The DeWinter Group welcomes its newest Recruiter, Chelsea Brown. We've asked Chelsea to answer a few questions regarding her past experiences and goals for the DeWinter Group. Make sure to take a look and welcome her to the team!
Email: cbrown@dewintergroup.com
Phone: (408) 342-1394
How long have you worked in accounting or finance? Recruiting?
I have been in recruiting for almost 4 years now in the Bay Area.
How were you introduced to the recruiting industry?
One of my best friend's older siblings was working at Premier when I graduated. I'd known her for years and she knew I had a background in the restaurant industry (customer service-oriented, can work quickly, etc) and just got my degree in Communications, minor in HR. Premier was HQ'ed in SF, but they were in the process of opening a Palo Alto office that she was going to run. Once the office opened, she asked me to come work for her and the rest was history!
How did you first learn about the DeWinter Group?
My dad works with Mike Tomasello's wife. Mike and I connected and he informed me more about DeWinter and the opportunities it has to offer.
Why do you look forward to working in accounting and finance talent acquisition with the DeWinter Group?
My previous company focused on Admin, HR, and Operations roles. I'm looking forward to recruiting for accounting/finance/tech as those roles are foreign to me. It'll be a new challenge not only to learn the basic lingo of these roles, and gain a better understanding of how each role plays a part in an organization. I'm also interested in how these candidates differ from admin/HR candidates and finding out what drives them.
What are 3 words to describe the DeWinter Group (or your impression thus far)?
How do you plan on developing the DeWinter Group? What are your goals for the coming year?
I hope to help DeWinter grow through the relationships I build with candidates. Happy candidates/clients = referral candidates/clients. It takes a village to keep business moving forward and growing and I hope to contribute to that through the connections I make on the candidate side.
How do you plan on practicing the DeWinter Group's Mission Statement: 'We Build Our Network One Relationship at a Time'?
This is a great mission statement and I think it would be wise for any recruitment firm to function with this mindset. As I start meeting candidates and even internally on my own team, I plan on taking each interaction with an open mind and a clean slate. Every person you meet has a different backstory and can bring something different to the table. I've found that listening (intently) and finding a way to connect with someone past what their resume may say can go a long way. People remember when you have a genuine conversation with them, so just remembering to stay present :)
How do you plan on balancing your career at the DeWinter Group and free time?
Being able to balance your work life from your personal life is crucial. I think when you go hard all day (especially in an agency setting) and take your work home with you every night, you are bound to get burnt out. I completely understand the occasional late nights and putting out any fires, but I've found it to be very beneficial to detach at some point once you leave the office. It's important to be away from your computer, email, phone, etc and recharge mentally for a bit in order to hit the ground running again the next day. Having that balance and separation is definitely what keeps people (myself included) interested and motivated to continue.
What advice do you have to offer others currently looking to advance their career in accounting and finance?
Start with DeWinter! Start with an agency and be open-minded to contracts. I've seen so many success stories that start with a contract when the candidate originally only wanted direct hire. Agencies are also a wealth of knowledge in regards to rockstar companies people have never heard of and what hiring managers are really looking for. They have the ability to place a resume on a silver platter in front of a hiring manager and vouch for a candidate, versus that candidate just being another name on another electronic application. Utilize them!
Where are you originally from? San Jose, CA
What are your favorite things to do in the Bay Area/Silicon Valley?
Sharks games, dinner with friends, pool time in the summer, I'm easy.
What did you originally want to be when you grew up?
A Veterinarian!
What’s your favorite ’90s jam?
Bye Bye Bye - N*Sync
A penguin walks through that door right now wearing a sombrero. What does he say and why is he here?
"Hiring can be ACCRUAL process. But lucky for you, Chelsea Brown is just like me - tux on and professional, but still festive and up for a fiesta!
- He's there to announce the great hiring decision that was made."