5 Minutes With… Vanessa Mittman
In our latest 5 Minutes With feature, we sit down with Vanessa Mittman, Client Director for Accela Talent, to talk about everything from the latest trends in the recruitment world to a few of her hidden talents.
What’s life like on the Talent team now? What does a typical day look like for you?
But first, coffee! Once I am nestled at my desk with a cuppa, I check my calendar of events and calls for the day. Then, I scan my email and prioritise replies. After that, my day is a mix of internal meetings with the Talent team, external meetings with clients or potential clients. As the head of Accela Talent, I am responsible for all activities that bring hard-to-source talent to the hiring table. In addition to talent acquisition, I manage our Outsourced HR and Work Pass Processing businesses.
What’s the most inspiring part of your job?
Working with people together on a common cause.
What would you say truly differentiates Accela Talent from the many competitive choices that exist today?
We offer integrated, custom business solutions that allow organisations to outsource part or all of their HR function to us. This could include anything from outsourcing HR administration such as payroll and employee handbooks to recruitment and work pass processing. It’s a unique combination of solutions, which gives us a competitive edge. I would also like to highlight that it’s not what we do, it’s how we do it.
What is the biggest challenge facing leaders working in Talent today?
The terrible talent shortage! Hiring talent remains the number one concern for all companies, and attracting potential employees has never been more challenging. As a result, most organisations find themselves stuck in backfilling mode; existing employees are stretched, making it hard to focus on core growth.
What do you think the future of the industry will look like?
I am excited to see how blockchain technology can revolutionise the HR function. For example, digital verification can relieve HR from dedicating resources to perform repetitive, low-value work such as verifying employment records, education certifications, work pass eligibility, and background checks. It's not hard to see how blockchain verified resumes will save employers and employment agencies valuable time and money.
What was the most unusual or interesting job you’ve ever had?
In secondary school, I worked in a toy store. For most of the year, I stocked the store shelves with stuffed animals, puzzles and other games, but during the holiday season, I was seconded by the toy store to work in the mall. I am the pointy-shoed, candy-stripe legged, green and red skirted Elf standing beside the mall Santa in thousands of family photos in the 90s.
Do you have any “hidden talents”?
Instead of tooting my own horn, I asked my three kids instead. What are my hidden talents? Unanimously, three kids declared I'm good at drawing, two claimed I have a green thumb, and one kid, bless her, said I'm a good skier.
Best career advice you’ve ever received?
There is so much advice thrown at young women at the foothills of their careers. In my experience, some of the "best" career advice is not as meaningful or relevant as it was 20+ years ago. So, my advice is to let go of what no longer serves you to attract more of what you need now.
What is one thing you couldn’t live without?
My morning coffee routine.
If you could invite anyone (dead or alive) to dinner, who would it be?
Jesus. Amen.
What is the best book you have ever read?
The Thornbirds, by Australian author Colleen McCullough. I arrived late to a significant event because I could not tear myself away from the final chapters. Now, I can't keep my eyes open for more than a few pages in any book!