Today we’d like to introduce you to Summer Chancey.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Summer. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Little did I know, I was born an Entrepreneur. Growing up, I was curious about everything and always the first to ask questions. I vividly remember sitting on my Dad’s knee while he worked at his computer, he designed drilling jars for his oil field service company. I was inspired by his stories and remained in aw of my father leaving his mark on the world. In those moments, I realized I was destined for something great and wanted to follow in his footsteps. As a teenager, I picked odd jobs that in no way touched on my potential but they paid the bills. During this time, I found innovative ways to improve the daily working environment. I knew my “outside of the box” thinking was on the right path. A born people person, I truly enjoyed making someone’s day better even if it was a brief but encouraging conversation with a coworker. Still, a gnawing feeling remained deep inside, and I knew I wanted to help others. I enrolled in college and worked full-time to pay my tuition each semester. Many nights I felt overwhelmed while learning to balance work, school and running a household. I conquered my goal and graduated with a degree in Marketing.
During this time, my father’s health began to rapidly decline and a fire within me begin to grow. After graduation, I was hired as an Oil and Gas Recruiter for a small firm. Since I was new to recruiting, the Vice President agreed to be my mentor. This was my golden opportunity to ask a million questions and learn every aspect of full-cycle recruiting as well as further my knowledge of the Oil & Gas industry. In 2017, the company made several internal changes and as the newbie, I lost my job. I suddenly found myself at a crossroads. Should I work at another firm or should I risk everything and open my own recruiting firm. I followed my gut instinct and with prayers along with full support of my family, I proudly opened Viking Recruiting Resources. I quickly dove headfirst into market research, created a business and marketing plan, and watched videos on building a website and customer acquisition. I knew Viking Recruiting needed to solve the problem of talent acquisition and retainment.
My Dad became my mentor and I swear I called him 100 times a day with questions. There were times when I questioned my decision, considered quitting, and sat at my desk in tears, the true life of an Entrepreneur. As a business owner, life was hectic but I was determined to reach specific milestones in my journey. I suddenly lost my father, our hero, in 2018. For once in years time stood still. The phrase, “Seize the day, tomorrow isn’t promised” was ingrained in my soul. Everyday I’m blessed to wake up with another 24 hours to change someone’s life for the better. The day I assisted my first client with hiring a new employee, my passion became justified, and my want to change lives grew significantly. When I help someone make a life-changing decision, a career move, I’m improving their situation, their families lives, and helping a company expand their team. 85% of CEO’s worry about retaining top talent in this current candidate-drive market.
In 2018, I implemented sophisticated technology to take Viking to another level! My Clients typically hire within 3-5 resume submittals due to our strategic process. I strive to step outside my comfort zone and attend networking events with local Entrepreneurs. Meeting others and surrounding myself with like-minded individuals has helped me in business as well as on a personal level. I want companies to view me as a trusted partner and choose to work with my firm due to our professionalism, the service we provide, our transparency and overall knowledge of the industry. We also assist job seekers with professional resumes and cover letters. In memory of my father (a Military Veteran), this service is free to Military Veterans. A quote that resonates with me is from Larry Page, the Co-Founder of Google, “Always deliver more than expected.”
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Absolutely not! It’s human nature to dislike rejection and in the recruiting industry you face rejection daily. There’s thousands of recruiters in the industry and when I first started, it seemed impossible to obtain a client. Companies want to do business with individuals (Recruiters) they like and know, respectably so. When I first started making calls to potential clients, I was rejected over 500 times before I got my first “yes”.
During Hurricane Harvey, our neighborhood began to flood and we rushed to toss our furniture upstairs with only 15 minutes to spare before evacuating. We were terrified and knew we could possibly lose everything. I continued to interview candidates, scheduled flights/hotels and prepared resumes for my clients. My clients did not ask this of me, in fact, they insisted I take care of the situation at home, but I wanted to uphold my standard of delivering more than expected. Every client I assisted during this time has used my services repeatedly. We helped family members and neighbors rebuild after Harvey.
The loss of my father in 2018 was devastating to me and my family. He was in a coma (in ICU) for about a week before he passed. We lived at the hospital as much as possible to be by his side every possible moment. During this time, I hired a friend to assist with recruiting and interviewing. She had a full-time job so I’m blessed she was able to help me. No matter the challenge or obstacle, I’ve relied on my faith to remain positive and supportive to others because it’s my purpose. I’m a firm believer that a positive mindset, and hard work, delivers positive results. Always do what’s right in life and business and you’ll be successful.
Viking Recruiting Resources – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Viking Recruiting Resources is a professional recruiting firm that specializes in the Oil & Gas Industry. We provide tangible solutions for the two biggest issues companies face- talent acquisition and retainment. We created and utilize an efficient retainment strategy to increase employee retainment. We offer direct-hire and contract staffing solutions. People are the scarcest resources today, not capital. If companies want to truly compete in this marketplace, they must employ amazing talent. Our goal is to be a true resource for growing companies and their mission is to become the best in the industry. The companies that win competitive races are the companies that best manage their time, talent and energy.
✔️ We provide the best talent that impacts your company in the most successful way.
✔️ We are true Headhunters, recruiting in the digital age.
✔️ We provide professional solutions for your hiring issues that deliver results.
✔️ Our Clients hire within 3-5 resume submittals.
We partner with companies across the United States to fill positions- from Field Technician to CEO.
We work alongside our clients to build the best hiring strategy for their organization. We custom design each plan to fit their specific needs.
In addition to our efficient hiring process and custom-designed plans, we set ourselves apart by utilizing cutting- edge technology as well as consistently providing executive-level service. I invest ample time into researching each client which allows Viking to exceed expectations. My goal is to fully understand their business, company goals, past projects, and company culture. The more research, the better we can understand their needs and ultimately recruit the top individual that will deliver the most value to their team. 99% of my clients are repeat customers and most have hired two or more employees.
We also offer assistance with professional resumes and cover letters. This service is free to all Military Veterans. LinkedIn is the most utilized professional social platform. I personally assist job seekers with creating a professional LinkedIn profile that can easily be found by Hiring Managers. Check out the recommendations I’ve received on my personal LinkedIn page. I am most proud when I help a company hire a new employee, while at the same time, help someone secure their dream career.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
My proudest moment was the first time a Client referred my recruiting services to another company. A referral means that my customer is extremely pleased with the level of service they received and the results we achieved. My client referred the Owner of another company to me due to their hiring needs. I check in with the companies and Candidates on a regular basis, especially during the first year. These employees have really grown into their roles and have received more than one promotion.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://vikingrecruiting.com
- Phone: 2817943527
- Email: [email protected]
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Vikingrecruiting/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/VikingRecruit
- Other: https://www.linkedin.com/in/summer-chancey/
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