“…we have an obligation as an employer to connect the right candidate with that position, as well as a responsibility to make a difference.”
Rebel Johnson, Human Resources Assistant at Camber Corporation
HR wasn’t the career path Rebel Johnson initially planned on, but in the process of trying to get her son employed, a persistent recruiter changed her life forever. This is her story from an interview we captured at our 2010 Annual Meeting & Conference.
Can you tell us about yourself – where you work, what you do?
My name is Rebel Johnson. I work for Camber Corporation, a government contractor in Huntsville, Alabama.
And how long have you worked there?
I’ve been with Camber for almost 10 years and I’m a human resource assistant.
So tell me the story of how you came to Camber.
On my day off I drove my son to Adecco because he was applying for a job in Huntsville and didn’t have a car. The guy behind the desk asked me what I did, I told him I was a bartender. He replied by asking if that was the only thing I’d ever done, and I said no. From there he said, “Let me find you a job.” I politely explained that my son was the one there for a job and I wasn’t looking. He then asked, “Are you happy at that job?” Again I explained I wasn’t looking, to which he responded, “Can you type?” I said yes, and he asked what else I could do. I said, “I’m NOT looking for a job.” He responded with, “Take a typing test”. I stated it wasn’t necessary, and he replied, “How much money will it take to get you to leave that job?”
I asked him how would he know if he had something for me, and he guaranteed he did, and told me to shoot him a number. At this point I was kind of freaked out – I hadn’t gone there for a job and he was trying to give me one. Finally, to shut him up, I took the typing test. He asked me about some of my past experience and again wanted me to shoot him a number. I gave him one I thought he wouldn’t be able to accommodate, to which he replied with, “When can you start?” It was right before Christmas so I explained that I couldn’t tell him anything. He said to call him after the holidays and let him know when I could start.
I was scared about making the move. I went to Illinois to my husband’s family for Christmas and talked to my sister-in-law about it and she advised me to “Just, you know, pray about it and you’ll get the right answer”.
When I returned back to Alabama, I called him and started work at Camber on the 2nd of January in the middle of an ice storm. A lost truck driver and I were the only ones that showed up for work that day, so I ended up answering the switchboard. Camber had initially hired me as a relief operator, but after a few weeks eventually transferred me to Human Resources. I had never worked in Human Resources before, but I really liked it.
What a unique experience and very inspiring. How did this lead to your relationship with DirectEmployers?
One of my responsibilities was posting jobs and taking care of all the data that went behind it. When America’s Job Bank had announced they were going to shut down, I was panic-stricken. At the time we only had a few recruiters and about 500 employees in 20 different cities. I had an entire book of contact info, rules and regulations for posting in each state – the means by which the job had to be delivered to the states in order to be able to post. I kept thinking there had to be a better way. So I did a search and came across DirectEmployers. After an excellent phone call, I immediately knew the company needed this, because if we weren’t a part of it, we were going to definitely be behind the curve – especially as a government contractor.
I talked to my boss, but she felt a membership was too much money at the time, insisting that the government would come out with something else. I tried to explain that this was the “something else,” and something different. I explained she couldn’t hire somebody to help me do this for $15K. I tried to drive home that the investment of being a member of DirectEmployers was a drop in the bucket compared to what we could face in fines. If we couldn’t show we’re in compliance and get fined by OFCCP, it’s not going to be $15K – it could be $115K.
I went to our senior recruiter for support, and he said I needed more ammunition. So, I researched all of the member companies in order to show that all of our competitors or related companies belonged to DirectEmployers. I highlighted them on a list of all the members and asked the list be showed to the CEO, explaining that we have to do this because if we don’t, I really seriously think we’re going to have trouble with trying to be compliant.
The list was taken to the CEO by the senior recruiter, and in less than 15 minutes the membership agreement was signed. I was very thankful, but told him if he ever decided not to renew our membership while I was at Camber I’d be gone. DirectEmployers is my most valuable tool. It helps me do my job and if there’s something that I’m having issues with, I know help is a phone call away. I don’t have to deal with somebody in tech support that doesn’t understand what I am trying to do.
What are some of the other member benefits outside of compliance that you value?
One of the other reasons we use DirectEmployers, and attend the meeting every year is because of what we learn. The education – it’s a partnership. I mean you can’t put a dollar amount on what we gain. The other thing about DirectEmployers is the human aspect to it. They understand we have an obligation, as an employer to connect the right candidate with that position, as well as a responsibility to make a difference. I feel very passionate about DirectEmployers as an organization – they’re empowering us.
Let me ask you a final question, Rebel. It’s so obvious that you are totally dedicated to what you’re doing. Why?
You know, maybe the day that guy offered me this job – maybe that was just the direction that I was supposed to be going. I like being able to make a difference because essentially that is what was done for me that day. I enjoy the people aspect of it – maybe that’s why I decided to bartend for 10 years. I like being on the edge of new discoveries and as a Member I get to hear about everything that DirectEmployers is coming up with. It’s probably the little techie side of me. I love it.
That was one of the best interviews of the entire weekend!
Well, thank you.
