Today we’d like to introduce you to Kathryn Strupp.
Kathryn, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
When I graduated from college, I worked for Enterprise Rent a Car in McLean, VA. The job was really tough, but I learned a lot and worked with the best people including my (now) husband. I literarily ran everywhere in heels and a suit 60 hours a week. We were all new college grads and we knew that even though the job was tough it was a great springboard for wherever we wanted to go. We lived the work-hard-play-hard lifestyle to the fullest! I had the opportunity to interview for an IT consulting firm after my first year at Enterprise. I had no idea what I would be doing or what an IT consulting firm was at the time. I took a job as a recruiter and continued to work with some of the most hilarious people in Northern Va… After 2 years of working in the DC office, I was asked to move to Overland Park, KS to work on the Sprint Account. I had NO plans to leave the Mid-Atlantic area where I grew up, but I have always liked taking chances and hated sitting in 2 hours of traffic a day. I told my friends and family that I would be back in 2 years… My husband (then boyfriend) and I settled into the KC area and I continued to recruit and manage the Sprint account. I failed… I was 24 years old and had no idea what I was doing. I filled in a lot of blanks myself while working in a satellite office and resigned. The next year I got married and had my first child. I stayed at home with my two daughters for a few years and thought I would never go back into the recruiting world.
We moved from KC and then moved back for my husband’s job. A chance encounter with another mom from kindergarten led me back into the recruiting world. I worked part-time from home and it was a great opportunity. I knew I had to say yes, or I wouldn’t be asked again. I am always thankful to my friend for giving me that chance. It is so hard for women to re-enter the workforce. I have tried to help others since then that we’re in a similar situation. I worked for a few years but had a strong desire to work on my own. I am not sure what changed, but I had more confidence to go for what I wanted.
I started Whitfield Recruiting in 2018. I saw a need for recruiting in the non- IT space for small businesses. In 2020 with the addition of a sales consultant, we focused the business on Creative Recruiting.
I am proud to be a Women Owned company supporting a large client base of Women-Owned or led companies.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has not been a smooth road… I always had a huge fear of failure and insecurity in sales. When I quit my job, I felt like a total failure. When I re-entered, the workforce it was almost like starting over. I had imposter syndrome because I was so insecure about the gap in my resume and thought everyone was so far ahead of me. Now that I look back on it, I am so glad I did what I did…
As you know, we’re big fans of Whitfield Recruiting. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
For exceptional companies who need help with the hiring process, we provide innovative, creative recruiting to bring the most talented people to your team. A boutique, women-owned firm based in Kansas City, we do things differently than the average recruiter.
Customized & Personalized Search Process
When it comes to helping you find the right candidate, we believe in value over volume. Using our deep Midwest referral network of creative professionals, we find the best and brightest talent to meet your specific business needs. Because we focus on niches within creative industries, we only source candidates whose skill sets seem custom-made for the position you’re hiring for.
Transparent Customer Service
We are dedicated to providing excellence and quality customer service, applying a transparent approach to helping you hire the right person. We spend time learning the ins and outs of your company before bringing you candidates in order to save you time and make the hiring process a no-brainer.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
Some days are great and some are not… It is great to feel like you have good luck but it is a terrible feeling to feel like it’s bad.
I work hard, surround myself with the right people, and work hard on relationships. That includes letting some relationships go… I want to be with people who make me better and who are no BS. Actions speak louder than words.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.whitfieldrecruiting.com
- Instagram: whitfieldrecruitingkc
Image Credits
Lea Murphy
