How College Helped An Executive Recruiter At A Top Executive Search Firm Succeed
David's undergraduate experience unexpectedly shaped their executive recruiting career; working as a residence hall attendant honed "interpersonal skills," teaching them to connect with people regardless of title, a skill crucial in interacting with senior executives. The rigorous research required in some college courses also unexpectedly prepared them for the in-depth research component of their current role.
Interpersonal Skills, Communication, Research Skills, Problem-Solving, Networking
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
David Xie
Executive Recruiter / Executive Search Associate
Forbes Top 5 Executive Search Firm
University of California, Santa Barbara - 2017
NA
International Relations & Affairs
Recruitment, HR & Related Professional Services
Sales and Client Management
Honors Student, Worked 20+ Hours in School
Video Highlights
1. Develop strong interpersonal skills. The ability to connect with people from all walks of life is crucial for success in executive recruiting. Working in roles that require frequent interaction with others, like a residence hall desk attendant, can be invaluable.
2. Embrace research and analytical skills. Executive recruiting involves deep research into candidates and companies. Taking classes with significant research components helps develop this critical skillset.
3. Understand that senior executives are still people. The ability to connect with individuals on a human level, despite their titles and seniority, is vital in building rapport and trust, essential skills for the field of executive search.
Transcript
What did you do in undergrad to set you up for success in your career?
It's funny, I think the answer I'm going to give is something I never actively thought about when I was in undergrad. But looking back, it makes sense why I'm in the role I'm in.
I think it's my interpersonal skills. Being naturally outgoing and a very social person obviously helped. Working as a residence hall desk attendant for six or seven hours a day also played a part.
My job was to greet strangers, break the ice, and make them feel comfortable and welcomed in the residence hall. This involved having conversations and getting to know people. Little did I know that experience would come in handy nearly 10 years later.
It's cool to think about it that way. I'm working with senior executives now, but at the end of the day, they are still human beings. There's a person behind that title.
Humans are humans; we have our psychology and think a certain way. When you look beyond an intimidating title, you realize they're just another human being. If you can have the same conversations you had with a freshman or sophomore college student coming into the residence hall, that skillset really stands out.
The other piece, and I hate to sound corny, is that in college, especially in classes with a heavy research component, you learn to deal with the grind. This job has that resource element.
There will be days where you read a lot of material and try to understand a concept you've never grasped before. Undergraduate studies prepare you for that, especially if you take classes where you learn a new subject and have to quickly master it and find the right material. These things all come in handy for a job like this.