Recruiter Spotlight: Rhona Kannon Builds Extraordinary Tech Teams

Have you had the pleasure of meeting Rhona Kannon? Rhona's our extraordinary director of recruiting bringing over 15 years of experience in recruiting.

She's one of the most experienced, brightest and well-connected recruiters at CyberCoders. What's unique about Rhona is that she actually has a background in technology. She worked as a hands-on Development Manager at PepsiCo for 10 years developing applications alongside her team.

Marrying her knowledge of technology with her recruiting expertise makes her a top-tiered recruiter in the tech recruiting industry today.

Rhona, Tell Us About an Exciting Recent Placement You've Made?

I strongly believe in relationships and working with people you trust.  That's why my clients have been with me for years, even when they move positions and companies.

Last month, I received a call from an SVP of Information Technology who had recently moved to a company that is planning to double its size by the end of the year.  He has multiple needs and no job specifications.  My background prior to recruiting was in technology, so specifications are not necessary, but the most important thing is to truly listen to your client about their needs and ideal candidate.

When I spoke to the SVP, I heard the technical requirements, but the key was  listening for what will make this person successful and the company culture for fit.  Armed with that information, I carved out what I truly believed was the right person and created a benchmark to work from.  Then when I interview potential candidates I have to feel it in my heart that they hit those key indicators.

In this case the SVP was trying to look on his own and having so much trouble finding the right people. So, I sent him one candidate.  That person not only hit the mark technically but also a home run in terms of cultural fit for the company.  They made an offer immediately and the rest is history!  Now I’m on to my second offer from the same client with more to come!

Awesome! What Do You Think Separates CyberCoders (CC) from the Average Recruiting Firm?

We are traditional recruiters, always networking and constantly thinking of people we know who can fit our roles.  Couple that with the fabulous technology that CC built and we are unstoppable.  CyberCoders invests more on advertising than any company could possibly do for themselves. We leverage our database of 11+ million resumes and we have amazing candidates to call on the first day of working on a new job match.

We can hit the ground running faster than most companies.  Technology plus traditional recruiting equals great results!

What motivates you to go above and beyond?

I focus on the area that is nearest and dearest to my heart: technology.  Having worked in the Information Technology field for 19 years prior to recruiting, I either actually did the role I’m recruiting for or interfaced with that role.

I’m very visual, so I immediately figure out what that person is doing and visualize them working and interacting with their peers. This is how I create benchmarks and then stick with that benchmark using feedback to continually calibrate to hit the target.  My ratio of presentation to interview is almost one to one, so I stick to my golden rules of presenting only who I truly feel fits what my client is looking for!