TERRA Helped Me Transition from Contract Work to a Great Career

By TERRA Staffing Group

Posted on September 6, 2019

Lana Pope is very familiar with doing contract administrative work, and has worked with various staffing agencies over the last seven years.

As a matter of fact, she started her relationship with TERRA back in 2013, working with the Kirkland branch office.

“At the time, I had no idea what a staffing agency was,” Lana said. “But I’d found an ad online that led me to TERRA. More people need to know about staffing!”

Throughout her time doing contract work, she was often placed in executive admin roles with some pretty well-known companies.

“I really enjoy working in high-stress roles,” she shared. “There’s something fulfilling about being the backbone of the company.”

Though she excelled in these roles, it was time to look for growth opportunities.

“After about seven years of working temp admin projects, I was hoping to really start my career,” Lana stated.

Lana began checking the TERRA website to see if any job openings caught her eye.

One job, a Purchasing Agent role, sounded like a great fit for her.

“In one of my previous temporary roles, I assisted a purchasing department for a while. I loved everything about it. It was fast-paced, required a lot of attention to detail, and was just very interesting to me,” Lana explained.

She decided to apply.

The funny thing was that Kirkland Recruiter Annie Morris was thinking the same thing!

“I called her minutes after she applied,” Annie shared. “She had the right experience, was incredibly friendly, and had the perfect personality for the company.”

They spoke about the opportunity and both agreed that it seemed like a great fit for Lana.

“Annie told me all about the company and the growth potential. It really had everything I was looking for,” Lana said.

Annie arranged an interview for Lana and it went great.

“I walked away from the interview with such a good feeling about the company,” Lana said.

The feeling was mutual… but there was a complication.

They had another applicant: an internal employee who met all the qualifications. The hiring manager decided to hire this person for the role instead.

Usually, this is where the story ends.

But not for Lana.

“They wanted Lana so badly, that they created a position just so they could hire her!” Annie exclaimed.

Lana was over the moon – and still is.

“The people here make me want to wake up every morning and come to work,” she shared. “I love that there’s never a dull moment, and I’m constantly challenged.”

And we have great news! Lana received a promotion and is now Contracts Administrator – in the purchasing department!

We asked her if she would recommend TERRA:

“I already have! Every person I’ve spoken with at TERRA over the years has been so thorough and passionate about finding me the proper fit. No one’s ever let the ball drop or let something slip through the cracks.”

If you’re looking for work, Lana has this advice for you:

“Put together a strong resume.  Know what you want down the road, and what you need to do to get there. Don’t just settle for something you’re not jazzed about.”

Congratulations, Lana, and thank you for trusting us – more than once – to help you find your right fit.

How TERRA Can Help You

Interested in contract work? Or ready to take your experience to start a fulfilling career? Consider partnering with TERRA.

We can connect you to many employers currently hiring in your area.

We have offices in many locations.

Our expert recruiting team is waiting to speak with you!

Categories: Employee Development, Success Stories

Tags: contract work, finding a career, jobs in Kirkland, Kirkland, transitioning from contract work to a career

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