EDITOR’S NOTE: Learn more about the people behind recruitAbility. We’re profiling each of our employees to shed light on their career paths, what they do in their free time, lessons they’ve learned, and much more. View all profiles here.
Our next employee Q&A is with Sharmaine Eugenio, a senior technical recruiter at recruitAbility. She joined us in Oct. 2018 as an executive recruiter, and she graduated from the University of Texas in 2015 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration.
LinkedIn named Sharmaine a Top 1% LinkedIn Recruiter in just her first year. This distinction is bestowed upon recruiters who have a consistently high InMail response rate, receive a high number of profile views, and are adept at organizing candidate pools within LinkedIn Recruiter projects.
A Northern California native, Sharmaine enjoys Austin because of its friendly and accepting people and outdoor adventures.
Why did you want a career in recruiting?
I actually didn’t. Never in my wildest dreams did I think this would end up being my career path. I was en route to a career in medicine, but certain things just don’t work out as planned. I believe everything happens for a reason, though, and I can wholeheartedly say that I’m glad I ended up here. I’ve always been a competitive person. I’ve always loved meeting new people, and I hate being stagnant. Recruiting just fits.
What do you enjoy most about recruiting?
I learn something new every day. I learn about a new industry, different departments within that industry, and different roles within those departments every single day. My candidates teach me what their jobs actually entail, and some have even shared deep insightful life lessons that I’ll probably use for the rest of my life. I’m not a fan of complacency, and this environment doesn’t allow for that. That’s what I enjoy most about recruiting.
What is your area of expertise in recruiting?
Artificial intelligence, machine learning, deep learning, and everything around that space is my element. I worked on an invigorating project surrounding AI, and that experience essentially drove me to a new-found passion.
Want to have a conversation around unmanned aircraft or how natural language reading can extract a person’s emotions? I’m your girl!
Are you a data scientist looking for a more exciting role within a company utilizing all the cool modern technologies? Call me!
What are the biggest mistakes you see candidates make when negotiating job offers?
Unrealistic expectations and lack of transparency.
It’s completely understandable for a candidate’s salary expectations to change as they learn more about the company and the role, but if a recruiter shares a salary range with you – and you agree that you are within that range – and the job offer comes, but you negotiate a 30% increase, you just talked yourself out of that job.
My advice is to share your thoughts with your recruiter during the process so we can get ahead of it and lead the narrative. Oh, and I’ve also had a candidate negotiate salary after signing the offer letter. Don’t do that.
What is your advice to companies trying to attract and retain talent?
Be transparent and invest in your people. Don’t create a false picture during the interview process, because that’s how you end up with a team that isn’t culturally aligned. Listen to concerns and be open to new ideas without being condescending. Hire and train a leadership team that demonstrates your core values as an organization, because they will set the tone and determine your success.
How are you passing the time during quarantine?
I started learning French again. I also started watching Korean dramas on Netflix. I just finished “Crash Landing On You.” 10/10 would recommend it. Absolute cinematic greatness. I was sobbing in the last episode. Sobbing!
More importantly, I’ve been able to spend more time with my family. We all live in different parts of the country, so we tend to only see each other during the holidays. Quarantine has actually been very refreshing for both my mental health and my skin.
What do you enjoy outside of work (when there is no quarantine)?
I love to travel. I’ve been to 33 countries, and I’m trying to reach 50 by the age of 30. When I’m not gallivanting around the world, I enjoy things like cooking, hiking the Greenbelt on Saturday mornings, and 12-hour long Sunday Fundays with my friends.
Austin has a great food scene, too. My go-to places are Thai Cuisine on Parmer, Tarka, The Rolling Rooster, and Tony’s Jamaican Food. I also order a preposterous amount of WingStop.
What is your favorite part about working at recruitAbility?
I really enjoy having leaders such as Nad, Richard, and Scott, who instill an unimaginable amount of trust in me and are always there to support me. The flexibility that recruitAbility offers also deserves a shoutout.
