Megan Laberis, Senior HR Search Consultant at Willmott
How long have you been with Willmott?
I have been with Willmott for 8 years! I started off in a sourcing capacity and transitioned into full-cycle recruitment.
What is your role with the organization?
I partner with HR professionals to assist them with their talent needs. I strive to build strong relationships with both candidates and clients informing them of market trends and providing counsel. I enjoy learning about each candidate, their career journey, what’s next and aligning them with an opportunity to add value and grow! I simultaneously work with clients to educate them on the market and match their talent needs with suitable candidates.
What is your background?
I earned a Bachelor Degree from UMass Dartmouth and an HR Certificate from Bentley University. I began my career in Human Resources working for a large global financial services organization. I was lucky to work with fun, talented and bright people while experiencing many areas of HR such as operations, benefits, generalist support and project management. Since then, I have transitioned into full-cycle recruitment and thoroughly enjoy recruiting for the HR space.
What do you like most about HR? About recruiting?
I have always enjoyed learning about laws as they relate to human resources in a corporate environment. Protecting the organization while offering solutions that best suit the employee and management team can be more of an art than a science. I love that I continue to learn about HR while in the recruiting space. I hear about different strategies, analytics and HR trends while maintaining relationships I’ve had since I began my career. I love matching candidates with an exciting role and watching them progress and succeed!
What are your observations as it relates client hiring practices given the COVID pandemic?
In general, hiring has slowed down and organizations have become more cautious. We have seen contractors released early and many permanent requisitions paused, cancelled and stalled given various comfort levels with virtual hiring. We could see an uptick in contract hiring as we re-open businesses and companies remain mindful. It is a great time to network, research and prepare yourself for that next step once companies begin to hire more freely!
Best advice for candidates in this current market?
These are emotional and unprecedented times with high unemployment and future uncertainty. This pandemic will continue to have a large impact on business. One positive outcome is the potential for increased work-life balance as we navigate this virtual world. In many cases, companies have put an emphasis on making remote work a success! As you consider your career next steps whether it is due to an unstable environment, furlough, career advancement or other reasons, it is important to have a career path in mind. Network! Use your existing network and thoughtfully continue to reach out and establish new relationships. Think to the future when selecting your next role, ensure that this role will allow you to develop the skills & experience necessary to align you with your long-term career goal. Do your research on the company, the team and how your background translates to the open role. Be prepared to provide specific examples in a concise fashion. These are unique times requiring video interviewing as a likely replacement for face-to-face. Be sure you take the time to familiarize yourself with the technology prior to the interview so you can log on in a timely fashion. Even in these times of video interviewing, it is important to make a personal connection. Take advantage of our career coaching services! We would love to help.
Think about a successful partnership with a client- what were the pieces that made it so successful?
Relationships! I believe that building a strong relationship and establishing trust is key to a successful partnership. If the client is open to an in-person meeting allowing us to learn the culture of the organization & understand their needs, we will succeed. Of course, during this climate we do need to get creative in our approach to these relationships. Skype/Zoom meetings are a great alternative and allow us to stay in touch with our clients virtually. It certainly does not replace face-to-face interaction but it does allow us to stay connected and keep the lines of communication open! I always want the best for both the clients and candidate, honesty and transparency is extremely important.
What was the best advice you ever got from a manager or peer?
My mentor suggested I return to school to earn my HR Certification. This education set me up for a successful transition into the HR space providing me with a solid HR foundation.
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