Sue Jagan – Executive Recruiter – The Faces of Mee Derby

 

The Faces of Mee Derby is an initiative to share the stories of our team and their journey’s through the staffing industry from a personal and professional perspective. COVID is bringing us all together in a whole different way by connecting through technology. From our home offices to yours, we invite you over the next several weeks to get to know the Mee Derby team through this video series. It is a fun look at who we are – collectively and individually – how we got into staffing and what the staffing industry means to us. This week we are hearing from Sue Jagan:

 

Why staffing? How did you end up in this industry? 

In 2006 I started my staffing career, fell into it like many and realized it was an industry that played to my sales strengths and allowed me to serve people. Prior to Mee Derby I spent 11 years in temporary staffing.

 

 

How has your journey led you to Mee Derby?

I attended an American Staffing Association event in Washington DC and that is where I met Robin. She was so delightful and positive to talk to. I kept in touch with her over the next several years and when I was ready to make a career change, I reached out to her, we had lunch and the rest is history!

 

What are the benefits for you professional & personally?

I do feel like I get more done working from home, I have a lot of freedom. If I want to quick, take a break, run for 20 minutes to clear my head and then get back to my desk. 

 

How does Mee Derby impact the staffing industry?

Before joining Mee Derby, I knew Robin Mee through the American Staffing Association and I knew the work she was doing, I knew she was placing staffing professionals. When I knew I was going to make a change, she was my first phone call because I really looked to Mee Derby as being the resource to provide what was going on in the industry by way of pushing out content from SIA and ASA. Now talking to candidates, they also have that impression. Most candidates I get on the phone with know the Mee Derby name.

 

Why should someone work with a recruiter in their job search?

The benefit of working with a recruiter is that we have direct access to the client. Whereas, if you are looking for a job on your own, you’re dumped into a pool of candidates that are applying to that position via that company’s website. When you work with a recruiter, that recruiter is representing you directly and presenting you directly to the client. So you can actually speak to the client about the candidate’s strengths and why you believe they will be a good fit for the job and oftentimes persuade them to talk with a candidate that they may not consider just based off a review of the resume.

 

What are your three favorite aspects of working for Mee Derby?

I consider myself to be a very genuine person and when I look at the Mee Derby Team — that’s all I see. There is so much honesty and integrity. I’ve always wanted to do good work –honest work, and everyone on the team works in the same way. There is a level of professionalism I look for in general and everyone is like that on this team.

There is also a level of intellect on the Mee Derby team that is highly impressive. I always want to be in a situation where I’m learning, where I’m growing and for the first year of my career at Mee Derby I feel like that’s all I did, was just soak up information, soaking up experience from the people around me.

We have a lot of fun, the staffing industry is a really fun business. You are helping people, you are changing people’s lives by helping them find a job that is a better fit or better opportunity and it’s very dynamic. I get to do all of that with very fun, smart and intelligent people.

 

How do you stand out as a recruiter?

I’m a very down to earth person and connect well with people in general. So when I am interviewing a candidate, I try to make them feel like I’m not delving into their background or preying but I’m really just trying to gather details to best represent them.

Sue Jagan

Executive Recruiter