from the desk of smartdept. inc. Creative Coordinator, Hannah Stover

Did you know what you wanted to be when you were little? When I was a young lass, I dreamed of becoming an archaeologist. Harrison Ford wasn’t my only motivation, though. Getting to the core of a problem, digging until the treasure was found… it gave me a thrill.

As I got older, my dreams turned into more realistic goals such as becoming a private investigator, a published author, or a master of espionage. I began working in customer service when I was 14 years old, and since then I’ve worn many hats: restaurant manager, dance instructor, pre-school teacher—I even spent one summer doing an archaeological dig on Palomar Mountain, near San Diego.

I was introduced to Meghann, the Seattle smartdept. inc. branch manager, in February 2015. Recruiting was always in the back of my mind, but after our meeting it was all I could think about. I knew this was it. From February to November, I dug up everything I could find on recruiting. This cemented what I already felt in my gut: Recruiting is my jam. My first day at smartdept. was on November 30, 2015.

So how do you know when you find the one? The job that makes your brain buzz with possibilities, the career that fits you like a glove? Ask yourself three questions—questions that might illuminate things you haven’t thought about for years:

  1. What games were you drawn to as a child? Crafting? Rolling around in the mud? Both? I never minded getting dirty, but I wasn’t interested in dealing with activities that felt “messy” to me.
  2. Who did you idolize when you were young? Any strong, successful woman caught my eye as a youth, but I always liked the stylish edge that’s possible with office jobs.
  3. Where do you live? Seattle? Chicago? LA? No matter what city I’ve lived in, I’ve discovered there will always be needs that align with whatever skills people have acquired or desire to acquire.

Finding the perfect job is translating your dream into reality. It’s possible! For example, if you know you’d be the perfect graphic designer but you dream about being inside the Matrix, designing systems, perhaps you should become a developer!

Regardless of the field you choose for your career trajectory, we live in a tech world that’s changing every day—almost too fast for us keep up with. Tell me about your dream job—I have ideas! The world is your oyster, my friend. You got this. We can help!