas, advice and time without keeping score. There’s a real sense that we’re all working toward the same goal.”
Jen: “Dependable. People do what they say they’re going to do. That matters with clients, candidates and with each other.”
Recruiting is tough. And when your company is growing, it can quickly become one more thing that lands on someone’s already full plate. That’s where Hire Ventures’ Fractional Recruiting team comes in. We work as an embedded part of your business, bring the expertise and do the work needed to keep hiring moving, without adding another full-time recruiter.
Have a question? We’d love to hear it. Schedule a call today or click here to learn more about Fractional Recruiting with Hire Ventures.
