That Time I Hired Someone I Met At The Nail Salon: A lesson in unexpected recruiting

A few years ago, I found myself in a familiar position: searching for the right person to join my team and coming up empty.

I had reviewed resumes, reached out to my network, and had multiple conversations with potential candidates. But no one felt quite right.

And then, completely by chance, I met someone at the nail salon.

She was sitting next to me, and we struck up a casual conversation. Within minutes, she was telling me about her life, her career, her background, and the fact that she was actively job searching. Her industry was totally different from mine, but something about her energy, curiosity, approachability and openness stood out.

I told her I was a recruiter and asked if she’d be willing to send me her resume. She followed up later that day.

Transparently, I didn’t have any open roles in her field. But something told me to I wanted to know more about her. So, I reached out asked if she’d be open to interviewing for a position that was a bit outside her experience - at my company.

She said yes.

We met.

And I hired her.

It turned out to be a great match.

Here’s what that experience reinforced for me: Networking doesn’t always happen online.

It's not limited to coffee chats, curated events, or even referrals.

Sometimes, it’s a five-minute conversation with the person sitting next to you - at the salon, on the train, or in line at a coffee shop.

You never know who might be on the other side of that moment.

So, stay open. Say "yes" to the conversation. And, don’t underestimate the power of connection - even in the most unexpected places.

At LBF Strategies, we know great hires come from great instincts—and genuine connection.

Looking for someone who can help you find the right match, even in unexpected places? Let’s talk.