Celebrating International Women’s Day 2022
March 8th is International Women’s Day! We take this opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate hardworking women everywhere.
Recognizing International Women’s Day feels especially important to us as we are a woman-led company. To help honor all of the hardworking women in the staffing industry and beyond, we sat down for an interview with NWS President, Jennie Taylor.
But before we get to that… Highlighted below are few of the accomplished women whom our staff look up to.
Chandra Robinson (LinkedIn) – Principal at LEVER Architecture: A 2022 Portland Business Journal Woman of Influence and Portland native, Chandra Robinson is actively helping make Portland more equitable and accessible through architectural design. Her thoughtful partnership with the community she serves is inspiring.
Romanita Hairston (Website) – Change agent | Newly-announced incoming CEO and Executive Director of the Pacific Northwest’s M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust: Romanita’s broad, community-focused experience across the non-profit, for profit, and philanthropic sectors has well-positioned her to lead the Murdock trust. She also serves as the Board President of the non-profit Global Women, who operate from the belief that “women have the right to experience life free from poverty, violence, exclusion and discrimination.” Romanita’s list of accomplishments is long, and we look forward to watching as she continues to grow and serve the PNW.
Admiral Rachel Levine (Twitter) – U.S. Assistant Secretary for Health: Dr. Levine made history when she became the first openly transgender government official in the United States holding an office that requires Senate confirmation. Last October she made history again, when she became the first openly transgender four-star officer in the nation’s eight uniformed services. Beyond being an equal rights champion within the LGBTQ+ community, the work that she does every day is “helping build a stronger foundation for a healthier future – one in which every American can attain their full health potential” (HHS Bio).
Ai-jen Poo (LinkedIn) – Labor Organizer, and Director of the National Domestic Workers’ Alliance: Ai-jen is doing incredible work, notably helping to transform the long-term care system in the US, with a focus on the needs of aging Americans, people with disabilities, and their caregivers. Under her leadership, domestic workers won eight state Domestic Workers Bill of Rights and federal overtime and minimum wage protections for more than two million home care workers. She’s continues to be a leader instrumental to the success of many women’s movements.
Interview with Jennie Taylor, NWS President:
2022 marks your 25th year (!) working with NW Staffing Resources. What did that career journey look like for you?
After graduating from Oregon State University, I worked for a few years in customer service and outside sales for different industries. I started working for NW Staffing Resources in 1997 as an Account Executive in our Vancouver branch. Working for NWS was like nothing I had ever done before. I was touring companies across a variety of industries daily, learning about their products, the services they provided, and how we could assist them with their staffing needs. Each day was unique, and I loved learning about how our client companies operated.
Now in my role as President of the company, I am focused on ensuring that NW Staffing is a place where people are valued, thriving, and have the opportunity to do rewarding work – all while having fun! When we take care of our team, then we have the capacity to care for our clients and associates, and share our resources with our communities.
What made you continue to pursue a career in the staffing industry for all of those years?
From the beginning of my career with NWS I was fortunate to hear from many of our associates about the personal impact of their job placements. Whether it meant they were able to gain custody of their children, assist family with higher education costs, or just work for an organization that valued their input – their start was a placement through NW Staffing. Hearing those stories and knowing that we assisted in a small way by creating those opportunities made every day worthwhile.
What are three things you love the most about working in staffing?
Three things I love about working in staffing: Working with great people, learning about different businesses, and having a direct impact on the lives of the job seekers we serve.
What advice would you give to someone coming out of college looking for a job?
Hopefully they had the opportunity to work while in school or during summer breaks. Employers value skills gained through entry-level work experience – customer service, reliability, adaptability, integrity.
Ahead of your first interview take some time to learn about the company you are interviewing with – be able to ask good questions. Employers are going to invest time and resources training you. Giving the energy to take advantage of that investment will go a long way to assure future opportunities are available to you.
Lastly, I can’t overstate the value of networking. Talk with friends, family, staffing agencies, and ask about what their company does, what type of positions do they have, what skills are most important. You never know who might connect you with your next opportunity!
What’s some great advice you’ve received about work, careers, etc.?
Find something you enjoy doing, and then do it with people you respect. If you are able to do that, it won’t feel like work. Listen. Life is about the journey, so listen and continue to learn and grow all the way through.
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Thank you for celebrating International Women’s Day with us!
If you are interested in working with our company, we’d love to hear from you! Please contact us to learn more about our opportunities for both job seekers and employers.
