By Kendra Drozd, Bluffton, SC
Looking Beyond What Is Written on Paper
When I first moved into executive recruiting, I thought my background in marketing would be the biggest thing I brought with me. After all, I had spent years studying consumers, understanding what motivated people, and learning how to communicate ideas clearly. What I did not fully realize at the time was that those same skills would become incredibly valuable when working with people and their careers.
Recruiting taught me that recognizing potential is about so much more than reviewing a resume or matching someone’s experience to a job description. A resume can tell you where someone has worked, what responsibilities they have held, and what accomplishments they have achieved, but it does not always tell you who that person is, how they think, what motivates them, or what they are capable of becoming.
Over the years, I learned that some of the most impressive people are not always the ones with the most obvious credentials. Sometimes potential is found in the person who asks thoughtful questions, adapts quickly, learns from challenges, or has a level of self-awareness that cannot be measured on a piece of paper.
My Transition From Marketing to Recruiting
Before entering recruiting, I worked in advertising and brand management at Kraft Foods. Those roles taught me how to understand people, identify needs, and think strategically. I enjoyed the creativity and problem-solving that came with marketing, but over time I discovered that the part I enjoyed most was often the human side.
At Kraft, I found myself drawn to understanding consumers beyond basic data. I enjoyed learning about people’s routines, challenges, and decision-making processes. I wanted to know why people did what they did, not just what they bought.
That curiosity eventually led me toward recruiting.
When I joined Bloom, Gross & Associates, I found a career where listening and understanding people were at the center of everything I did. Instead of trying to understand what motivated a consumer, I was trying to understand what motivated a person professionally.
The questions were different, but the curiosity was the same.
A Resume Is Only Part of the Story
One of the biggest lessons recruiting taught me was that experience and potential are not always the same thing.
Of course, experience matters. A person’s background, skills, and accomplishments provide important information. Companies need people who can meet the requirements of a role and contribute to their goals.
However, I also learned that hiring based only on experience can cause people to overlook incredible talent.
I met candidates who may not have followed a traditional career path but had incredible qualities that made them stand out. Some people had faced challenges that shaped their resilience. Others had taken on responsibilities that were not reflected in their job titles. Some simply had a curiosity and willingness to learn that suggested they could grow into much larger roles.
It made me think about how often we underestimate people because we are looking for a very specific picture of success.
Sometimes the person who looks perfect on paper is not the right fit, and sometimes the person who requires a little more conversation ends up being exactly what an organization needs.
Listening Reveals What Experience Cannot
The most important skill I developed in recruiting was learning how to listen.
A good interview is not just about asking questions and waiting for answers. It is about paying attention to the details. It is about noticing how someone talks about their accomplishments, how they describe challenges, and what they value.
I learned that the way someone tells their story often reveals more than the story itself.
For example, two people may have similar professional backgrounds, but their perspectives can be completely different. One person may focus only on personal achievements, while another may talk about collaboration, learning, and the people who helped them succeed.
Neither approach automatically makes someone better, but those differences provide insight into how someone works and what environment will help them thrive.
The Importance of Seeing the Whole Person
Recruiting also reinforced something I have carried into other areas of my life: people are more than their roles.
A candidate is not just a professional history. They are also a parent, a caregiver, a mentor, a volunteer, or someone navigating personal circumstances we may know nothing about.
This understanding became even more meaningful after becoming a mother myself. I experienced firsthand how life circumstances can influence career decisions. I made choices based on what my family needed during different seasons, and those decisions shaped my own professional path.
Because of that, I became even more aware that a person’s career journey is rarely a straight line.
A gap on a resume does not tell the whole story. A career change does not mean someone lacks commitment. A different path does not mean someone lacks ambition.
Sometimes those experiences create strengths that are not immediately visible.
Recognizing Potential Requires Giving People a Chance
One of the challenges in recruiting is balancing potential with practical needs. Companies have goals, deadlines, and expectations, and hiring decisions matter. You cannot ignore qualifications or simply choose someone based on personality.
At the same time, I believe organizations miss opportunities when they only look for people who fit a narrow definition of success.
Some of the strongest employees are people who were given the opportunity to grow. They were trusted, supported, and challenged. Someone saw something in them before they had the title or experience to prove it.
That is one of the most rewarding parts of working with people. You get to be part of those moments when someone realizes they are capable of more than they thought.
The Lessons I Carry Forward
Although my career has included many different chapters, the lessons I learned through recruiting continue to influence how I interact with people.
Whether I am working with someone professionally, volunteering through Stephen Ministry, or simply building relationships in everyday life, I try to remember that everyone has a story that is deeper than what we see on the surface.
We never know what experiences have shaped someone, what challenges they have overcome, or what potential they are still discovering.
Recruiting taught me to look beyond the obvious and to ask better questions. It taught me that potential is often found in places we do not expect.
Closing Thoughts
Looking back, I realize recruiting was never just about filling positions. It was about helping people find opportunities where they could grow and contribute.
The greatest lesson I learned is that recognizing potential requires curiosity, patience, and a willingness to truly see people.
Everyone has strengths that may not be immediately visible. Sometimes all someone needs is the right opportunity and someone willing to believe they are capable of more.
That lesson has stayed with me long after my recruiting days, and it continues to shape the way I see people today.
