Getting to know Tahnee Thornton, Safety Manager and Recruiter for The Lee Group

Chances are when you’re visiting The Lee Group in Chesapeake or attending an employee training program, you’ll see Tahnee Thornton. She arranges the site visits and the training sessions, as well as handles case management.

But she also is a recruiter and she’s motivated to help people find and keep jobs that help fuel their lives.

But what led her to a life in safety and recruitment? What motivates her in this career field and what was the best piece of advice she ever received?

We asked…and she answered. Enjoy.

What was your first job?

I worked as a hostess at Village Inn when I was 16. Which was great, because I got to eat a lot of pie, but it wasn’t the job for me!

What is the best job advice you ever received?

“It doesn’t matter what you say. It matters how your message was received.” This was the moment that I realized the key to communicating effectively, is doing so in a manner that the person you are communicating with can understand your meaning.

What motivated you to go into the staffing field?

Honestly, it wasn’t a field that I was familiar with at all. It never crossed my mind. When I started out in staffing, I was originally just the safety manager, but watching my colleges and management team peaked my interested. I am the type of person that loves to be challenged and learn something new every day. With staffing we get to meet, talk, and help new people from all types of backgrounds. Which is what made me want to stay in staffing and learn how to recruit and staff myself. Every day is different.

What are the biggest challenges out there for people searching for jobs today?

The internet. Everything is electronic today, and some people aren’t technically savvy. This can make job hunting intimidating, and it can prevent some people from even applying to positions that require online applications. A lot of times, it’s those people who make amazing candidates for positions, but they can’t even get their foot in the door.

What are the biggest challenges out there for companies looking to hire great team members today?

Personally, I think it’s the desire to have the perfect match immediately. There is no such thing as a turnkey employee. Your business is unique, your team is unique, and you have to mold, train, and develop a team member to fit what it is that makes your company special! That’s what will make them a great addition.

Can you recall a time where you saw the real impact a job, or having the right person working for a company, made in someone’s life?

Nicole Hux, a Staffing Manager from The Lee Group! She started off as the Chesapeake office’s administrative assistant and in that position, candidates adored her. She made people smile with her warm and inviting attitude in a way that only she is capable of. As a Staffing Manager, she feels for our candidates and their unique situations, and is always searching for the perfect company for a candidate. She never forgets a face, or story.

What trends do you see in today’s job search and hiring world?

I see more willingness from clients to bring in people with less experience. A lot more companies are willing to take people who don’t have the standard three to five years of experience knowing that more training will be involved. At the end of the day, they gain someone who is eager to learn and grow with them who may have been overlooked in the past.

When you aren’t helping companies find qualified people or helping people find good jobs, what do you do for fun?

In the winter, I enjoy my couch and binge-watching TV shows. In the spring and summer, I love to be outside hiking, paddle boarding, surfing (horribly), and going on random adventures with no real destination. I also love to travel, so I take any opportunity that gets me to somewhere new.

What is one of your favorite quotes?

“People of accomplishment rarely sat back and let things happen to them. They went out and happened to things.”