Hi Joyce, tell us a little bit about yourself!

Hi there! I recently graduated from the George Washington University and I got my first corporate job in Talent Acquisition and I love it. I grew up in four countries and my favorite animal is the narwhal. I love watching movies and music is one of my passions. I've been really into taking care of indoor plants these days along with spending my time cooking and having wine nights with friends. I'm an INFJ and my favorite season is fall.
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Can you tell us what you do as a Technical Sourcer for those who are unfamiliar?

As a Technical Diversity Sourcer, I look for underrepresented talent! I focus on our tech roles that range from Software Engineers to those working in DevOps. I source through LinkedIn, Hired, our ATS (Eightfold), and other social media/job platforms to find passive talent. I reach out to them if I see a great skillset! Sourcers help with diversifying pipelines and also finding very niche skillsets. Its like professional stalking :)‍

How did you decide to pursue talent sourcing?‍

I initially wanted to pursue music therapy since I graduated with a double major in Psychology and Speech, Language, & Hearing Sciences, but for my last semester of college, I took a course called Industrial and Organizational psychology, which talked about putting business/corporate work and psychology together. I loved it! I'm also a huge fanatic on personality tests and how different people have different work ethics or temperaments. When I learned about the talent acquisition field, I knew it was the right fit for me. At first I thought sourcing for talent was a mindless job of spamming random people, but it's actually much more strategic.
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What programs & tools do you use everyday for work? What do you like/dislike about these programs?

I used LinkedIn Recruiter, Hired, our Applicant Tracking System: Eightfold, Workday, CSEs (Customer Search Engines on Google), boolean search strings, and lots of market intelligence research! I love all of the tools I use as they help me find underrepresented talent and help level out the hiring field for diverse candidates.

Any advice on how to get noticed by a recruiter?

Key words on your resume are literally... KEY. They will be your ticket to getting your foot in the door. When recruiters, sourcers, or even coordinators go through hundreds and hundreds of resumes, they will only pay attention to action words, accomplishments, specific skillsets, and even personality. Cater your resume to the job you're applying for and don't be afraid to throw in a piece of your personality. I listed karaoke as one of my interests at the very end of my resume and it was the perfect ice-breaker for a lot of interviews!
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What are some must-have resources (books, tools, podcasts, etc.) you would recommend for your industry?

Make a LinkedIn and connect with people! Networking is big and put yourself out there. A lot of people are on LinkedIn to get to know new people and to get inspired. Use it to your advantage. I also read a lot of articles on how to create diverse pipelines and getting rid of unconscious biases.
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What are 3 character traits that would make someone excel in your field?

1. Being detail oriented
2. Someone who is not afraid to take initiative
3. Organization
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Most satisfying & difficult thing about your job?

The most satisfying thing about my job is seeing the candidate that you sourced be put through the interview process and having the team say, "this person was an amazing find!" When it eventually leads to an offer, you later get to work with them. Having someone that you saw potential in go through an interview process and seeing them succeed makes me feel like a proud coach.

The most difficult thing about my job is when there's a position that has been open for way too long. You've already looked at every job platform and resume to look for the best candidate, but come back with nothing. Sometimes it gets discouraging but you have to start getting creative
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What would you like to say to your younger self?

Have confidence. Don't be afraid to own what you know and own what you're good at! You've made it this far, and you'll definitely go farther. Don't be afraid of failure, because it'll build you up to be stronger, smarter, and better.
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Best advice you've received/heard?

Go with your gut. Usually our intuition and the little voice in our heads are right.