“The people at Willory really make the difference. I admire the attention and care everyone gives to the organization or candidate they are working with. I can truly say, that they come first. I can’t count the number of candidates that have told me how different their experience with Willory has been from other recruiting firms“
Welcome to our series about what makes Willory truly unique: our team. Without the people on the Willory team we would not be recognized as one of the top workplaces in Northeast Ohio and have grown so significantly in the last eight years.
Get to know Willory’s Staffing Manager, Darby Friend through her own words. If Darby’s words resonate with you and you want to join #TeamWillory, check out our Why Willory? page.
How did you find Willory?
I attended DisruptHR in August of 2017, just before I graduated in December, and was introduced to John. I got to meet Jamie and Bridgette that night as well! I was talking with John about how much I had enjoyed the recruiting function in my previous internships and he told me all about Willory’s services. He also mentioned they might be looking for an intern in the near future. I started with Willory a handful of months later and the rest, as they say, is history!
What’s your proudest accomplishment while working at the firm?
Aside from getting my SHRM-CP certification only 6 months after I graduated, I have to say, my first placement was a pretty exciting accomplishment. I went from a Staffing Intern to a Staffing Associate, talking to awesome HR and payroll professional all the while, but not being able to take them any further. Stepping into my Staffing Manager role allowed me to stand with my candidates through every step of the process. All the pieces fit perfectly for my first placement and the cheer on the other side of the phone was a great feeling.
How has Willory helped you in your career development?
Willory has done so much to help me develop. As a relatively recent college grad and a newbie in the staffing world, I had, and still have, a lot to learn. They encouraged and supported me through my SHRM-CP certification right away. In addition, Willory and my team members have made many efforts to develop me in my role, as well as a professional, through things like Emotional Intelligence, Crucial Conversations and Crucial Accountability — all things I can carry through my entire career.
In your opinion, what SEPARATES Willory from other recruiting/consulting firms?
The people at Willory really make the difference. I admire the attention and care everyone gives to the organization and/or candidate they are working with. I can truly say, that they come first. I can’t count the number of candidates that have told me how different their experience with Willory has been from other recruiting firms.
Do you have a favorite event/conference that Willory has been a part of? If so what stood out to you?
DisruptHR is probably one of my favorite events. The format of the presentation is intimidating and with each speaker, I am more and more impressed. I also love that every topic is a new and innovative look or approach at the human resource function. I think Disrupt is on it’s way to Columbus here in the near future… so that’s exciting!!
Looking back at your academic career what did you learn that impacted you the most?
It’s almost unusual for someone to end up in the field they studied, but I am happy to have my degree in HR and even more happy to be talking to HR and payroll professionals all day. My degree has been instrumental to understanding what my candidates do day in and day out. It set a great foundation for understanding the importance of the HR function within an organization.
How is your work life balance? What do you spend most of your time doing outside of working at Willory?
My work life balance is great – something I try not to take for granted. Working for Willory allowed me to recently get a puppy – a mini labradoodle named Oliver (Ollie). I also get to spend a lot of time traveling outside of work. Being able to travel with my laptop has afforded me the opportunity to spend more than just a weekend in new places!
