%%sitename%% %%sep%% %%title%% No matter how bad you think you have it, there is always someone who is less fortunate.
This past winter I had a sobering wake up call when my mother was sick in the hospital. The wake up call was not that I realized how much I loved my mom and my family, I have known the full weight of that for years, but how true it is that no matter how bad you think you have it, there is always someone who is less fortunate. My mother’s roommate, for example, was sent home because there was nothing else that they could do for her cancer. Having been in such close quarters we got to know her family, their situation, financial and emotional struggles. Seeing as Christmas would have been very hard to pull off last year, my family decided to help them get gifts and other holiday treats to make at least one aspect of their life easier. This didn’t spark a personal transformation per se, but fully illustrated the power of helping those around you. Because of this, I find myself paying it forward for the heck of it – not for money and not for recognition. Helping others in small ways makes my day a little better too.
One way that we pay it forward in our industry is by helping others find employment that is genuinely fulfilling. We asked several Brightwing employees, who refer friends and family, why they do that. Here is what they said:
Why do I pay it forward? Really the question is why not? We are here together and might as well do all we can to help each other. After the fallout in 2008, I know what it is like to be looking for a job, hoping that next phone call is for an interview. I was fortunate in that my previous boss called me back. That was my opportunity to choose any contract house I wanted. I had worked with a Brightwing employee, and she never had a bad thing to say about them and had always been happy with the relationship. I had been a contract employee for 20+ years, and it was uncommon to hear that. I believe it was through the newsletter that I was introduced to the Partner Points Program. I thought, “I get to help friends I know looking for a job, and I get points for it!” I jumped in and haven’t been disappointed. Some have proven to be a good match, some have not, but we all tried. I passed on info, Brightwing followed up, and the applicant had hope that, even if this call didn’t work for them, at least someone thought that they were worth talking to.
Honestly, I love you guys because I was given this amazing opportunity. I love my job and couldn’t have gotten it without the help of Brightwing. When I hear people are looking for work, I always refer them because of my positive experience. It’s not about MY recognition; it’s about me helping others, and I really feel that I get a lot out of that on its own.
I’ve always prided myself on my integrity and paying it forward. The Karma has helped me to be referred for certain employment or other opportunities. If I can help someone else get a chance like I have been blessed with, I will certainly do so. At times I am picky because it’s my name attached to that person, so I try to select those who would represent me well. I don’t want be the subject of a conversation on how I referred a bad candidate who just generally sucked. On the flip side I love the “Hey, that guy/gal was referred by Rudy Starr and we just love them!!” Getting a small reward for doing so is also nice.
When I started my contract through Brightwing I was so excited to have been presented with such a great opportunity, and glad that I associated with you guys. I of course wanted to share the same opportunity that I had with my friends and family who were in need of a job, and definitely felt that I received so much from referring them to Brightwing!
2013 is
and we have decided to show our gratitude to the communities we have served by finding ways to pay it forward all year. How do you pay it forward?
Author: Katie Peterson
Special Guests: Sandi Allen, Amy Kiroski, Rudy Starr, Kate Katynski and Elyse Lopez
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“I am inspired by passionate, enthusiastic people who have a burning desire to grow both professionally and personally. I enjoy creating opportunities for them to push their own boundaries. By creating a culture of learning and growth, I get to see our team members grow beyond their expectations. This is one of the most rewarding aspects of my job at Brightwing.”
Brightwing Birthdate: 12.13.1995
“We have the chance to make a positive change in people’s lives on a daily basis—whether we’re working with a candidate looking for their next great opportunity, or a client or hiring manager in need of talent to complete their team. Positive change is around every corner as long as you take the time to realize it and build relationships for the right reasons, always keeping others’ best interests in mind.”
Specialties: Information Technology (Security, Network, Systems, Infrastructure, Product Managers, Business Analysts and Project Managers)
Brightwing Birthdate: 12.13.1995
“My greatest satisfaction is working with and meeting so many great people. There is no better feeling than finding someone that dream job. Every day brings new challenges and experiences that few careers can provide.”
“As the HR Director at Brightwing, my goal is to act as a catalyst that enables all Brightwingers to be the best employees they can be, contribute to the company’s success, and live out our core values every day. I’m responsible for providing employees with policies and programs that support their employment, recognizing and rewarding them for a job well done and guiding employees’ growth to achieve their professional goals and greatest potential. Brightwing has an incredible ‘let’s do it’ mentality. It’s so refreshing to work around individuals who are constantly improving and challenging one another to be their best.”
“In an egg-and-bacon breakfast, the chicken is involved because it simply lays an egg, while the hog is committed because it gives its life to be the bacon. I am involved in the business of staffing and recruiting but committed to the growth, evolution, and actualization of my colleagues.”
