Spotlight on HR: Blake Thiess

Spotlight on HR series:
A Conversation With Blake Thiess, Director of Talent Acquisition at Prestige Care

We’re putting together a series of articles with innovative and interesting human resource professionals. This is an opportunity to learn from other HR managers and exchange best practices, advice, and general experience. If you’d like to participate in this series and gain exposure to relevant networks, we’d love to hear from you! Send an email to tal@recruiterslineup.com.

Tell us about your work experience in HR.

I am one of those weird kids that are actually using the degree I set out to achieve! I graduated from Pacific Lutheran University in 2007 with a Business Administration degree, with a concentration in Human Resources Management. I’ve been in the HR space since day one, honing in and fully pivoting to the Talent Acquisition Field about 6 years ago. I haven’t looked back!

I love the positive and dynamic aspects of the TA field. I have been able to move up by always taking on more, always bringing solutions to complex problems, and always standing out. Currently, I hold the Director of Talent Acquisition role with Prestige Care, a family-owned and operated, senior care company with 5,500 employees at over 80 locations in 8 Western states. I love what I do!

What are the unique talents you bring to the field?

I would say my unmatched work ethic, can-do attitude, the ability to speak regionally and nationally on all things recruiting/TA, and my out-of-the-box acting to solve complex and quite frankly, unprecedented recruiting problems in the healthcare space.

Share your biggest success story in HR so far.

There are so many to lean back on…I could point to obtaining my PHR certification (only 14% of HR professionals possess this certification) or my SHRM-CP certification. I would lean back on being a national speaker at ERE conference in San Diego, CA in Spring of 2019, or the fact that my time to fill in the roles in which I recruit for, is half the industry average.

What is the best advice you’ve received during your career path, and from whom?

The best advice I have ever received has never been from a colleague or a mentor; I can’t honestly say I’ve ever had a “mentor” as it’s defined. I would highlight the words my Mom has always told me: if you don’t ask, the answer is always “no,” and to follow her life’s lead by always being gritty and stronger then your competition. I love her for so many reasons, but those words and actions have always shaped my career and life.

What’s your favorite HR tech tool?

Texting out of my applicant tracking system! That, or shooting video and posting it on Linkedin.

As an HR professional, how do you handle recruiting to achieve the best results?

This is such a large question…I would say the game as a TA/Recruiter really hinges on your ability to build a robust pipeline for various jobs in various geographic areas, and your ability to influence. If you can do neither of those, you don’t stand a chance in this industry and need to get out of it.

What do you hope to achieve in 2020?

10x my personal brand. That’s the game.

To get in touch with Blake visit his Linkedin page.

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