Meet the Team: Teresa Schefer

Can you tell us a little about yourself and your background?

I am based in Arlington, VA, right outside of Washington, D.C. I recently got married and am in the process of an ongoing house renovation that seems to never be ending. I grew up in a multicultural/generational household, love trying new foods/cuisines and getting steps in!  

How long have you been with Planet Interactive? What was it that got you into the staffing industry?

I have been with Planet Interactive for about 3 months now, however I have been in creative and digital talent acquisition and staffing, working in agencies, in-house and startups environments, for 10 years this coming winter!  

I got my start because I went into a staffing agency as a candidate through a connection right out of school looking for a job, and that 1st “real” job ended up being at that staffing agency!  

What drew you to creative and digital staffing sector in particular?

I love being in the creative and digital staffing world because I get to work with some of the most creative individuals, look at beautiful design portfolios of work, and learn so much about technologies that are constantly evolving. A lot of the time when placing someone in the creative space, you get to see their work come to fruition whether that be in advertising, product design or through a social media campaign, for example. It’s pretty cool to see a billboard and know who was behind the work!  

What’s your assessment of the creative and digital market today? Are there any skillsets that you see as being particularly in-demand?

The market has changed a lot over the years when it comes to everything from design preferences and best practices , to technologies needed for specific skillsets. Everything is rapidly evolving, which means that candidates and companies must keep up with the latest tools.

A skillset that I am constantly in search of, whether there is a current open role on my desk or not, are full stack product designers, that have experience in the 0-1 space, creating something from the ground up. Clients love to see backgrounds of product thinking, with a beautiful visual design aesthetic as well.  

Do you have predictions on where the market is going?

The market is evolving in so many ways right now – hybrid vs. remote vs. onsite work is something that always top of mind. . I hope that as time goes on, employers and candidates can find a happy balance between the three. At this point, we know that great work can be produced remotely, and in person meetings boost personal connections and morale.  

I also think that AI is completely changing the market and allowing a lot of skillsets to be done through AI. For example, design, web development, content creation, image selection – the list goes on! What will it mean in the long run? I am no expert, and certainly do not know., However I can confidently say that it will be applied to our daily personal and professional lives.  

Do you have any general advice for candidates in the creative, design and digital space?

Always keep your portfolio up to date! Whether it be the latest product design project that you’ve worked on, to catchy marketing copy that was written – always have a way to show your work, as this is usually the first thing a client wants to see before deciding to interview a person or not! Secondly, never turn down an interview. This industry is very small, and you never know where a conversation will lead in the creative world.  

What about advice for those looking to get into recruitment?

Pick an industry that is interesting to you and learn everything you can about it! The more you know about the roles, teams and skillsets that you’re recruiting for, the more success you’ll have in placing top talent in the right organizations.  

What are some of your hobbies? What do you like to do outside of work?

In my spare time, my husband and I love to travel (31 countries & counting!), do home improvement projects, try new restaurants and binge watch TV series 😊

If you could travel anywhere, where would it be and why?

Spain is one of my favorite counties in the world! Everything from the laid-back lifestyle, late nights/mornings, markets, food, fashion, different terrains, and the wine, of course. I will continue to go back over and over!  

Lastly, what do you enjoy most about working at Planet Interactive?  

My team! We have an established, seasoned team of industry professionals that are all here for similar reasons- to be successful and build something great. I really couldn’t be happier with the connections I’ve made since starting at Planet Interactive!  

Connect with Teresa on LinkedIn

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