Built on People, Driven by Purpose
Twelve years ago, I took a leap of faith that completely changed my life.
The Leap
It started with a mentor who saw something in me that I hadn’t yet fully realized. They looked at me and said I had a bright future in talent acquisition, but that I needed to step out of the corporate world and do it on my own. Honestly, the fear of failure never even crossed my mind. I didn’t have a magic formula, but I had a work ethic built on hard work, quality, and genuine care—things I knew I could deliver for clients and candidates every single day. I told my family, filed the paperwork the very next day, landed a few incredible clients right out of the gate, and Higher Recruitment was officially born.
An Industry in Constant Motion
Looking back, it is wild to see how much the talent acquisition landscape has shifted over the last twelve years. It has always been fast paced, but today it moves at absolute lightning speed. Companies are much smarter now; they’re interviewing a candidate’s ability to learn and adapt rather than just what they’ve already done, and they’re using sophisticated scorecard metrics to make better decisions.
Yet, even with all this new technology and strategy, the absolute core of recruiting hasn’t changed. Being genuine and operating with integrity still carries the most weight. That belief has allowed us to grow from a local firm into a global agency, recruiting far outside the U.S. and serving international clients, all while keeping our feet firmly planted in our Minnesota community.
Beyond the Resume
People often ask me what the “secret sauce” is when we’re matching candidates. The truth is that a resume only tells a fraction of the story. It hides the things that actually matter time management, problem-solving, respect, and values. If I have to boil it down to a single non-negotiable trait, it’s simple: Are they a decent human being who treats others with care and respect? You can teach skills, but you can’t teach character.
Why the Work Matters
Focusing on that human element is why we get to hear the kind of feedback that makes all the hard work worth it. Not long ago, a client told us we made their hiring process the quickest and easiest they’d ever experienced. They admitted they didn’t think we’d find even one person who fits their strict requirements, and we ended up bringing them a whole group of top-notch talent to choose from.
If I could hop into a time machine and give myself some advice on Day One, I’d tell myself to believe in the business more and grow faster. For a long time, I held back on the reins because I felt like I wasn’t ready. But the truth is, you’re never fully ready for what’s next, and the company was ready to run long before I let it.
The Next Chapter
I’m certainly not holding back those reins anymore. As we look to the future, we are incredibly excited to expand our work with local and federal governments. Being a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned company makes this step deeply personal for us, and we are honored by the opportunity to support the professionals serving our nation’s veterans at the VA and beyond.
To our team, our clients, and every candidate who has been part of our story over the last twelve years—thank you. We’re just getting started!