To whom it may concern:

“You have no idea how bad recruiters can be,” my boyfriend said to me one evening, “Listen to this.”? He put the phone on speaker, and what followed was a seven-minute discussion between him and a pleasant-toned woman who thought, based off his “I’m-a-Civil-Engineer-in-Columbus-Ohio” LinkedIn profile, that he would be a fit for a mechanical engineer role somewhere near Dayton.? Their interaction was like two people at a speed dating event: neither was clearly suited for the other, and we were all uncomfortable after mere minutes—yet they still had to go through the formalities and niceties society expects before never speaking to each other again. That was my first introduction to recruiting, and I thought I could do it better.??

I’m a professional singer by training—not the kind that goes on American Idol, but the kind that conjures up images of Viking women with trembling jowls and dramatic poses.? Given that stereotype, I can understand why it might be difficult to see how a classical music background translates into becoming a successful recruiter.? Horned helmets only get you so far in the world.? However, I’ve found the skills from my artistic career readily apply to my day-to-day work in talent acquisition—even a good dramatic pose now and again goes a long way in a board meeting.?

First and foremost, music has taught me how to communicate with a wide range of audiences. As a performer, I have honed my ability to listen to others and to process not only what is said but also what is left unsaid (or merely implied). On stage, I need to pick up on non-verbal clues and gauge my responses accordingly.? Consequently, I can express my ideas with greater clarity and with greater effect, whether I’m singing an aria in front of a full house or reaching out to a developer who is only casually looking.???

Off the stage, I have developed the organizational and multitasking skills of a small business owner.? There’s a high level of attention to detail and preparation that goes into being an active professional musician.? It’s not enough to simply have a pretty voice; a singer needs to know how to develop and sell her product.? I conduct my own marketing, my own web design, and my own branding.??

This same diligence carries over into recruiting.? When working with passive job seekers, I can’t simply state the job.? It’s imperative to know the company, the culture, and any other quirks or perks of the role.? I relish the research and critical thinking that goes into matching the right roles with the right people.???

Above all else, music has taught me grit. I probably get fifteen rejection letters for every contract I land from auditions.? It can be daunting, but I’ve learned success comes from continued perseverance.? The same holds true in talent acquisition.???

All this said, I realize that anyone can make herself look good on paper; therefore, I encourage you to either call me or to set up a meeting to talk in person.??