Why this persona fits the audience
She is the non-founder recruiting coordinator in a five-person startup with two founders, one engineer, one product designer, and her. She currently manages interview scheduling, candidate communication, and basic hiring logistics for a team that is still filling its first few roles.
- Age: 26
- Location: Montreal, Canada
- Occupation: Recruiting coordinator
- Income: CAD 68k base + options
- Education: B.A. Human Resources
- Company size: 5
- Years in role: 1.5
“Every candidate is a potential future colleague, so treating them with respect and keeping them informed isn't just good practice, it's how we build a company culture from the very first interaction.”
Stéphanie Richard grew up in a bilingual household in a suburb of Quebec City, where her parents instilled in her a strong sense of responsibility and the importance of education. Her early interest in understanding people and systems led her to pursue a Bachelor's degree in Human Resources at Université Laval. During her studies, she worked part-time in customer service roles, honing her communication and problem-solving skills. Upon graduating, she was eager to dive into the fast-paced world of startups and landed her current role as the recruiting coordinator at a small, ambitious AI firm in Montreal. She's been with the company for a year and a half, witnessing its evolution from a nascent idea to a functioning team of five. Stéphanie is highly organized, meticulously managing interview schedules, candidate pipelines, and onboarding logistics. She sees her role as more than just filling positions; she views herself as a cultural ambassador, ensuring that the company attracts individuals who align with its values of innovation, collaboration, and fairness. She's particularly proud of the streamlined interview process she recently implemented, which reduced candidate drop-off rates by 15%. Her income of CAD 68k, supplemented by stock options, provides her with a comfortable living in Montreal, allowing her to save for future travel and invest in her personal development. She's currently learning Spanish and dreams of exploring South America. Stéphanie is driven by a desire to build something meaningful and contribute to a company's success, finding deep satisfaction in connecting talented individuals with opportunities that can shape their careers and the future of technology.
Background & daily life
A day in their life
Stéphanie's day typically begins around 7:30 AM with a quick check of her emails and calendar while making coffee. By 8:30 AM, she's at her desk, reviewing the day's interview schedule and responding to urgent candidate inquiries. The morning is often filled with back-to-back video calls for screening candidates or coordinating with the hiring manager. Lunch is usually a quick affair, often a salad or sandwich eaten at her desk while catching up on industry news. The afternoon involves updating the ATS, drafting offer letters, and preparing for the next day's interviews. She tries to wrap up by 6:00 PM, but sometimes stays later if a critical hire requires immediate attention. She might then head out for a language exchange meetup or a quiet evening at home with a book.
Lifestyle
Stéphanie lives alone in a cozy one-bedroom apartment in the Plateau Mont-Royal area. She wakes up early, enjoys a cup of coffee from her favorite local café, and often changes her outfit several times a day to try out new styles. Her weekends are spent exploring new cafés, shopping for the latest fashion trends, and learning new languages through apps and online courses. She maintains a balanced diet, exercises regularly, and likes to save a portion of her income each month for future travel adventures. She's mindful of her spending, preferring experiences over material possessions, but allows herself small indulgences like a new scarf or a fancy pastry.
Work life
As the sole recruiting coordinator at this nascent AI startup, Stéphanie is the linchpin for talent acquisition. Her days are a whirlwind of scheduling interviews across multiple time zones, crafting personalized candidate communications, and managing the applicant tracking system. She works closely with the two founders, translating their vision into compelling job descriptions and ensuring a positive candidate experience. The pressure is high to find the right people quickly, as the company's growth hinges on these early hires. She often finds herself wearing multiple hats, assisting with onboarding logistics and even helping to refine interview questions.
Relationships
Stéphanie maintains close ties with her family, who live in a smaller town outside of Quebec City. Her friendships are a mix of long-time companions from university and newer acquaintances met through work and social activities. She values their opinions and often seeks advice from a trusted friend who works in a similar startup environment. The founders, while her superiors, are also becoming mentors, and she respects their drive and vision.
How they decide
Stéphanie tends to be methodical and research-oriented when making significant decisions, especially those involving her career or finances. For day-to-day operational choices, she relies on her strong organizational skills and intuition, prioritizing efficiency and fairness. She values input from trusted colleagues and friends but ultimately makes decisions based on a thorough assessment of the facts and potential outcomes.
How they sound
Stéphanie speaks with a clear, pleasant tone, tinged with a subtle Quebecois accent that becomes more pronounced when she's excited or relaxed. Her cadence is generally measured and articulate, reflecting her organized nature. She uses professional language in work contexts but can be more casual and expressive with friends. She avoids overly technical jargon unless necessary and prefers direct, yet polite, communication. She often uses phrases like 'Absolument,' 'C'est une excellente question,' and 'On va regarder ça.'
Personality traits
- methodical
- empathetic
- enthusiastic
- detail-oriented
- resourceful
- diplomatic
- perseverant
- adventurous
- calm
- curious
Goals
- Become a senior HR professional specializing in tech recruitment.
- Travel to Japan and experience its unique culture and fashion.
- Achieve financial independence through smart investing and career growth.
- Master conversational Spanish.
- Contribute to building a successful and ethical AI company.
Problems & frictions
- Balancing the urgent need for hires with maintaining a high standard of candidate quality.
- Limited resources and tools for a small startup's HR function.
- The challenge of attracting top talent to a relatively unknown company.
- Managing the expectations of founders who are new to scaling a team.
- Finding time for personal development amidst a demanding workload.
Values
- organization
- people skills
- responsiveness
- fairness
Interests
- career development
- café hopping
- fashion
- language learning
- reading
- traveling
Media habits
- listening to podcasts
- watching French series on Netflix
- following LinkedIn groups
- reading tech blogs
- scrolling through Instagram fashion accounts
- playing online language learning games