As our readers know, Q4 is probably the most hectic quarter of the year for the recruitment and talent acquisition space, and while Recruitics takes no exception to this trend, Q3 might prove to have just as many highlights.
Last quarter was huge for us. Not only were we at a number of industry events where we got to share our products and talk about data-driven recruitment marketing, but we also launched Job Slot OptimizationTM, continued our roll out of End-to-End AnalyticsTM and named a new CEO.
But during the course of this shuffle, we also selected a new president and we thought what better day than Nov. 8 to provide our readers with an introduction.
His name is Jonathan Zila, but we affectionately know him as JZ. So without further ado, let’s get down to 10 questions with our new president:
Question: Let’s start at the beginning: How did you get involved in the recruitment and talent acquisition space, and what have you enjoyed most about pursuing a career in this industry?
Jonathan Zila: I joined the recruitment and talent acquisition space in 2006 with a company I call “the artist formally known as” Yahoo! Hotjobs, and then later spent some time at Simply Hired. I’ve loved being a part of a few of the companies that have been revolutionized by the new ideas and concepts in this industry.
Q: When did you start with Recruitics, and what attracted you to the company in the first place?
JZ: I joined Recruitics in March of 2014 after I was introduced to their first-to-market job-level recruitment marketing platform. They were taking what I believed to be the next logical step in recruitment marketing and were leaders in pushing the marketplace closer to programmatic job advertising. I was eager to be a part of a team with game-changing technology, and Recruitics was, and remains, at the forefront of cutting-edge talent acquisition tech.
Q: Did you have the nickname JZ before you came to Recruitics? Who gave it to you, and is there any kind of story behind it?
JZ: I wish there was a great story to this nickname, but it’s simply a product of my first and last initials. Not to mention, it’s much quicker to say than Jonathan... and Jay-Z’s “Empire State of Mind” album launch in 2009 certainly helped the nickname stick. I got 99 problems, but Recruitics ain’t one.
Q: At Recruitics, senior leadership is on a first-name basis with really every employee in the company. Can you explain what it’s like to be able to work in a culture like this and why it’s important to Recruitics’ ability to provide the highest level of customer service to our clients?
JZ: We service our clients best when we have meaningful relationships with them. But it begins before then--at Recruitics, we value each member of the team in the same way. We love sharing vacation pictures, embarrassing kid stories, and connecting on a relational level that makes great customer service come naturally.
Q: You were formerly the Vice President of Client Services. Can you tell us how your experience in this role prepared you to occupy the office of the presidency (if you will :) )?
JZ: First as an Account Manager, and most recently as a VP of Client Services, I’ve again and again been able to observe and apply solutions to the challenges our clients face. In my new role, I’m ready to take what I’ve learned and apply my unique perspective to the way I lead our Sales, Operations and Client Service teams to ensure maximum value for our customers.
Q: Here’s a question you might not have thought you’d be asked on election day: What’s your favorite part about being president?
JZ: First and foremost, it is amazing to be helping lead a company that is revolutionizing the way our clients manage and optimize their recruitment marketing budget. My second favorite part was trying to explain to my kids that I was not Barack Obama’s successor, and no, we are not moving into the White House. Sorry kids, I might be the President, but not THAT President.
Q: The Recruitics mission is to makes it easy for staffing agencies, job boards and employers to better understand their recruitment marketing strategies and achieve a greater ROI. How do you apply this mission on a daily basis?
JZ: Our mission statement is one that is constantly rolling through my thoughts. Every task, however big or small, is viewed through the context of that mission-- if it doesn’t match up, we re-align. This mission gives us a clear mark to aim for with each and every engagement we have with a prospect, customer, or internal counterpart.
Q: What’s the one piece of advice you’d give to HR and talent acquisition professionals as they head into the end of this year and the start of 2017?
JZ: I’ve consulted with many companies that simply consider talent acquisition to be a general expense, rather than a critical driver of their businesses. If companies can’t make hires for key positions, they won’t continue to execute, innovate, and do what they do best. As 2017 approaches, consider how you will innovate your recruitment strategy and what new ideas and concepts will revolutionize the way you drive your business through candidate acquisition.
Q: On the lighter side, what's one thing, personally, that you’re excited for in the year to come?
JZ: I’m have my fingers crossed for University of Georgia SEC football championship. I’m also excited to celebrate my 12th anniversary with my high school sweetheart, hopefully take a warm vacation with my 4 kids, and eat a ton Spicy Chicken Sandwiches from Chick-fil-A.
Q: If you could send one message to Recruitics’ clients, both current and future, what would it be?
JZ: 2016 has been an amazing year as we have launched Slot Optimization and End-to-End Analytics. As Recruitics’ new president, I am excited about the innovations that lie ahead and am dedicated to our continued efforts in making it easy for companies to understand and optimize their recruitment marketing strategies. As Ol’ Blue Eyes once said, “the best is yet to come.”
Jonathan Zila, also known as JZ, is the President of Recruitics. You can follow him on Twitter @jonathanzila or find him on LinkedIn here.
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