Do you remember February? Ah, February – those heady, halcyon days when people walked around all maskless and carefree, foraying within six feet of one another just as pretty as you please. Children attended school. People worked at a place called “work.” The world felt young then, and so did we. You had to be there to fully understand.
But forgive my nostalgic natterings for that distant, faraway past. I only turn back those dusty pages of time to call your attention to two positions we announced back then for Valant, a Seattle software developer that had established itself as a leading provider of software for the very quickly growing behavioral-health sector.
And you know what? Not only did Valant get a ton of applications for these positions – it has made hires for both of them.
Which goes to show that concepts like “applications” and “hires” are hardly relics of the pre-pandemic past – dynamic, smart companies are still very much in the market for smart, capable people.
The smart thing to do right now is to just take a deep breath. (If, that is, you still can. And if there’s no one within six feet of you. Just saying.) Valant is hardly the only company out there still poised for growth and making hires.
Yes, the overall economy is a bit … challenged right now, but I can tell you for a fact that there are still more than a few good companies looking for good people. And as I’ve said in this space before, I’m determined to help those companies and those people find each other.
So let’s take a moment to celebrate the very good people who have just joined a very good company. Heidi Amrine is Valant’s new Director of Marketing, and Ankur Sharma is coming in as Director of Customer Success.
Heidi comes from the wonderfully named Fluke Corporation, an industrial-testing equipment company based in Everett. She served most recently as Global Head of Product Marketing, Analysis, and Diagnostic Tools. For his part, Ankur has handled customer-success work for some of this region’s top tech firms, including Skytap, Auth0, Socrata, and Tableau.
Congratulations, Heidi and Ankur! And congratulations, Valant! You all are a wonderful reminder of what is still possible. Thank you!
I know I just mentioned it, but I want to tell you again that if you’re searching for a job and having a hard time, you’re not alone. Yes, companies are still hiring. Yes, people are still landing dream jobs. No, it’s not as straightforward as it used to be – for a lot of reasons.
First, there’s that tiny detail of the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression. Then there’s the fact that meeting potential employers in person for getting-to-know-you lunches is a no-go right now, and those meet-and-greet events where people sometimes just serendipitously connect aren’t happening either.
But don’t lose heart. One way or another, this too shall pass – and the smart companies know it. They know this is a great time to stock up on talent, and to be ready for when recovery happens. That new economy won’t look like anything we’ve seen before, but progress never does.
So take care of yourself and those closest to you. And let us know if we can help.
