Conversations with Caitie Barber-Owona

Today we’d like to introduce you to Caitie Barber-Owona.

Hi Caitie, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I was a Division 1 NCAA athlete- on top of the world once I graduated, and I genuinely thought that anyone will hire me because of all the qualities and life lessons I learned from playing softball my whole life. I have so much drive and passion it will be so easy to get a job… boy was I wrong.

I didn’t even know where to begin. How to make a resume, how to create a Linkedin profile, what job board is best to use?

I took a year off after school to have a couple of surgeries, but then I took a part-time job working for my mom’s best friend in PR. It was a great starting point and I learned a lot, but I was still feeling lost.

Once I fully recovered and started to get the itch to move, I needed to find a job. But the question popped back, where to begin?

My boss helped me with a resume and I got an interview at a large tech company (from another friend of my mom) for a role in Austin. I did my best (I had no idea how to interview) and I didn’t get the job.

Long story short, I kept applying everywhere in Austin, and I fell into my first job kind of by accident? I didn’t even know what recruiting, let alone IT recruiting entailed. I learned so much about the business and fell in love with the industry. The best part about my job is helping others get their dream jobs and servicing others.

Now, fast forward five years and I still had this idea in my head to help college grads and people who needed some guidance with their careers. I was lucky I loved my industry and career, but I fell into it, I didn’t have a real strategy. I have had so many teammates, former athlete friends, and friends from everywhere ask for resume help, interview prep, and general career advice. So I decided to take the jump and realized “it’s time.” It’s time to share my expertise and help those graduates in need with the guidance I wish I had when I graduated college.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
In my career, I have learned A LOT along the way, especially about just even the workplace alone, what’s a toxic culture, how to manage a team, how big corporations work, etc. I’ve had to navigate the waters over the past five years and work at four different companies.

Taking that knowledge and applying it to my own business it’s been great, but I’m still challenged with getting it off the ground and taking this idea and building it out to what I know it can be.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a Senior Technical Recruiter at a big tech company, working remote but also running my business on my off time. With my business, I help college grads, young professionals, or anyone looking to pivot in their career with career coaching. This is a big spectrum of work that includes resume writing, LinkedIn branding, cover letter formatting, interview preparation, job application coaching, and offer negotiation- truly anything within the career spectrum I help with.

I’m most proud of my most recent role that I have in big tech, which has truly been a blessing in regards to how much I am making an impact at a large scale. In regards to Career Ignite by Caitie, I’m most proud of the difference that I make with my clients. Their reactions to my help is what makes it all worth it and why I started in the beginning.

What sets me apart from others is my drive- I really want my clients to win and win BIG. Also, my knowledge in the industry is something I cherish, and I always continue to learn to help others in more creative and innovative ways.

What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
Persistence- I have learned that I have to fight for myself always. I’ve never been the most talented in things, but my hard work is what always puts me at the top whether that was getting my scholarship for softball, getting various promotions, or taking the leap and doing something that I’ve always wanted to do with Career Ignite by Caitie. You have to keep going no matter what, even if you get pushed back, just keep it moving.

Contact Info:

• Email: career.ignite.bycaitie@gmail.com
• Website:www.careerignitebycaitie.com
• Instagram: career.ignite
• Facebook: Career Ignite by Caitie
• Other: Tik Tok: career.barbie

Image Credits
Andres Llanas