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Rita Armstrong
Founder Lead Recruiter at Engaging Talent® LLC
Professional Background
Rita Armstrong is an accomplished Executive Design Recruiter with a wealth of experience in both retained and contingency search for design talent and client services at all levels. With a keen focus on sourcing top-tier creatives and account support professionals, Rita excels in the realms of brand identity design and consumer branding. Her extensive experience encompasses corporate identity design and consumer packaging, making her a sought-after expert in the field. Rita is skilled at locating and attracting design talents for both digital branding and print communications, providing her clients with the high-quality candidates they require to thrive in a competitive marketplace.
Throughout her career, Rita has successfully completed search assignments for an impressive and diverse array of clients. Engaging with design and branding boutiques, packaging design firms, corporations, consultancies, marketing communication firms, and advertising agencies, she has cultivated an extensive network that allows her to connect the right candidates with the right opportunities. Rita's holistic approach to recruitment, combined with her expertise in the industry, ensures that both her clients and candidates are well-served in the hiring process.
Rita's clients view her as a strategic business partner who brings immense value to their hiring initiatives. She is known for her no-pressure approach, allowing clients to feel confident and comfortable throughout the search process. Candidates, on the other hand, appreciate Rita’s role as a trusted advisor and champion, helping them navigate the complexities of the design recruitment landscape with grace and assurance.
Education and Achievements
Rita's educational background laid the foundation for her successful career in recruitment. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications from Fordham University, where she honed her understanding of effective communication—a skill that has proven invaluable in her recruiting endeavors. Additionally, she pursued studies in Film and Communications at Ealing College, broadening her artistic perspective and enhancing her ability to connect with creatives in the design industry.
In her capacity as a recruiter, Rita has gathered significant experience and recognition within the field. Her specialties include sourcing branding and identity talent, negotiating salary packages, and providing insightful advice on business structures and hiring practices. She is an active speaker, often sharing her expertise on hiring practices and industry hiring trends at various conferences. This role not only allows her to give back to the community but also keeps her razor-sharp on the latest developments in the design industry.
Further demonstrating her commitment to nurturing the next generation of creatives, Rita has also taken the initiative to conduct informational seminars at design schools. Her focus in these sessions is on interviewing techniques and effective portfolio presentation, equipping aspiring design professionals with the skills they need to succeed in their careers.
Achievements
Rita’s career is marked by a variety of notable accomplishments. As the former Founder and Lead Recruiter at Engaging Talent LLC, she established a robust recruitment firm that specialized in connecting high-caliber design talent with businesses eager to elevate their brands. Under her leadership, Engaging Talent LLC flourished, earning a reputation for excellence in recruitment and talent sourcing.
Prior to her role at Engaging Talent LLC, Rita served as a Senior Associate Recruiter for Design at Roz Goldfarb Associates. There, she successfully built strong relationships with clients and candidates alike, reinforcing her reputation as a valuable resource in the design recruiting space. Her tenure at Roz Goldfarb Associates further solidified her expertise in identifying and securing the most qualified design professionals, enhancing brands across various sectors.
In addition to her direct recruitment roles, Rita also held the position of Regional Fundraising Manager at the MS Society, where she harnessed her communication skills to drive fundraising initiatives. This experience underscores Rita's multifaceted skill set, showcasing her ability to engage with diverse stakeholders and contribute to meaningful causes beyond the design world.
Through her diverse experiences, educational background, and commitment to fostering the growth of talent in the design industry, Rita Armstrong is a distinguished figure in executive design recruitment. Her dedication to excellence, combined with her extensive network and industry knowledge, positions her as a leader in sourcing top design talent, making a significant impact on the companies and individuals she works with.
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Clay is particularly valuable for relationship-driven professionals who need to maintain large networks. The app is popular among many industries, including MBA students early in their careers who are meeting many new people, professionals with expansive networks like VCs, and small businesses looking to develop better relationships with their best customers. Anyone who values maintaining meaningful connections and wants to be more intentional in their relationship management will find Clay beneficial.
Clay offers competitive pricing in the personal CRM market. Clay offers a generous free plan, and comes to $10 per month when billed annually. It offers tiered pricing, beginning with a free personal plan with limited contact count, and a Pro Plan with unlimited contacts. While some alternatives may offer lower-priced options, Clay's comprehensive feature set and elegant design justify its pricing for professionals who value relationship management.
Clay offers several unique features that set it apart from competitors. Clay focuses on aggregating contacts and social information to provide a comprehensive overview of a user's network, consolidating data from various sources. Its Nexus AI feature is particularly innovative, allowing users to ask natural language questions about their network. Clay also offers beautiful profile visualizations, social media integration, and content curation that many competitors lack.
Yes. Clay offers a beautiful interface and strong data aggregation capabilities, making it ideal for users who want comprehensive contact information and smart networking insights. Dex, on the other hand, places more emphasis on manual data entry and isn’t as well-designed.
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