Confessions of a Rookie Recruiter
In her debut blog, Kiana shares the honest, behind-the-scenes story of how she went from stay-at-home mom to making her first successful placement in construction recruiting, all within her first 90 days. From imposter syndrome and awkward jargon to building trust and finding the right candidate, Kiana opens up about what it really looks like to start strong in a brand new career. stand out
If you had told me a year ago that I’d be talking to construction executives about precon meetings and change orders, I probably would have laughed (nervously). I came into recruiting knowing absolutely nothing about the industry, and even less about recruiting itself. After two years as a stay-at-home mom, jumping into a completely new career was exciting, but also… well, overwhelming.
Adjusting from “mom mode” to “work mode” wasn’t easy. Suddenly, I was swapping play dates and snack negotiations for phone screens and client submittals. It felt like learning a new language, and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t intimidated.
But I leaned into what I did know: people. I’ve always loved connecting with others, understanding their stories, and helping them move toward something better. So when I got my very first search assignment, I started there. I researched. I asked questions. I listened.
One thing I found helpful was being honest with candidates. I told them I was new to the recruiting world and asked them to help me understand their role, their path, and what mattered to them in a career move. That honesty opened up some really genuine conversations, and I think it made a difference.
I submitted three strong candidates within the first two weeks. One of them stood out immediately. He had the experience the client needed, but beyond that, I just knew he was the right fit. He had the soft skills, the culture alignment, and that hard-to-define quality that makes you think, yep, this guy belongs here.
Even though this wasn't my client initially, I made it a point to introduce myself properly. I asked questions, not just about the job requirements, but about their company culture, their leadership team, and what success really looked like in this role. I wanted to be more than a vendor. I wanted to be a partner, an extension of them.
When I submitted my candidate, I told the client honestly, “I really think you should meet him.” And they did. They drove three hours to interview him in person. One interview was all it took. A few days later, they extended an offer, and the candidate accepted that same day.
That placement was the culmination of a month’s worth of effort, self-doubt, imposter syndrome… and growth. I had feared I’d mess something up, or that I wasn’t cut out for this. But I didn’t. I made it. And I helped someone take a major step forward in their career while solving a real need for my client.
I placed my first candidate within my first 90 days…and I loved every nerve-wracking minute of it.
I’m still new. I still have a ton to learn. But I’ve already made amazing connections in this industry, and every conversation teaches me something new. I can’t wait to keep building, keep growing, and keep connecting great people with great opportunities.
This is just the beginning. Let’s see what the future holds.
