Carlton Spotlight: Brian Burnfield

At Carlton National Resources our people make all the difference, and Brian Burnfield is a prime example. As a Senior Recruiter in our Life Sciences division, Brian has been with Carlton for seven years, playing a crucial role in the division’s growth and success.

When asked about his role, Brian’s love for Office Space shines through. Brian says, “Well, I generally come in at least fifteen minutes late, use the side door so Lumbergh can’t see me, and then I just sort of space out for about an hour… I do that for probably another hour after lunch, too. I’d say in a given week, I probably only do about fifteen minutes of real, actual work.” (Bosses, please don’t fire him.) But in reality, his day is about building relationships, understanding client needs, and helping professionals find meaningful opportunities in the life sciences industry.

Click to watch scene from, Office Space.

Brian has been part of Carlton’s Life Sciences team from the very beginning, and seeing how far it has come is something he takes great pride in. Brian says, “I’m one of the early originals for the Life Science department, so seeing the growth of the company since we started is always good to look back on.”

The people, both at Carlton and the consultants he works with, are what Brian enjoys most about his job. Recruiting comes with daily challenges, but his approach is simple. Brian says, “As recruiters, we joke that you can put a lot of titles on your job description; Recruiter, Sales, IT, psychologist (lol). But at the end of the day, the best way to approach any challenge is to just treat others how you’d like to be treated.” He believes that keeping that perspective, especially in an industry built on relationships, makes all the difference.

Outside of work, Brian has no shortage of interests. Brian says, “I’m the self-proclaimed greatest fisherman and grill operator of all time.” When he’s not working, you can find him “attempting to boat, fish, ride my motorcycle, BBQ, play video games, or watch sports.”

Fifteen years into his recruiting career, Brian still finds motivation in the impact he makes. Brian says, “Each time you help secure a job for someone, especially when it’s a great fit or a real need, it’s rewarding.” His advice to newcomers in the industry? Brian says, “This industry can have a lot of highs and a lot of lows. The key to surviving the waves is to stay level-headed. Don’t get too high on your success, and don’t get too low on your failures. Do the right things each day, and things tend to work out.”

As for the future, Brian jokes that he might have an even bigger role down the road. Brian says, “Pretty sure the guys wrote me into their wills, so some years from now, I may have to sign for the real important stuff.” But for now, he continues doing what he does best helping Carlton grow and making an impact in the Life Sciences industry!

We’re grateful for Brian’s dedication, humor, and hard work over the years. His contributions have played a big role in shaping the team, and we’re lucky to have him at Carlton.