Shawnda brings over 20 years of recruiting experience to her role as Recruiter with High Profile, where she focuses her expansive talents on placing Human Resources professionals in the DFW area. Serving as Chairman of the Board with the DFW SMA, and holding her PHR (Professional in Human Resources), SHRM – CP, and CSP (Certified Staffing Professional) certifications, Shawnda is an asset to clients and candidates alike. Get to know a bit more about Shawnda in our Employee Spotlight!
Q: What are five words you would use to describe yourself?
A: Outgoing, talkative, trustworthy, loyal and dependable
Q: What is your favorite thing about working at High Profile?
A: I don’t think I can pick just ONE favorite thing but I’ll try to narrow it down to the “short list”: servant leadership, flex scheduling, AWESOME teammates, development opportunities, etc. I’m so proud to work for a company who gives back to the community and whose integrity and values align with my own.
Q: What is an interesting fact (or two or three) about you?
A: I live in East Texas and commute to Dallas (have been for 7+ years), but wouldn’t do so for any other company (High Profile is a special place). As a result, I only see my husband (Brian) on the weekends so we pack as much into a weekend as we can – golfing, deer camp, spending time with our adult children and our 1-yr old granddaughter (who, by the way, has stolen our hearts), etc. I have a HUGE family with lots of aunts, uncles and cousins. And, most of them talk just as much as I do…I come by it naturally! I LOVE to travel and have somewhat of an adventurous spirit!
Q: What is something on your bucket list you’d like to do?
A: Since I am Irish on my daddy’s side (Kennedy) and Italian on my momma’s side (Parolini/Paroline), I have always wanted to visit Ireland and Italy. Luckily, I have been fortunate enough to visit Ireland (with one of my sisters, one of my cousins and 5 other girlfriends) and now I want to visit Italy! I would love to rent a villa and travel all over Italy, like I was able to do in Ireland. It’s fascinating to me to see where/how our ancestors lived!
Q: What is one tip you’d give to a job seeker to help them in their employment search?
A: Be able to ‘tell your story’, i.e. develop your 2-minute elevator pitch, touching on the highlights. I think it’s best if someone doesn’t have to drag the information out of you. Paint them a picture so that they have a snapshot of who you are – professionally and personally.
Q. Share a recent client success story.
A. One of the best things a Recruiter can do is to develop strong relationships with their clients and to be seen as a true ‘partner’ (whether the client is an internal hiring manager or external). Once you truly understand your client and their needs, you can then grasp which candidate(s) will excel on their team.
We have a client that is RAPIDLY growing and, as a result, has outgrown its current structure in their HR department. Recently, I met an HR candidate that also had Project Management experience. I thought she could serve the client well with this background and could perhaps offer some guidance. I marketed her to the VP of HR and they brought her on as a contractor. She is now on their payroll and is making an impact in their organization!