Recruiter Spotlight: Valerie Stelloh

Valerie’s Talent Acquisition career began in NYC, where she spent 13 years learning and mastering recruiting in the accounting & finance space. She’s a pro with deep knowledge of her niche across all industries. In 2011, she joined Nielsen Associates on Long Island; and then took a break to pursue personal and entrepreneurial passions in the pet care industry. When the pandemic hit, and Valerie’s business was affected, she decided to make a comeback; and we are delighted that she rejoined our team in December 2020.

Valerie’s motto is, “Everything always turns out exactly the way it is supposed to.” When she isn’t recruiting, she’s busy being a rescue dog mom to Sadie. Valerie owned a dog walking and pet sitting business for eight years, and she’s still actively involved in helping animals. Her passion has been instrumental in helping pets find the care and families that they need. 

We asked Valerie a few questions so that you can get to know her. Check out our interview, and connect with her directly on LinkedIn. 

LB: Let’s begin on a high note. Tell us what you love about your job.

Valerie: I absolutely love our team. I enjoy making the hiring process as easy as possible for my clients. And I love working with candidates – from initial screening; to coaching & prepping for company interviews; to the final stages of onboarding; and follow-up after they start a new job. Relationships are everything.

LB: What’s one aspect of recruiting that requires the most effort — and how do you handle it? 

Valerie:  Time and patience both come to mind. Time is our enemy in the current environment. It’s my responsibility to communicate with our clients when they may miss out on hiring the talent they say they want because candidates have so many opportunities. 

I share with clients the state of the market and what they need to do differently to hire the talent they want. If you want a candidate, I want to get that candidate for you. It’s a partnership.

Patience is important too when you’re helping clients and candidates find a harmonious connection — going over the details, the right salary, benefits, and company WFH and COVID policies.

LB: What has changed in the recruiting industry?

Valerie:  Nothing is the same as it was 8 years ago. This used to be a phone business, and now everyone is on email, text, and LinkedIn messenger. Very few people actually use the phone. Employers are much more progressive now. They're more willing to offer flexible hours and hybrid schedules when negotiating an offer.

LB: What advice can you give employers who want to fill long-term positions in Finance and Accounting?

Valerie: Work with a recruiter that specializes in the positions you are looking to fill, like me. We understand the different types of accounting roles across all industries; and we have an extensive talent network that goes back many years. I have worked with entry level candidates and followed their careers to the executives they are today. These candidates while not looking for an opportunity will always take a call from me. Request a consultation to start the process.

LB: Every role and every company is different, but some things are universal. What are the top 3 competencies that make a candidate outstanding?

Valerie: I look for strong communication skills, technical skills, and ambition. One CEO I recruit for says, "Send me the skill and the will."

LB: If there was one piece of advice you would give to someone who is considering a career move at this time, what would it be?

Valerie: Make a list of the things that are important. Contact me and I will help you explore your options. Candidates don’t have the time to go through the interview process to find out that company is not a good fit for them. We make the process as stress free as possible. We know you are working and try to arrange interview times that work with your schedule. We have most of your questions answered in the beginning of the process and present reasons and motivation for why you made career moves.

LB: What’s the secret to providing a great client experience?

Valerie:  Asking all of the right questions and really paying attention to what the client needs. We’re here to assist our clients with vacancies that are difficult to fill on their own. When clients need to move fast, we maintain a sense of urgency; stay connected to all parties; and fill positions quickly. Request a free consultation to learn more about our hands-on, consultive approach to recruiting.