Get to Know Sophia Koehl, Partnerships Coordinator

Thanks for joining us! Let’s start by talking about how long you’ve been with Hired and what your role entails. 

Thanks for having me! My name is Sophia and I’ve been with Hired for two years. My role involves establishing relationships with organizations that bring diverse candidates to the Hired platform. I collaborate with partner organizations on content creation and events to provide information, tips and tricks, and advice for the job search. Additionally, I contribute to the overall health and growth of our partnership ecosystem including partners on the employer side of the platform.

Can you share a little bit about your background and what led you to join Hired?

Absolutely! As a former elementary education teacher, I developed a lifelong commitment to learning and an enthusiasm for technology. Recognizing the transformative potential of tech, I decided to pivot my career and transition into the industry. I was interested in Hired because of the opportunity to continue my passion for preparing individuals for fruitful careers. 

Hired, a company that believes in skills-based hiring, saw the transferable skills from my teaching background and provided an opportunity for me to contribute to their marketing initiatives. My experience in education, with its emphasis on communication, project management, and adaptability aligns seamlessly with the skills required in the tech sector. 

This transition not only speaks to the effectiveness of skills-based hiring but also highlights the diverse talents that individuals from non-traditional backgrounds can bring to the tech industry. 

When it comes to working at Hired, what’s your favorite part?

One of my favorite aspects of working at Hired is our standout remote-first culture. The emphasis on remote collaboration along with a flexible working environment aligns seamlessly with my work preferences, enabling a more balanced and productive work life. I enjoy working from home while still feeling the collaborative community that is formed by the positive individuals I work with.

What do you like most about your job?

One of the best parts of my job is seeing candidates successfully placed in a new role. Especially candidates who discovered Hired through a partnership I work to support. Landing a new job is a significant milestone and knowing I had a hand in creating these opportunities is why I and a lot of my team work as hard as we do. 

As someone who pivoted careers, I’m fascinated by how careers can shape people’s lives, and seeing folks on Hired gear up for a new job reminds me of myself getting my job at Hired. It’s just a wonderful thing!

What has been your favorite project at Hired?

My favorite project to date has been building the Partner Network Directory. My manager, Alexa Lebowitz, and I sat down and ironed out every detail – designing the partner card display, fine-tuning the user flow, deciding on essential information to include, and more. The project was a true collaboration and every detail ensured the directory’s effectiveness. 

What’s even better is how much we’ve used it since creation. Getting to share the directory on a day-to-day basis knowing I help build it from scratch is pretty cool.

How have you advanced professionally since joining our team?

Earlier I mentioned I possess a commitment to lifelong learning. Hired allowed me to put this commitment into action with General Assembly‘s Digital Marketing course where I developed foundational marketing skills. Not only did the course expand my skill set and provide me with tools that have directly impacted my role but I also got to know our partner and sister company General Assembly on a deeper level. I cannot recommend their online courses enough!

What is the best career lesson you’ve learned so far?

Transitioning from elementary education to a career in tech and partnerships has taught me many things. The first is that if you’re curious about another field of work, there’s likely a reason behind it. Embrace the curiosity, start networking, and go for it. 

On a more tactical level, I’ve learned to consider the other person (a teammate, a partner, etc) in my work at the start of each new initiative. For example, if I’m preparing a content brief, I take into account what information the other person needs to initiate the process. Understanding the person’s goals, working style, and even their time zone helps me collaborate effectively.

What are your passion projects or hobbies outside of work?

Fitness, food, friends & family. It’s that simple! I find joy in maintaining a healthy and active lifestyle with cycling and pilates, then following that up with good food. Any given weekend you’ll find me combining all of the above at the beaches of North Carolina.

What advice would you give to someone interested in making a pivot into Marketing? Any book, podcast, or influencer suggestions?

Marketing Brew Daily for marketing advice and The Almanack of Naval Ravikant by Eric Jorgenson for career and life advice.

What was one of your takeaways or favorite memories from the One Team, One Dream corporate offsite? 

Our Marketing Team dinner was my favorite part. We got to sit down in person and share a meal. It was the best. So many laughs and good conversations!

Speaking of a good time, what is your go-to karaoke song?

This year I’ve become a Swiftie, so I’d go for any Taylor Swift song. There were plenty of Taylor songs sung at the offsite but my favorite was All Too Well (not the 10-minute version but that would have been awesome).

We’re a remote-first company so we have to know: if you could work from anywhere, where would it be? 

On the warm summer days, I’d work from the beach under a shady umbrella but in the winter months, I’d choose a remote cabin in the Smoky Mountains (with strong wifi of course!).

Hired helps match jobseekers in tech and sales or other customer-facing roles with innovative employers across the world. Curious? Learn more about how Hired helps jobseekers and how it helps employers source qualified, responsive talent quickly.

Editor’s note: Sophia was promoted to Events Marketing Specialist in December 2023 – congrats! In this new role, she’ll lead event planning and execution, including coding challenge campaigns and virtual candidate events, such as panel discussions and fireside chats for recruiting and employer branding.