In today’s competitive job market, finding the right talent can be a daunting task for businesses of all sizes. That’s where recruitment professionals like Liz López come in. As a headhunter at Kilpatrick, Liz combines her passion for research and her desire to help others to identify and attract the best candidates for her clients. In this interview, Liz shares her journey from studying clinical psychology to pursuing a career in recruitment, as well as her insights on the industry and her experiences working on challenging projects. She also discusses how she stays up-to-date with recruitment trends, how Gen Z approaches job search practices and offers as well as what she loves most about working at Kilpatrick.
What inspired you to pursue a career in recruitment, and how did you get started in this field?
During high school, I discovered a profound interest in Clinical Psychology and became determined to pursue it as a major. The idea of contributing to the well-being of others through psychotherapy ignited a deep sense of purpose within me.
As a Psychology student, I was very passionate about research, which prompted me to complete a diploma course in Neuroscience. However, upon graduating and concluding my clinical practice, I found myself still in search of the right path for my future, and not ready to pursue my Master’s Degree. It was during this time that my curiosity led me to explore Human Resources.
In November 2021, I was approached by a former Kilpatrick consultant who introduced me to a very attractive opportunity. I instantly sensed a strong connection with Kilpatrick as it went beyond the conventional understanding of “Human Resources.” It seamlessly merged my two greatest passions and aspirations: research and assistance. The prospect of being part of an organization that embraced both my love for research, and my desire to help others was truly exciting. It fueled my motivation and enthusiasm, pushing me to embark on this new chapter of my professional journey where I plan to continue growing and developing professionally in the long term.
Can you tell me about a particularly challenging recruitment project you worked on, and how you overcame obstacles you encountered?
In 2022, I was assigned my very first international project for a European company aiming to establish a larger presence in the American market. My responsibilities included conducting a comprehensive market mapping exercise, gathering pertinent data for the client’s reference, and leading the search for a crucial C-level role vital to the company’s success in America. This assignment presented unique challenges, particularly in navigating and eventually communicating the cultural disparities between the European and American markets to the client.
To address these challenges, I diligently collected data over several weeks, ensuring a thorough and data-driven approach. This enabled me to compile and deliver a report on my findings and valuable business insights. By staying focused on data and leveraging it as a guiding element, I successfully overcame the obstacles encountered.
Overall, this experience reinforced the importance of adapting strategies to different cultural contexts and utilizing robust data to foster informed decision-making.
How do you stay up-to-date with industry trends and best practices in recruitment?
Being a Gen-Z psychologist, I’m heavily involved in social matters such as diversity, equity & inclusion, mental health awareness, gender perspective, and human rights. All of these have significantly shaped modern recruitment, and I’m lucky enough to have proactively built a strong network of like-minded professionals and colleagues in the HR industry who are also driven by these principles. This network enables me to stay up to date with the latest insights and strategies in headhunting that incorporate these essential perspectives.
What do you enjoy most about working in Kilpatrick, what are some of the biggest challenges you face in your role?
Kilpatrick truly stands out as an exceptional workplace for several reasons. Collaborating with an international team of professionals renowned for their creative and forward-thinking mindset has been an incredibly enriching experience. The opportunity to work alongside individuals who possess remarkable leadership skills has greatly inspired me and fostered my personal and professional growth. Additionally, the nature of my role allows me to continually push myself to exceed my own expectations and embrace new challenges, which I find immensely fulfilling. Lastly, the team feels like one big family and that makes all the difference. Kilpatrick truly is an amazing workplace. When I find difficulties, the strong sense of unity and support within the team keeps me motivated and optimistic.
How would you say psychology and recruitment go together? What do you think sets you apart from other recruiters?
As I previously mentioned, I feel very influenced by my clinical/counseling background as a psychologist. One of the psychotherapy models that mostly influenced my career as a healthcare professional was the Systemic approach, specifically the collaborative type, which establishes that people are the experts on their lives and that therapists are in a not-knowing position regarding it, and the narrative type, which establishes that throughout life, personal experiences become personal stories. I like the idea of transferring this to headhunting. Candidates are the real experts on the field, and exploring their stories with a curious yet respectful approach, provides you with key information about their career path, the industry they have professionally developed in, and their personal stories. I don’t like a transactional approach to recruitment. I genuinely enjoy listening to candidates’ stories, always adding an intersectional lens to understand various factors that strongly contribute to an individual’s personal and professional journey. For example, why does a person have an employment gap? Usually, there’s a lot of stigma around it and it’s believed that it automatically makes a candidate less valuable. I truly believe we need to listen to what was behind it, and be empathetic and understanding about the stories that we are shared as headhunters.
I’m driven by effective, honest, and transparent communication. As both a headhunter and former candidate, I believe it’s extremely important to understand that people involved in a recruitment process are investing their time, and energy. As a candidate, even when the outcome is not favorable, the experience becomes a thousand times more positive when the recruiter in charge is responsive, supportive, and fosters personalized communication throughout the process. As a headhunter, this is how I create strong client and candidate relationships.
What trends have you identified in the market by younger generations such as Gen Z?
Gen Z candidates actively pursue a sense of purpose and belonging in their professional journeys. We deeply recognize the significance and strong influence that out workplace has on our personal lives. Therefore, when evaluating organizations and participating in recruitment processes, we prioritize and place great importance on certain key elements.
One crucial aspect is diversity, equity, and inclusion. We strongly believe in the importance of fostering and cultivating a work environment that acknowledges, respects, and embraces unique perspectives and backgrounds. Moreover, we prioritize mental health, understanding the vital role it plays in our overall well-being. Flexible work arrangements, such as remote work and flexible schedules, are highly valued as they promote a healthy work-life balance, enabling us to thrive both personally and professionally.
Furthermore, employer branding plays a significant role for Gen Z candidates. We actively seek organizations that align and resonate with our values and demonstrate a genuine commitment to different social and environmental matters. As previously mentioned, we’re usually drawn to companies that prioritize inclusion, sustainability, and ethical practices.
Collaborative work cultures are also highly sought after. We thrive in environments that foster teamwork, open communication, and innovation. We seek organizations that will invest in our growth by guiding us through mentorship to enhance our skills and knowledge, and we are interested in opportunities for continuous learning and development that provide us with the tools and resources necessary to continue growing and excelling in our chosen careers.
By recognizing and addressing these factors, organizations can effectively engage and attract talented and loyal Gen Z candidates who are eager to contribute to an organization and make a positive impact.