Welcome new Team Member Alison Griffith!

Here are some highlights from my chat with our newest team member Alison Griffith.  Alison was recently hired as a Recruiting Coordinator in the Austin office.

Tell me about your background:

I most recently worked for a large financial services company as a Recruiting Coordinator.  I supported the IT recruiting needs for three offices. It gave me the opportunity to become familiar with the specialized nature of IT recruiting. Prior to this job, I worked four years as a Recruiter for a large credit union.  We recruited for all types of positions from tellers to executive management positions.  We processed around 400 applicants per month averaging 20 placements. I worked closely with the HR staff to on-board the new employees.

Why did you choose DCS?  What do you think makes DCS different from other companies?

As I found out, working for a large corporation does not always provide long-term stability. I wanted to find a job in technical recruiting. The longevity of the team and the size of the company really stood out to me as huge positives. I thought, this is a place where I can be for a while.  I was also very impressed that DCS had a 4.5 rating on Glassdoor.

What do you see as the latest trends in recruiting?

Job searching has moved from the desktop to the mobile device.  It is important that corporate social media and websites are designed to be mobile friendly and the job application process is quick and easy.

Social media recruiting – LinkedIn has changed the way people network, recruiters find candidates and candidates find jobs.

What do you think makes a recruiter successful?

• Good judgement skills
• Making the candidate feel comfortable
• Great detective skills – being able to build a picture of someone based on the information they provide or you find
• Being able to see the picture and not get too buried in the details

 

What advice do you have for candidates looking for a job?

• Attend networking events
• Work your network of business colleagues and friends
• Look for employee referrals
• Be sure your resume reflects your experience and technology skills

 

Does social media play an important part in recruiting?

I think it is important for Employers to focus on their corporate brand and incorporate the fun/personal side. Doing things like interviewing staff or acknowledging accomplishments says a lot about the company culture. LinkedIn and Twitter are the two platforms that I use the most. Many job searchers look to Glassdoor to gain insight into a company.

In your experience, which job boards have the best jobs and candidates?

The job sites I have used are Dice, Indeed and LinkedIn. I understand that DCS also uses Monster.

What characteristics do you look for in a candidate?

• Strong communication skills – being clear and concise without rambling on and on
• Good customer facing skills – not being too technical
• Good problem solving skills
• Strong management style

 

What are the top three things that create a great relationship between sales and recruiting teams?

My top three are open communication, understanding the client needs and collaboration. The better recruiters can understand the client’s requirements, the more likelihood there is to place a candidate.

What interests do you have outside of work?

I love the Austin live music scene.  Austin City Limits is one of my favorite events.  I enjoy being outside and going on hikes with my dog. I am an avid reader of thriller books.

We are so excited to add Alison to the DCS Team! Reach out and say hello …

 

Contributed by Amy Noel, Executive Vice President, Sales & Recruiting