By Katy Ockovic Staffing Manager – People Operations, Lloyd Staffing
When people ask how I got into staffing, they usually expect a straight line. It wasn’t.
I’ve been a corporate recruiter, I’ve been a temporary employee, and today I recruit People Operations talent for Lloyd Staffing. Looking back, I wouldn’t change any part of that journey because each role taught me something different about work—and more importantly, about people.
A Circuitous Journey
One thing I’ve learned is that careers rarely follow the neat path we imagine. Today’s workforce is proving that every day.
We’re seeing talented professionals make lateral moves instead of chasing promotions. Some are changing industries after years in the same field. Others are accepting contract or temporary assignments to gain new skills, improve work-life balance, or simply rediscover work that excites them again.
It’s a trend many experts call career re-mapping—and I believe it’s one of the healthiest changes happening in today’s workplace.
Let’s be clear: for many professionals, the issue is not burnout.
It’s career rust-out.
Burnout happens when you’ve given too much for too long.
Career rust-out is different. It happens when you’ve stopped learning, stopped growing, or stopped feeling challenged. You can be successful on paper and still feel like something is missing.
I’ve met candidates who feel guilty admitting they’re no longer excited by a job they’ve held for years. Others worry that changing industries or accepting a temporary assignment somehow looks like a step backward. I see it differently.
Sometimes the smartest career move isn’t climbing the ladder. Sometimes it’s finding a different ladder altogether.
That perspective comes from having experienced recruiting from every side.
Corporate Recruiting
When I worked in corporate recruiting, my focus was one company, one culture, and one hiring philosophy. I learned how important it is to understand what a business truly needs—not just the skills listed in a job description, but the personality, work style, and values that help someone succeed long-term.
Life as a “Temp”
Later, life took an unexpected turn and I became a temporary employee myself. That experience changed me. Walking into a new workplace as the “temp” gives you a completely different perspective. You want to make a great first impression. You want to contribute quickly. You wonder whether the assignment could lead to something permanent or open doors you hadn’t considered before. It also teaches humility.
Today, when I speak with someone considering a temporary assignment, I understand the emotions behind that decision because I’ve lived them myself.
Temporary work isn’t “just a job.”
- It can be a bridge after a layoff.
- A way to explore a new industry.
- A chance to rebuild confidence.
- An opportunity to develop new skills.
- Or the first step toward a career someone never imagined.
I’ve seen temporary assignments become permanent careers. I’ve watched candidates discover strengths they didn’t know they had. That’s why I never underestimate where one opportunity can lead.
The Staffing Agency Life
Now, as a Staffing Manager specializing in People Operations, I have the privilege of working with both organizations building exceptional teams and professionals searching for their next chapter. No two conversations are ever the same. One client may need an HR Business Partner who can help lead organizational change. Another may be searching for a recruiter who can scale hiring during a period of rapid growth. The next call might be with a candidate wondering if they’re making the right career move after spending ten years with the same employer.
All of those conversations remind me that recruiting has never been about resumes alone. It’s about listening. The best recruiters ask questions that don’t appear on applications.
- What motivates you?
- What kind of manager helps you do your best work?
- What challenges are you hoping to solve?
- What does success look like to you now—not five years ago?
The answers to those questions often matter just as much as technical qualifications.
The same is true for employers.
Today’s hiring managers aren’t simply looking for experience. They’re looking for adaptability, emotional intelligence, curiosity, collaboration, and people who will strengthen their culture.
The workplace has changed dramatically over the past few years.
- Hybrid work has reshaped expectations.
- Technology is changing how we recruit.
- Artificial intelligence is transforming hiring processes.
- Employees are placing greater value on flexibility, purpose, and professional growth than ever before.
Yet despite all of these changes, one thing hasn’t changed at all.
People still want to feel seen.
Candidates want someone who genuinely understands their goals instead of simply matching keywords on a resume.
Clients want a recruiting partner who understands their business, their culture, and the kind of people who will thrive there.
Relationships still matter.
In fact, I think they matter more than ever.
Whether someone is exploring a career transition, considering temporary work for the first time, or building an entire People Operations team, TRUST is the foundation of every successful placement. That’s why I approach every conversation with curiosity instead of assumptions. I know firsthand that careers don’t always unfold exactly as planned.
Mine certainly didn’t.
And I’m grateful for that because it helped me get what I call “my sparkle” back.
Every step—from corporate recruiting, to temporary employment, to agency recruiting—has given me a perspective I wouldn’t have gained otherwise. It’s helped me understand both sides of the hiring process and appreciate that every resume represents a real person making important decisions about their future.
If there’s one thing I’d tell today’s workforce, it’s this:
Don’t measure your career solely by promotions or job titles.
Measure it by what you’re learning.
By the relationships you’re building.
By the impact you’re making.
And by whether you’re still growing.
Because the best careers aren’t always carefully mapped out from the beginning. Sometimes they’re re-mapped along the way.
About the Author:
Katy Ockovic
As Lloyd Staffing’s People Operations recruiter, Katy is excited to help both employers and professionals navigate that journey. Whether you’re hiring exceptional administrative talent or exploring your own next chapter, she would love to be part of the conversation. Connect with her on LinkedIn. She welcomes hearing from you.