I’m beyond excited to share one of my latest podcast discussions with you. Our very own Nicole Blevins, a Human Resource Business Partner, sat down to tell me what led her to Xenium, and how our employer brand development strategy enticed her to reach out to us, ultimately leading her to become a member of the Xenium team.
Every company seeks to build brand awareness, but oftentimes we focus on prospecting solely to build our customer base. But there’s more to brand development than meets the eye. A great branding strategy can do more than reach customers– it can also reach professionals, with goals that align with your company, who can add so much to your team.
By putting your company culture out there, you stand to gain much more than a large following. That’s what Nicole’s story taught me, and I’m excited to pass this on to you.
Making the Move
The story of how Nicole ended up in Oregon is a whirlwind tale– that’s for sure. It all started when Nicole stumbled upon Xenium’s podcast in 2016. She was pursuing her master’s degree in Human Resources and had to fill up the time it took her to drive back and forth to class every day.
She remembered, “I thought Xenium sounded like a great place to work,” and she didn’t feel that any local companies in Florida (where she lived at the time) seemed to deliver on the qualities that she desired in a workplace. So, when Nicole’s husband took a work-from-home position, he and Nicole decided to do something crazy. She applied for a position at Xenium, over 3000 miles away from her Florida home.
Well, as you can tell by the podcast title, we interviewed Nicole, and she got the job. She started only TWO months ago, but she’s already begun to make her mark on our company.
From Florida to Oregon: Change Was in the Air
Nicole’s move to Oregon involved much more than a change of address. We joked that she was a bit surprised by having to sit in her car while someone else pumped her gas– definitely not the case in Florida– and about how she traded hot and humid for overcast and rainy. She and her husband were even thrown off when they didn’t get a straw when ordering drinks at a local restaurant.
And Nicole’s roles and responsibilities at Xenium were different as well. She was and is still excited about the work that she does here. She explained that, for the past two months, she’s acquired “about 20 clients” and that her role includes answering “a lot of employee relations related questions” for various companies who need her support. She loves “talking clients through everything that they should consider when they’re having an issue with a particular employee,” a topic that seems to dominate most of her consulting time at Xenium.
Facing Fears: Would Xenium Live Up to Expectations?
Nicole admitted that, throughout this transition, she wondered if the culture that she thought Xenium embodied would really be present once she joined the team. Of course, moving across the country for a dream job is a bold move, and she didn’t want to be let down.
Fortunately, though, Nicole’s expectations weren’t just met. In fact, she said that the team culture “has definitely surpassed my expectations.” She added, “It’s amazing how the power of the team is way greater than any individual can possibly be.” It feels good to know that our company culture is more than just words but that our actions have truly backed up the image that we present to the world.
“It’s amazing how the power of the team is way greater than any individual can possibly be.” – Nicole Blevins, Xenium HR Business Partner
Welcoming Nicole to the Xenium Team
Since Nicole had been listening to the Xenium podcast for a few years, she already felt like she knew us. But that doesn’t mean that Nicole could have anticipated what her first day at Xenium would be like.
She reminisced: “My cubicle was all decorated with balloons and streamers. And one that stood out to me said ‘we’re so glad you were sorted into our hat’ and it had the Harry Potter sorting hat on it.” As a huge Harry Potter fan, Nicole began to realize that our team had “taken time to really like get to know me, what I like and what I don’t like, and tried to make me feel comfortable and welcome on my first day.”
Already Making an Impact
From Day One, Nicole has been proving that her values align with our team culture, and she continues to make a daily impact. In fact, just the day before this interview, I got to watch Nicole be recognized for working alongside another Xenium employee to help investigate a touchy issue and then follow up with a training session for the client. She saw a need, and she met it. I admitted that it was priceless to watch Nicole’s face as her fellow employee talked about her– it was unexpected, but well-deserved. Nicole said, “It was really nice to hear from Kellie’s perspective that […] she really valued my contribution.”
Advice for Others Who Desire Change
Before our interview came to a close, I asked Nicole what advice she would give to others who may be considering making a life-changing decision like she did only two months ago. She responded, “don’t be afraid to go outside of your comfort zone and trust yourself to make your own decisions.” She added, “you need to make the best decision for yourself.” Nicole reflected that she was glad she had made this bold move across the country to work for Xenium, with her husband by her side.
My Take-Away from Nicole’s Interview: Employer Branding Matters
I think that Nicole was attracted to Xenium because we’re really vocal about our values and how we want to treat our team members and the clients. This caused me to reflect on how our brand appears, not only to customers or clients, but to other people who may desire to work here in the future. You’re either going to attract somebody or repel them, so I think that a good employer branding system allows you to draw in the people that see the world the way that you do and you repel the rest, and that’s okay.
Want to Learn More About Nicole’s Story?
Listen to the podcast episode by clicking here or stream it below. If you love it, give us a 5-star review. And, as always, if you want to connect with me (just like Nicole did!), send me a message on LinkedIn. I’m looking forward to hearing from you!