I was a teacher for 7 years before going into recruiting. I have a BA in Education and a Master’s in Educational Administration. My first full-time job was as a teacher at my former elementary school, so the interview was fairly easy! I taught third grade and then reading for 1st through 8th for 6 years. I loved it, but always thought there was something else I could be doing. I was on the Principal Search Committee and got a taste of recruiting. I was pregnant with my second child and wanted a more flexible job, so I quit teaching. I spent the summer job hunting and I found my first recruiting job through Craigslist which was a dream job, recruiting doctors from home. I was lucky to find my perfect fit, although I applied to over 100 jobs with only a couple responses. I completed the contract and I went on to do 2 more long term contract recruiting roles and felt I had enough skills to open my own company.

How did you decide and get to your career today?

I started with a Facebook page and California Job Shop (formerly known as Estee’s Shoppe O’jobs). It was an immediate success. The demand for quick, reasonably priced, no frills, but solid recruiting was huge and I was booked with more jobs than I could handle within 24 hours of opening the Facebook page. I started off closing 1 job per week and by the second month was placing 5 people per week, then about 30-45 people per month. I was working about 50 hours a week and had 3 little kids at the time. I would typically work 8 AM-3 PM and then 9 PM-11 PM and often Saturday and Sunday nights. After about 6 months of this pace, I hired my first employee who is still with me today. I then hired a second employee when I had my fourth baby and wanted to spend more time with him. I now work about 30 hours per week and have more balance in my life.

What advice would you have given your younger self? Or what is the best career advice you have ever received?

Advice to my younger self would be not to worry so much and that things will work out. I am naturally an extremely hard worker, very organized, and a worrier so for me the key is finding balance and not letting stress overwhelm me. Best career advice would be do what you are naturally talented at and become an expert in that and hire out the rest.

In 5 years, where do you hope to be professionally and personally?

In 5 years I’ll be 40, I’d like to still be doing what I’m doing now but slightly expanded, instead of filling 500 jobs a year, perhaps 700. But, maintaining balance in my life and having time for my family is very important to me.

Find more about Estee Cohen at:

www.californiajobshop.com

www.facebook.com/californiajobshop

www.instagram.com/californiajobshop

In 2021, an accounting/human resources company needed 12 business development associates in order to expand, California Job Shop hired them all in 30 days. This company was bought out by a Fortune 500 less than a year later.