aquesst

💡 **Success isn’t about perfection—it’s about progress.** Every step forward, no matter how small, is still progress. The challenges we face today are the building blocks for tomorrow’s breakthroughs. It’s easy to get caught up in comparing ourselves to others or waiting for the “perfect” moment. But the truth is, growth happens when we embrace the journey, keep learning, and stay resilient. So here’s a reminder: celebrate your small wins, learn from your setbacks, and trust that you’re exactly where you need to be. Keep pushing forward—you’ve got this! 💪 #GrowthMindset #KeepGoing #ProgressOverPerfection #Inspiration --- Hope everyone has a great rest of the week!

One of my favorite things about Zoom meetings is how often it results in book recommendations because the person on the other end of the call can see my overflowing bookshelf. I officially hit my annual Good Reads Reading Challenge goal of 50 books last month, and am now working on my 59th book of the year - Lula Dean's Little Library of Banned Books by Kirsten Miller. (In honor of Banned Books Week, of course.) This and several of my favorite books this year have been ones recommended to me by hiring managers I work with. To pay forward all of the great recs, I wanted to post my top 5 books of the year so far. Clearly I've decided to ignore my original goal and the competitive part of me secretly wants to hit 100 books this year. With that being said, I would love any more recommendations! Also, I have to mention Trevor Noah's memoir, Born a Crime. It was a very close sixth.

As Q3 wraps up, I’m celebrating my one-year anniversary with aquesst! It’s been quite a year, both professionally and personally. Right before joining aquesst, I became a father, and since then, I’ve had the privilege of growing not just in my role as a parent, but also in my career. While my background is in IT recruiting, this year brought new opportunities for me to dive into engineering roles, and it’s been an exciting challenge! In today’s market, finding the right fit for both candidates and companies is more important than ever. I’m proud to be part of a team that makes those connections happen. Whether you're thinking about your next career move or looking to bring on new talent, we’re here to help. One quote that’s guided me: “We don’t rise to the standards we have when others are watching, we fall to the standards we have when no one is watching. The only work that really matters is the work that no one sees. It shows you who you really are rather than who you say you are.” It’s a reminder that the work behind the scenes is what truly counts and that’s something we live by at aquesst. Looking ahead, we’re partnering with amazing clients and have some exciting opportunities on the horizon. Be sure to check out aquesst’s LinkedIn page for updates. Here’s to another year of connecting people with great possibilities! #Anniversary #TalentAcquisition #HiringNow #aquesst #JoinOurTeam

#charlotte is ready for the weekend!! Happy Friday everybody, let’s make it a great day!

In this mini-episode of the Extraordinary Pursuits Podcast, BIP Ventures talent expert Jacki Hertenstein talks with Renata Mathison, co-founder of aquesst, about how startup leaders can hire well. You'll grab actionable guidance into: ☑️ Crafting a positive candidate experience ☑️ Conducting remote and in-person interviews ☑️ Aligning the hiring team with company objectives ☑️ Integrating DEI priorities ☑️ Securing compliance This discussion provides essential advice for startup leaders looking to hone their talent strategies through better interviewing. Take five minutes to listen and learn. 🎧 https://lnkd.in/dFd-AuQn #HiringBestPractices #CandidateExperience #DiversityandInclusion #RecruitingStrategies #LeadershipHiring #VentureCapital #TalentManagement

This past Sunday, while waiting at the Reno-Tahoe airport for my delayed flight home from our 2 year wedding anniversary trip, I realized I never wrote the 10-year career anniversary appreciation post I wanted to do. Better late than never I suppose, so here goes nothing! This past July marked my seventh anniversary at aquesst and my eleventh anniversary in recruitment. It’s been a wonderful and rewarding career with numerous relationships and friendships having been formed that truly amazes me when I start to think about it. For starters, a shout out to Rebecca Hoke Zion and Renata Mathison for their steadfast leadership over the years. Thank you for giving me the opportunity and flexibility to thrive in my career and reach a place of peak work life balance that I’ve always dreamed of. I am forever grateful to you both!! They’ve built a great company, and I encourage you to check us out (aquesst) and give us a follow if you haven’t already!   Most Importantly I’d like to give a HUGE THANK YOU to all the IT and Supply Chain Automation professionals I’ve had the pleasure of working or connecting with. Thank you for giving me your time, patience, and attention during the recruitment / networking process and for not hanging up on me during that often awkward first phone call 😊. Joking aside, the gratitude and kindness I have received from so many of you gets me out of bed on those toughest of days. To all my current and former colleagues, thank you. Especially former leaders I’ve worked with and learned from like Deena Strangia,  Daniel Guelzo, CTS, CPC, Lifo®, and Maggie Reimherr. Thank you for giving me the tools and foundation to be a better recruiting professional and for reinforcing the values of honesty, transparency and being genuine. Working with you has been a privilege! Also to all my current / former sales and recruiting teammates over the years as well. As you all know this can be a tough career to find your way in so whether it was during those late nights in the office, at happy hour or on the golf course, thank you all for the comradery, laughs and memories along the way 🥂. Lastly, a heartfelt thank you to my amazing wife Charlotte Bayer, PsyD ABPP (who I’m convinced only stayed with me through it all because I make for an interesting patient 😉) You've been by my side for 9 of those years and I can’t imagine being where I am in my career without your support. There are too many people to mention who came to mind while writing this post that brought a smile to my face over the years but regardless thank you all in my network for making my journey so rewarding and here’s to many more years ahead! Best of luck to you all and let’s finish 2024 strong!!!

I’m excited to be serving as Director of Individual Giving for The Junior League of Atlanta, Inc. this year! I’m having a blast meeting amazing women and raising money for an organization that empowers women leaders to go out and serve our community with our nonprofit partners. We had a great morning meeting past JLA presidents and looking ahead to the future of the organization. Speaking of women’s leadership, I’m so grateful to work for a women-owned business that supports my passion for volunteerism by giving me the flexibility to serve through volunteer time off! Thank you, aquesst!