“As a controller at Brightwing, it’s my responsibility to coordinate with all departments to ensure that financial goals are communicated and facilitate discussions of desired efforts to meet those goals. It’s a pleasure to work with various departments such as sales, finance, HR, and marketing to verify that transactions are captured correctly and timely, along with communicating how these transactions impact Brightwing’s goals.“
“As Marketing Manager at Brightwing, my goal is to bridge the gap between us, our candidates, and our partners. People are at our core, and I aim to capture the people, stories, and experiences that shape us.”
“I love the sense of accomplishment knowing I played a part in helping a candidate find a great opportunity—whether the candidate is fresh out of college looking to get their feet wet, or an established engineer looking to make a move up the corporate ladder, or even someone who just doesn’t feel appreciated in their current role and wants to make a lateral move. It’s all rewarding, knowing a candidate puts their trust in you for one of the most stressful events in life. Also, I love working alongside this great group of people who share the same passion, excitement, and sometimes even frustrations on a day-to-day basis.”
“I love meeting engineers who are passionate about their craft and helping them find new challenges that push their careers in the direction they want to go.”
“I love working alongside this great group of people that take pride in being a part of a process—a process which helps individuals succeed in reaching their professional and personal growth, and partnering with organizations that understand the value, as Brightwing values human potential.”
Specialties: Human Resources, Financial Services, Engineering
“As a recruiter, I look forward to meeting new people and building relationships that could lead to professional success. I am excited to expand my networks and help people reach their full potential in their careers.”
“I truly enjoy working with my teammates and helping clients and candidates find the right match in each other. I’m motivated and driven by success and my growth as a person and employee. Each day I learn and apply something new to develop stellar ideas and solutions.”
Specialties: Information Technology including Web/Application Development, Business/Data Analysis, Project Management and Infrastructure Engineering, and Support roles
“With 14 years of staffing experience, I thrive on building meaningful relationships with my clients. I love being a problem solver and helping my clients find that perfect candidate to help contribute to the success of their organization. “
“I truly enjoy being a resource for both clients and candidates. Whether partnering directly with prospective clients, hiring managers and stakeholders to fill critical roles, or helping top talent find their perfect fit, I’m eager to provide solutions, exceed expectations, and create lasting relationships.”
“This business is all about relationships, of which I have built many from both a client and as consultant/employee perspective. It’s more than just working to become financially successful—it is helping others succeed in their goals.”
“I have long held the view that building relationships is one of the most important things in life. Brightwing gives me the opportunity to do that every single day. Constantly connecting and expanding my network allows me to grow endlessly. I love creating relationships through discovering the opportunities that are all around us.”
“I love creating relationships and having conversations with people. The more you get to know someone, the more you understand their goals, values and most importantly their character. Once I truly understand a candidate, I am well equipped to find the best possible fit for them. That’s my goal, finding people jobs they will love!”
“I’m passionate about creating lasting connections between top talent and organizations where they can not only succeed but truly belong. I believe a great match goes beyond skill. It’s about finding the right cultural fit and ensuring personalities align to foster a thriving workplace. By understanding the unique qualities of each company and the aspirations of every candidate, I help build teams that are collaborative, innovative, and productive. At Brightwing, I’m committed to making these meaningful connections that drive success for both individuals and organizations.”
“I’m a dedicated and enthusiastic professional who thrives on helping and guiding candidates as they navigate their career paths and find fulfilling jobs that align with their aspirations. My entire career, I’ve sought and done fulfilling work, and it’s my mission to help professionals accomplish the same thing. My approach is to partner with great companies looking for great people and assist them in integrating top talent into their organizations. The Brightwing experience makes all the difference in accomplishing these goals.”
“It’s the little things that make my job worthwhile. I support several departments, and my top priority is to make sure our employees are onboarded efficiently. When I receive an email from an employee saying how excited they are for the opportunity to work for one of our clients, it feels good knowing that I’m a part of something bigger and that we are doing what we are meant to do here at Brightwing: give people an opportunity to work on something they are passionate about.”
“I enjoy communicating with the contractors we have in all states. It makes me feel good to know that I’m helping people and that they feel comfortable contacting me to answer their questions. I love coming to work every day because I love all the people I work with internally; we are a family.”
“I truly enjoy helping others and taking care of the challenging stuff so they can focus on doing what they enjoy doing. My job allows me to be organized, focused, and detail-oriented. Any HR professional (along with Forrest Gump’s mom) will tell you that each day is like a box of chocolates because you just never know what you are going to get! Coming into the office each day is easy because my colleagues are a supportive family that also encourages me to have fun!”
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