Gratitude, Growth, and, Oh…We’re Hiring

When people ask me how long I’ve been in the industry, I joke that it’s simply how old I am. Because, really, at the ripe age of 5, I already understood the important role our agency played in connecting employers and jobseekers. I knew that companies were the heartbeat of communities because this was how people had jobs and could earn money, so they could eat and have houses…and maybe their kids could then get toys and treats (again – I was 5, so those last two details were pretty important to me). I found purpose in running through the halls of the agency to deliver newspaper ads to the important people in the traffic department, to drop-off spec creative work to the important people in the mail room, and my favorite job, to check-in with the important person by the window: My dad.

Decades have passed, and year over year I have grown a deeper understanding and sincere regard of our agency DNA, our company culture and our purpose in this industry.

The recruitment marketing and employer branding industry is now quite complex, a very far cry from running around with print ads. It’s a vast and highly-diversified industry, requiring high-touch, comprehensive strategy, which takes teams of experts and specialists who have deep chops in myriad arenas: employee value proposition research and development, diverse and inclusive employer branding, programmatic advertising, SEM, social media, creative design and strategy, and multi-channel marketing. All of these integrated strategies are custom-built for the TA and HR realm. And it’s been fascinating to be at the forefront collaborating internally and externally with the best of the best, watching real-time industry evolution happen.

I know it’s cliché, but Steve Jobs’ philosophy resonates with me: hire people smarter than yourself. And that we have. I’m filled with gratitude that they’ve chosen Shaker on their career path.

2020 was beyond tumultuous, and we grew in so many ways. We were fortunate to grow our specialized teams, agency-wide throughout the year, adding many talented employees to our awesome teams, and there’s no sign of slowing down. We continue to hire across all divisions, welcoming new employees every week. We are committed to continuous improvement; to building our teams with smart, good people that support one another, are committed to doing great work, and to building on our clients’ and partners’ success.

Often I reflect on how we sailed through the past 70 years, knocked down by crashes and waves here and there, only to join together again, stronger for having weathered stormy seas.  And when I reflect on that, I usually end up here: the more things change, the more they stay the same. And by that I mean, we will always be anchored by our mission to connect employers and jobseekers and employees. We will always support and advocate for one another, internally, and among our industry colleagues, knowing that together we serve a greater purpose. We will continue to embrace change, and to drive change. And while now I leave the literal running around the office to my 2, 4, and 7-year olds, I will continue to love strolling and checking-in on our teams, especially that important guy by the window.

I would never have been able to grasp it then, but that little 5-year old me already knew that relationships, mission, purpose, and gratitude would always be this crew’s strongest anchors.

p.s. – Did I mention we’re hiring? ? If you’ve read this far, maybe have a look to see if an opportunity is right for you: Available Positions