It is with great honor and fortune that I have had the pleasure of knowing Angie Verros for the past few years. She is an active member of the SourceCon community and I have had the privilege of hearing her speak on multiple occasions. With over two decades of experience in recruiting, Angie is an expert in her field. Although she began her career as a technical recruiter, she quickly realized that she could have a greater impact by leading sourcing teams.
This entailed not only identifying potential hires but also developing processes and providing training to managers on how to locate top talent. Angie is the ideal person to lead your sourcing team as she possesses sharp acumen, a professional demeanor, and a comprehensive knowledge of various technologies that can aid in identifying the right people for your organization. Her ability to assemble the perfect team will undoubtedly result in your company finding the individuals they require.
Moreover, her in-depth understanding of business operations makes her a trusted advisor in building long-term and sustainable relationships with companies that seek top talent.
Tell us about your work experience in recruiting – how did you get your start, how did you progress, where are you at this point in time?
After the events of September 11th, finding a job in the financial markets was tougher than getting a reservation at a Michelin-starred restaurant. So, I turned to my recruiter not only for job leads, but also for emotional support. We met so often that we became closer than roommates in a New York City studio apartment. During one of our lunch meetings, she suggested that I become a recruiter myself. I initially laughed it off, but then I realized that I had extensive knowledge of the financial markets and more connections than a LinkedIn influencer. So I thought, “what do I have to lose, besides my sanity?” Sixteen years later, I’m still in the recruiting game and loving every minute of it!
What are the unique talents you bring to the field?
Authenticity, passion, and work ethic – those are the cornerstones of my recruiting philosophy. I don’t just fill roles, I help people find their soulmates – I mean, dream jobs. My secret? I take the time to really listen and learn from my candidates and clients. I’m like a therapist, only without the PhD and the sofa. And let’s not forget about my talent for finding those rare, elusive unicorns – I mean, candidates – that seem to be hiding in the shadows. It’s like I have a sixth sense for tracking them down. And my messaging strategy? It’s so effective, it makes the Dos Equis guy jealous. So if you’re looking for a recruiter with heart, humor, and a healthy dose of humility (okay, maybe just a small dose), look no further!
Share your biggest success story in recruiting so far?
It’s been quite a journey – I started from nothing and somehow managed to build a sourcing company (Vaia Talent) that’s now making waves around the globe. But I know that I couldn’t have done it without the help of many talented and hardworking individuals who believed in me and my vision. While I’m proud of what we have accomplished together, I’m also keenly aware of the challenges and obstacles we’ve faced along the way. But that’s the thing about building something from scratch – it’s not just about the destination, but also about the journey. So here’s to continuing on this path, one step at a time, and always striving to do better and be better.
What is the best advice you’ve received during your career path, and from whom?
During my cold calling days at Morgan Stanley, Joseph Silich used to motivate me with the promise of “more zeroes” on my paycheck. But Joe has been so much more than just a motivator. He’s been my mentor, my friend, and my biggest professional influence. I owe a great deal of my success to him, even though he was very tough on me in my early career. He had a gift for making even the most difficult tasks seem simple and manageable. Joe is not just the hardest worker I know, but also one of the smartest and funniest people I’ve ever met. I feel deeply honored and proud to have him in my life, and I know I can always count on him, whether it’s for career advice, 401K review, or simply to share a good laugh over lunch. Joe inspires me to be a better person, both professionally and personally. And he’s been there for me, even during the toughest times – I’ll never forget the advice he gave me after I lost my father. When I felt like giving up, he sent me this: “The best way you can make him proud is to be: A great Mom; a great worker bee that actually makes real money; and maybe show up to Greek mass once in a while. “Joe is a true gem, and I consider myself incredibly fortunate to have him in my corner.
What’s your favorite recruiting tech tool?
Oh my! This is a tough one. There are so many brilliant tools out there and I wish I could try them all. Right now I’m having fun monitoring company activity on Crunchbase.
What do you hope to achieve in 2023?
My goals for 2023 are simple – I want to keep growing, keep learning, and keep having fun. Whether that means expanding my skill set, embracing new challenges, or simply enjoying the journey, I’m ready to tackle whatever comes my way. And when it comes to Vaia, our plans for growth and expansion are only getting stronger, despite the economic uncertainty. I’m excited to see where this year takes us, and I know we have what it takes to overcome any obstacles that come our way. So while I can’t predict the future, I can say with confidence that I’m ready for whatever 2023 has in store.
Any future predictions on talent sourcing?
I think that talent sourcing will continue to evolve and become more complex and sophisticated. The growing use of automation and artificial intelligence will undoubtedly help us save time and improve efficiency so that we can focus on more strategic tasks but I don’t think that robots will replace us 
.
If we continue to stay adaptable and keep up with the latest trends we will be well-positioned for success.
What’s your favorite Boolean String?
Selfishly, this is my favorite boolean string at the moment because I’m looking to hire a sales professional:
(site:linkedin.com/in/ OR site:linkedin.com/pub/) AND (account executive OR sales executive OR business development) AND (proven OR successful OR top) AND (sales OR revenue OR quota OR target OR “president’s club” OR FY22) NOT (manager OR director OR senior) AND (remote OR work from home) AND (Ireland OR UK OR United Kingdom) AND (talent OR recruiting)
Anything else you would like to add?
I’m grateful that we connected once again and that we finally did this!
Reconnecting with Angie and learning about her life abroad in Greece was truly delightful. I consider myself fortunate to have connected with her professionally, as she is undoubtedly an expert in sourcing within our industry. I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to Angie for sparing her valuable time to participate in the interview for wizardsourcer, despite her busy schedule.
Recommended Reading:
Creating a hard to fill talent sourcing plan
Recruiting books to read in 2023 and Beyond
How recruiters can generate Boolean Strings using ChatGPT
- Unleashing the Power of AI in Talent Sourcing: Meet Noon - May 17, 2024
- Demystifying Natural Language Search: Crafting Effective Boolean Strings - April 26, 2024
- The Art of Context: Why Rushing to Conclusions Can Lead Us Astray - April 25, 2024