Today, we’d like to introduce you to Sarah Englade.
Hi Sarah, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
My recruiting career began with a large, global staffing firm nearly twelve years ago. I worked for this company for six years and was a top producer for most of them. After six and a half years, I was fired from my job, and as shocking as the experience was, it was overwhelmingly relieving. I remember walking out of the building with two boxes filled with six years of hard work, feeling as if the weight had, quite literally, been lifted off my shoulders.
I had felt chained to my desk for years, and the chains holding me there were “golden handcuffs.” At the time, I made what I thought as a non-degreed professional was a lot of money, and as unhappy as the position made me, I was scared to leave, fearing I would never see that kind of money again. As inhumane as the manager who fired me made the experience, she did me a favor by making the decision I could not make for myself. And her decision to fire me, I didn’t know then, would open up a world of opportunities that would forever change my life.
After being fired in 2019, I accepted a position to join another global firm and chose this company due to its good energy and strong culture. It was my first time working for a company that believed in its core values and did not micromanage its employees. Being entrepreneurial-spirited, creative, and curious was welcomed by upper management, and they created an environment where you really could be your true self. After fifteen months of being with this company and getting my wings back, I was laid off due to the pandemic and was, once again, out of a job.
Within a day or two of being laid off, I decided to go into business. I had excelled at two large recruiting firms and knew that if I placed a bet on myself and went all in, I would be successful. The first company taught me the foundation, and the second company showed me how entrepreneurial I was, so I Googled “How to start a business.” A couple of weeks later, in October 2020, Monarch Talent Solutions was formed.
Our mission at Monarch is to put humanity back into hiring for hiring managers and job seekers, and we do this through honesty, empathy, and integrity. These last three and a half years have taught me that anything is possible if you work hard and don’t quit. Going all in on myself has been my biggest win professionally and would have likely never happened had I not been fired.
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?
The road is never smooth when you own a business, and you learn a lot about yourself whenever you encounter a new obstacle. My first struggle was finding my first client during a global pandemic. For anyone who doesn’t know, recruiters find jobs for people.
And when there are no jobs and people are being laid off and furloughed left and right, locking in new business is extremely challenging. It took me six months to land my first client, and I did that through persistence, consistency, and discipline. My business is also totally reliant on the job market, and there are major ebbs and flows in recruiting, and they hit extra hard when you’re a small business.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Monarch Talent Solutions is a values-driven recruiting firm specializing in accounting, finance, and human resources direct hire placements throughout Houston, Texas. Our boutique size is our superpower and allows us to be extremely hands-on with our clients and candidates, allowing those who partner with us to know they are our priority.
We keep our standards very high and will only partner with companies that align with our mission to put humanity back into hiring. Recruiting doesn’t need to be so transactional, and we are here to prove that and to make hiring for companies and job-seeking candidates more realistic, less stressful, and as seamless as possible.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
Don’t be afraid to ask for help or advice. I have two coaches, one for running a business and the other for mental toughness. I’m about to get my third coach, who is specifically for recruiters, too. To be the best, you have to surround yourself with the best. Show up to networking events any chance you can and show up early.
That allows you to meet people more easily and to make networking less uncomfortable. When choosing a mentor, choose one from your field who has been doing what you do longer and is more successful than you. Always be a student of learning, and if you’re not feeling imposter syndrome, it’s time to put yourself in a new room.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://monarchtalentsolutions.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/monarchtalenthtx/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-englade/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@monarchtalentsolutions
