Haley Fountain began her career at Specialist Staffing Group (the US division of SThree) with an internship while studying with the University of Houston and is now a full-time Senior Account Coordinator at our tech recruitment brand, Computer Futures. We asked her about her journey with our company so far and how it has helped her to develop on a professional and personal level.
Organization and communication are key
Haley Fountain, Senior Account Coordinator, Houston
Balancing her job, her college work, and her responsibilities in her sorority wasn’t always easy: “The key was staying very organized and putting all of my classes, quizzes and tests into my calendar at the beginning of the semester, along with my internship hours and my sorority activities.
“Communication is essential – I made sure to let my manager know in advance when I had a test coming up. I definitely learned how to manage my time better and to stay organized. The communication skills I learned being in my first office job were amazing.”
Haley’s growth within the company
Having impressed in her internship, Haley was asked to continue her work, transitioning to a full-time position after graduation. Haley’s training consisted of shadowing more senior recruiters, attending client meetings, and taking notes on client calls.
This allowed her to compare and contrast different communication styles, finding what worked most effectively for her at a pace that allowed her to learn. “My manager was great about slowly giving me new responsibilities each month that coincided with the work I would be doing as a business developer so that by the time I graduated, I was fully prepared for the position!”
Understanding clients and candidates
Haley appreciates the importance of developing an understanding with clients and candidates, and it gives her a lot of satisfaction to continue to build these relationships. “That moment when you can tell that your customers are really on board with what you are saying is a great feeling! I’m working on a role for a repeat client currently, and it’s exciting to see how that relationship has progressed and how he trusts my judgement and the candidates that we provide.”
Helping women to succeed
Hayley at a “Breaking the Glass” networking event
Haley is proud that “the opportunities for personal and professional growth are one of the best parts of this job” and has expanded this ethos to her client and candidate relationships. She helps to host events and coordinates a monthly newsletter for subscribers interested in “Breaking the Glass” networking opportunities in Houston and Austin.
“I have always had a special place in my heart for lifting women up and seeing them succeed. I love the fact that I can help women network, get advice and lift each other up, while also using the group as a way to develop business for Computer Futures.”
Teamwork
Above all, Haley enjoys coming to work each day, and that’s largely down to a welcoming and inclusive company culture that encourages working together, and helping each other out. “We all genuinely enjoy each other’s company and can make each day fun while getting our work done. We truly work as a team while maintaining a healthy amount of friendly competition at the same time.”
A career with Specialist Staffing Group in the US
Specialist Staffing Group currently has eight offices across the US including: New York, Boston, Chicago, Minneapolis, Austin, Houston, San Francisco and San Diego. The majority of our opportunities for college students are entry-level, full-time positions, and can be found here; but there’s also the opportunity to send us your resume and cover letter to [email protected], if you are interested in a college internship.