Building Meaningful Matches in Talent Acquisition: Joy Reimer’s Job Search Success Story

After more than a decade in talent acquisition, Joy Reimer has built a career around helping people take meaningful next steps in their work lives. As the sole recruiter at Century West Engineering, Joy brings structure and creativity to the hiring process, with a focus on candidate experience and long-term fit. Joy’s story shows how thoughtful hiring and an open mind about career paths can create lasting matches for people and organizations.

Who do you work for?

I currently work for Century West Engineering as the sole recruiter.

What do you do for a career?

I am a Talent Acquisition Specialist and have been working in this industry for more than 10 years. Throughout my career, I’ve worked in various areas of talent acquisition — as an associate, consultant, behind-the-scenes in operations and sourcing, and as a recruiter.

Overall, my role focuses on supporting different aspects of the hiring process to provide a positive candidate experience and create consistency within the organization. In addition, I contribute to the marketing side by sponsoring events that promote our brand, supporting programs that align with our niche, attending university career fairs, and hosting job shadow and internship opportunities for students.

While we can rely on candidates applying directly to postings, I believe that working all angles and thinking creatively helps generate organic growth and keeps us competitive in a fast-moving market.

What do you like best about your career?

I enjoy being a part of someone’s journey to change their life professionally. It’s rewarding to have conversations, hear about their goals and motivations, and match what they want with what we need as a company.

Helping someone find their dream job, earn a better salary, and feel genuinely supported through a process that can often be overwhelming is what drives me. Success, to me, is hearing the relief and excitement in someone’s voice when they’ve found what they’ve been looking for and are ready to begin a new chapter.

What resources have helped you in your career and job searches?

Looking for a job can feel limiting when you only use familiar job titles. While that approach isn’t wrong, it can narrow your search results. When I’m searching for roles, I try to think beyond the obvious. For example, if I’m looking for “recruiter” positions, I’ll use ChatGPT to identify alternative titles — it’s a great way to expand your search and uncover opportunities you might not have considered.

When applying, think broadly and focus on your strengths and what the role actually entails, rather than fixating on the title alone.

Throughout your career, what obstacles have you encountered in job searching, and how did you overcome them?

One of the biggest challenges is avoiding burnout from applying to too many roles that don’t align with your goals. Don’t rely on “Easy Apply” — it’s easy for a reason, but it rarely helps you stand out.

Instead, research the industries that interest you, stay active on LinkedIn, and leverage your network. Attending networking events can be a huge advantage — they help you strengthen your elevator pitch, improve your interview skills, and build connections with others in your field.

What advice would you give to job seekers or professionals looking to advance in their careers?

Be open to change and embrace it. Reacting negatively to something new doesn’t help morale — and negativity spreads quickly. When you think, “everyone else thinks this change is dumb, so I do too,” remember there’s always someone who’s pushing past that resistance, finding solutions, and adapting.

There’s no traffic in the extra mile. Staying positive, doing your research, and continuing to learn will always set you apart.

Create an environment where others feel comfortable approaching you, and be a resource. Confidence and self-assurance are unbreakable — unlike ego, they inspire and motivate.

Focus on the small wins; they build momentum. Over time, those moments add up and prove to you that you can overcome challenges and achieve lasting growth.

Everyone’s job search story is different, but each individual story can inspire and empower others who are on their own unique path. We love to hear how our readers have found rewarding careers in Portland, and we want to share these stories with you to inspire you in your job search and to help us all better understand the local job market.