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Megan, Senior Consultant at Piper Maddox: Advize Career Interview
A Sacramento State alumna, Megan, a Senior Consultant at Piper Maddox specializing in renewable energy recruitment, offers a dynamic career path fueled by networking, self-motivation, and a relentless drive.
The journey involved a major shift from math to business, followed by an unpaid internship and a recruiter outreach that launched a successful career in corporate recruiting.
Now, a Senior Consultant, Megan performs "360 recruitment," juggling business development and candidate sourcing, interacting daily with high-level professionals.
Success, Megan emphasizes, requires grit, market knowledge, and embracing failures as learning opportunities.
Entry-level positions are readily available for recent graduates, and the industry rewards eagerness, ambition, and a passion for making a difference—a sentiment particularly rewarding in renewable energy.
Megan's journey, marked by self-motivation cultivated as a first-generation college student, proves that consistent hard work and a proactive approach yield substantial career rewards.
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Megan Drake
Senior Consultant
Piper Maddox
CSU Sacramento
N/A
Business Management & Admin
Recruitment
Sales and Client Management
Honors Student, Worked 20+ Hours in School, Greek Life Member, First Generation College Student
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Career Path of a Senior Consultant at Piper Maddox
Megan's experience at Sac State significantly impacted their career trajectory, highlighting the unexpected value of "meeting people and not taking education for granted." The extensive networking opportunities, fostered by dorm life, sorority involvement, and campus engagement, proved invaluable, even leading to client acquisition based on shared alma mater connections—a testament to the long-term benefits of actively participating in college life.
Main Responsibilities of a Recruiter at Workflow Solutions
Megan's career path began with a college major shift from math to business with a marketing minor, driven by a desire for a more versatile field; after several non-corporate jobs, an unpaid internship and a recruiter outreach led to a recruitment role at Workflow Solutions, where Megan entered the corporate world and learned "a lot about recruiting," ultimately shaping their trajectory to a Senior Consultant position at Piper Maddox.
A Day In The Life Of A Senior Consultant At Piper Maddox
Megan, a Senior Consultant at Piper Maddox specializing in renewable energy and clean tech recruitment, performs "360 recruitment," encompassing both business development ("finding clients that are hiring") and candidate sourcing, focusing on commercial roles such as "VP of finance" within investment banking, unlike their colleagues who concentrate on engineering and construction.
Most Important Skills For A Senior Consultant At Piper Maddox
A senior consultant's day is a dynamic blend of "delivery focused" work, involving "calling candidates, reaching out to people on LinkedIn," and "business development," which includes "calling people, reaching out via emails," and leveraging technology for lead generation. The consultant's approach prioritizes "warm calling" over cold calling, showcasing a strategic and relationship-focused approach to recruiting and business development.
Favorite Parts of Being a Senior Consultant at Piper Maddox
Megan, a Senior Consultant at Piper Maddox, emphasizes the importance of self-motivation and being "money motivated" in a commission-based role, highlighting the direct correlation between effort and reward. Success also hinges on building relationships, leveraging one's personality, and maintaining strong organizational skills to effectively manage time and prioritize tasks in a demanding sales environment.
Biggest Challenges Faced by a Senior Consultant at Piper Maddox
Megan, a Senior Consultant at Piper Maddox, finds the most rewarding aspect of her current role is "learning something new every day," interacting with high-level professionals like CFOs across diverse industries such as renewable energy, investment banking, and private equity, which fuels her natural curiosity and allows for continuous professional development. This contrasts with a previous, more niche technology-focused role, highlighting the broader scope and learning opportunities in Megan's current position.
Favorite Parts of Working in the Recruitment Industry as a Senior Consultant
Megan, a Senior Consultant at Piper Maddox, finds the biggest challenge in recruiting to be the unpredictable nature of the work, with "high highs and low lows," because the outcome depends on many factors outside of their control, such as candidates' and clients' decisions. This inherent uncontrollability is difficult but also a source of immense reward when placements are successful.
What Type Of Person Thrives In Renewable Energy, According To A Senior Consultant At Piper Maddox
Megan, a Senior Consultant at Piper Maddox specializing in renewable energy recruiting, finds the industry's passionate community most rewarding; the shared goal of "saving the planet" creates a collaborative environment unlike prior experiences in tech recruiting, where Megan perceived a more stressed atmosphere.
What a Senior Consultant at Piper Maddox Wishes They Had Known Before Entering the Recruiting Industry
Success in this industry hinges on "grit," a relentless drive, and the ability to "brush it off and move on" from setbacks—a crucial trait given that rejection is frequent, even exceeding 50% of opportunities in Megan's experience. The most successful individuals possess an unwavering "fire" and ambition, using setbacks as fuel to achieve their goals.
Positions For Aspiring Senior Consultants At Piper Maddox
Megan, a Senior Consultant at Piper Maddox, emphasizes the critical need for deep market knowledge in recruitment, stating "learn your market" is paramount. Success requires understanding not just the job description, but also the nuances of each industry, allowing for high-level conversations and building client respect through demonstrating a comprehensive understanding of their work.
Significant Career Lesson From A Senior Consultant At Piper Maddox
Megan, a Senior Consultant at Piper Maddox, explains that entry-level positions in recruiting typically begin as a recruiter, focusing solely on "recruiting on jobs," before progressing to more senior roles. Career paths then diverge, offering options like a "360 role," encompassing sales and account management, or specializing as a senior recruiter, and that recruiting firms often prefer recent graduates for their "eagerness and hunger."
College Experiences That Helped A Senior Consultant At Piper Maddox Succeed
Megan's significant career lesson is a two-part approach: accepting that "some things are out of your control," and learning from mistakes to avoid repeating them. This includes using "failures, rejections, things that you messed up on" as opportunities for growth and improvement, ultimately leading to better performance and a resilient mindset.
How Identity Has Influenced a Senior Consultant at Piper Maddox's Career
Megan's undergraduate success stemmed from a commitment to high standards; "I always tried to do the best," and establishing strong work habits early on, comparing consistent class attendance and studying to keeping a dentist appointment, thus building a foundation for future career success.
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