Proven Recruiting

21 questions to determine your candidate's past track record, present mindset, and future aspirations - all while uncovering whether they have what it takes to join your team.

Hiring a new manager is never simple. The right leader has the tough task of blending into the culture while also elevating it - bringing a fresh perspective, new energy, and a steady hand. That’s why we’re so excited to introduce Joshua Q. Nguyen as the new Manager of our Finance & Accounting Dallas team! With 11+ years of recruiting experience, Josh knows how to build strong teams and lasting relationships. What stands out most is his leadership style: a passion for mentoring, a genuine drive to help others succeed, and a positivity that lifts everyone around him. His family-first mindset shines through in the way he leads with care and authenticity (plus look at his adorable family below!). Welcome aboard, Josh - we can’t wait to see the impact you’ll make on our Dallas team and community!

You lose your job today. What are the odds you'll find a new one in a reasonable amount of time? A recent NY Fed survey shows job-seeker confidence hitting record lows, with participants reporting just a 44.9% probability of finding a new role if they lost their current one. While that might sound discouraging, we see it as an opportunity. For companies, it's a chance to stand out. Candidates are feeling uncertain - clear communication, strong employer branding, and a transparent hiring process go a long way to win them over. For candidates, lower confidence doesn’t necessarily mean fewer jobs: it means the market is shifting. With the right guidance and connections (hello!), strong opportunities are still very much out there. Sometimes the toughest markets create the strongest matches.

We had some killer players at our team bowling night, as well as some people who...tried really hard (definitely not implying anything about you specifically, Karen Lopez). We all scored points for enthusiasm, at least! Between summer vacations, remote work, complicated personal lives - it's tough to get everyone in the same place these days. Flexibility keeps our people sane, but the value of getting everyone together and doing something as silly as bowling - well, it can't be overstated. All that to say, thank you to our team for playing games with us. We like hanging out with you all. P.S. Congrats to Emma Bruno for being the big scorer last night! And honorable mention goes to our Founding Partner Marilyn J Kaforey, a true force to be reckoned with - just check out her personal bowling ball and shoes. Happy weekend everyone, may it be filled with many strikes and minimal gutter balls!

Last week we swapped the office for the pickleball court, joining Northwestern Mutual in support of Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation for Childhood Cancer. It was the perfect chance to rally for a great cause, let our competitive sides shine, and enjoy a beautiful day in excellent company. Proof that a little friendly competition can go a long way when it’s for something bigger than ourselves!

Egos are on the line, bragging rights are up for grabs. It’s game on this fantasy football season and no one is more competitive than recruiters. Trash talk starts now - may the best recruiter win!

Welcome Karen Lopez, the newest member of our Technology Consulting team, where she’ll be working under the expert guidance of Amy Noriega and Madison Huffman! Originally from Seattle, Karen traded the rain for San Diego sunshine - and we’re lucky she did. She brings 3+ years of experience partnering with managers, directors, and executives in growing and strengthening their teams. Her positive energy and can-do spirit have already made a major impact, both in the office and for our clients. Don’t hesitate to reach out to Karen at klopez@provenrecruiting.com. She’s surprisingly adept at turning professional relationships into friendships, so contact her at your own risk - you may be grabbing coffee with her soon!

Congratulations to the Life Science Cares, Inc. team for a wonderful event celebrating the 2025 Project Onramp summer interns, an initiative which seeks to bridge the opportunity gap for under-resourced first-generation students. What a treat to see so many familiar faces among this year's cohort, many of whom we've helped coach since their early high school days. Seeing these kids - now adults! - excel at top companies was certainly a full-circle moment for us. Honestly, it's no surprise that so many PiCS Partners In College Success graduates have gone on to successful internships at companies like Acadia, Avidity Biosciences, Inc., and Fate Therapeutics Inc. - Kathy Caputo and the entire PiCs team are passionate, skilled guides and we're grateful to partner with them throughout the years.

Listen, we're serious professionals...but when Jennie Farmer offers to host us at her farm, throws in a bouncy slide and lets us pet her pigs? No one's thinking about interviews or candidates. Recruiting is a constant grind, but the hard days are so worth it for this - hanging in the sun with great people, gorging on delicious food, without a cell phone in sight. Thank you to our team, their partners and kids, and especially Jennie and her husband Jordan for making our second annual Texas Summer Bash such a hit!

Enough has been said about former Astronomer CEO Andy Byron and his HR Chief. We've all shared a good laugh - and cringe - watching the video. Yet few are talking about the broader workplace implications; beyond the infidelity, is there anything inherently wrong with dating a colleague? Should companies discourage internal relationships to avoid legal risk, or should people be free to follow their hearts? We spend 40+ hours a week side by side with teammates - celebrating wins, weathering losses, and building real relationships along the way. We share dreams, doubts, and the occasional late-night Slack spiral. So is it really so terrible if love enters the picture, too?