Proven Recruiting

We've grown, shrunk, grown again. We've hired exceptional people, sometimes said goodbye to exceptional people, and often stayed friends with them - even when life took them elsewhere. We've celebrated children born and mourned partners lost. We've championed people's ambitions, and stood with them when those ambitions didn’t unfold as hoped. There’s been a great deal of change. But one thing has stayed constant: we feel genuinely fortunate to walk alongside our peers, candidates, and clients as they build their lives - professionally and personally. To our entire community, thank you for making this work meaningful. From our teams to yours - happy Thanksgiving, friends!

Hands steady. Shoes smelling faintly of bleach. Competition fierce.   ...But there can only be one winner. Toan T. took home the much-coveted Turkey Bowl Trophy at our First Annual Turkey Bowl! He had some stiff competition but Toan hit big scoring 156, earning him first place along with Emma (Jenifer Hanson's progeny!), winner of our kids division.   We took over the bowling alley with 60+ players and enough food to feed a small army. Thank you to our community of clients, candidates, and consultants for joining us and making the night such a blast!   Until next time, we’ll be brushing up on our accuracy/spin/other bowling-related terms that we've yet to master.

The most misunderstood interview question is often the first one asked. Many people don't even realize it's part of the "real" interview. It's just an ice breaker, right? Something requiring little thought - a quick summary of your interests, maybe a nod as to why you're looking to switch jobs. Experienced interviewers know better. The "tell me about yourself" prompt is in reality a rare gift; it allows you to dictate the terms of your story. Next time you're asked to talk about yourself, consider this: - Forget chronological, focus on recent and relevant. What about your background matters most for this specific opportunity? - Reiterate your qualifications using strategic examples. Focus on impact: savings you've made, challenges you've overcome, people you've mentored, etc. - Play up any common ground. You and your interviewer are in the same field - so showcase your passion for something you both enjoy. - Tell a good story! No one goes to the movies to get the gist of the plot - we want the meaty bits. Outline some exciting highs and lows, play up the stakes, and infuse your story with spirit and grit. So many people rely on high-level wishy-washy responses, leaving the interviewer with absolutely no lasting impression. At its core, interviewing is about being memorable. Don't let yourself be forgotten. Tell a story worth remembering!

Andrea (Annie) has been with us for a few weeks now and we’re already feeling the impact of her infectiously positive attitude. She comes to us having honed her expert hiring skills while working with an LA-based recruiting firm and we’re very happy to officially welcome her to our San Diego Finance & Accounting team!   She enjoys her work but what really fills her cup is being by the ocean – she makes a point of seeing it every day. If you’re by the sea and have a few minutes free today, go out and experience the magic of the ocean for Annie!

Happy Halloween friends! We're not in the office today so we traded adult human costumes for some truly inspired pet outfits. For all you parents out there - may your candy bags be full and your weather forecast rainless! And to everyone else, get yourself into some mischief today. Please enjoy these photos of our very-relaxed-definitely-not-traumatized-pets in costume.

"Sometimes the best job isn't the one that pays us monetarily but nurtures us emotionally. " Thanks for the reminder, Louis. https://lnkd.in/eyM2ksNP

Grateful to live and work by the ocean. Grateful to spend our days alongside such incredible people. Grateful that helping bring order to chaos, calm to stress, is our job. Looking out at the sea brings a peace that’s hard to put into words. Whether it’s dipping your feet in the water or just rolling down the windows on your commute, those little moments of connection bring clarity. Here’s to finding your own slice of peace, today and every day.

Like many of our best recruiters, Michelle Cornelius began her career in accounting - earning her degree from SDSU before making her mark on the corporate world. From the crunch of busy season to the satisfaction of closing the books, she’s seen the world of accounting from every angle. That firsthand experience paired with a deep knowledge of recruiting make her a perfect fit for our San Diego Finance & Accounting Consulting team!   These days, Michelle’s balancing life as a proud mom of three, an avid reader (50+ books a year - ask her for recs!), a first-rate recruiter, and the devoted dog mom of a yellow lab named Harlie Mae.   Welcome aboard, Michelle!

PTO season is upon us! Everyone's booking their holiday getaways which means the age old debate - unlimited vacation vs. fixed weeks - has resurfaced. Now we love a good debate, but we're also rational - and rationally, the deciding factor isn’t the policy, it’s your manager. With the wrong boss, neither option works… and “unlimited” PTO can be the worst of all. Stress levels, job satisfaction, even how guilt-free your vacations feel - it's all shaped by your manager. So if your downtime isn’t being supported…maybe it’s time for a new manager?

Kimberly loves chasing challenges - which is perhaps why she holds the record (we assume, don’t fact check us on this) for hiking both Mount Whitney and Death Valley within 48 hours, conquering in two days the highest and lowest points in the contiguous U.S.   That same no-quit attitude defines her career, and it’s just one of the many reasons we’re absolutely thrilled to welcome Kimberly Wilkins to Proven Recruiting’s Finance & Accounting Search team!   After six years in accounting, Kimberly realized she wanted to make a different kind of impact - to connect people, not just numbers. So when she was “recruited to recruit,” everything clicked. Four years later, she’s done more than win awards and earn recognition; she’s built a reputation in San Diego's Finance & Accounting community as a true matchmaker, helping hiring managers and job seekers connect in ways that really move the needle.   Kimberly’s talent and experience make her a true game-changer for our team and for our clients. We couldn't be happier to have her!