For Andrea B., working as a recruiter is all about fostering connections with others—be it the candidates or hiring partners within the company. “I have found that the smallest things can bring forth a connection with someone,” she says. “This is one of the reasons I enjoy recruiting.”
Today, she’s part of the Recruiting for Recruiters (R4R) team at Meta, where she works to hire other recruiters for the company’s global product and software engineering business. “A lot of strategy and talent mapping is involved to find great talent in the recruiting/sourcing space that will help continue to grow our engineering teams,” Andrea says.
Here, she shares what candidates can do to stand out in interviews, how Meta empowers her to take control of her career, and why her go-to advice is “get comfortable with being uncomfortable.”
What led to your job at Meta and how did you know it would be a good fit?
A recruiter reached out to me regarding a contract position and I thought it was a scam at first. I had no idea that Meta had a physical office in the Chicago area. Once the recruiter told me more about the role, I knew I had to take a chance and interview. The recruiter did such a great job of selling the Meta culture and how the role could lead to other opportunities, I knew it would be a good fit for me.
Describe your career path at Meta. Where did you start and where are you now?
I started in a contract role on the resume review team, now known as candidate channels. I was in that role for almost two years, and then decided to interview for the Sourcer Development Program (SDP) role as a technical sourcer for software engineering teams. Now I’m a sourcer for Recruiting for Recruiters (R4R) and loving every minute of it! I have been able to support Meta’s hiring efforts from both the technical and non-technical side. I now see how each business depends on one another to make Meta the amazing place that it is.
How has Meta helped you grow and move up in your career?
Every opportunity or encounter has prepared me for the next step. I have been able to start in a role where I supported tech sourcers to a role where I am doing the actual recruiting. I have been able to partner and get to know our business leaders on a more granular level and really understand just how complex, committed, and fast growing Meta is. Everything I learned being a tech sourcer has been so useful in how I share the role with candidates on R4R. I can speak directly to what types of teams they will ultimately support and talk about the culture.
In what ways does the company empower employees to take control of their careers and encourage internal mobility?
A great deal. When I was ready to leave resume review and interview for the SDP sourcer role, my manager at the time was supportive and allowed me the space to navigate that transition. I like that the conversation around internal mobility and career progression is an open and safe dialogue. I have always felt that my leadership supported me in my career goals and gave me guidance on how to start. Meta has given me the tools and resources I need to access opportunities and elevate my recruiting career.
What do you look for in candidates?
Of course I am always looking to see if candidates meet the basic qualifications. However, I also look to see if they are prepared for our conversation and if they researched the company. If they ask questions about the company and role, that’s a good sign. I also like to see ambition and curiosity.
There are several ways a candidate can stand out through their resume and LinkedIn profiles. For example, presenting yourself as a brand ambassador of your industry, company, or team is a huge attraction for me.
What skills are necessary to succeed as an R4R sourcer?
Being action oriented, having a growth mindset, and being agile and flexible. These skills have helped me be successful here at Meta, but have also helped me persevere through challenges.
Why is now an exciting time to work at Meta?
Meta is the company to watch right now! Facebook is a household name, but Meta is forcing people to look at connection, community, and technology in a different way. It is an exciting time to join Meta because we are going to make history and change the world in terms of how we interact with each other. We need to hire people that are excited and passionate about technology and how it can greatly improve our lives.
As a working parent, how does Meta help employees with kids feel supported?
I am so proud to work for a company like Meta that supports working parents. I remember working for a company where I was afraid to mention that I was a parent for fear that I would be judged or overlooked. That is not the case at Meta. During the last year and a half with the pandemic, we all faced different challenges, but working parents had to adjust to working from home while their children were being educated at home. Every parent I know at Meta was given the space and support to navigate this new norm, from dividing their work day to help with their kid’s school work to creating multiple groups that shared ideas, resources, and outlets for working parents.
What do you like best about working in recruiting?
Having the opportunity to change someone’s life and connect them with their dream opportunity. It is so rewarding when candidates thank me after they have interviewed. We have a world-class recruiting team that treats all our candidates with the highest regard and makes sure our candidates have a great experience.
What’s the best career advice you’ve received?
“Get comfortable with being uncomfortable” is the best career advice. Being stretched and taken out of my comfort zone is where I have seen the most growth and success in my career. Whenever new hires ask me for advice I always start with this because Meta can be a very big and complicated company with a lot of ambiguity. You have to lean into it and still be able to be effective in your role.