All-In at Acara: How Rowan Abedalqader’s Ability to Work in a Fast-Paced, High-Volume Environment Led to Her Success as a Staffing and Recruiting Expert

With early aspirations in medicine, Rowan Abedalqader never imagined entering into a career in talent acquisition. After leaving an organization with a toxic workplace culture, Rowan joined Acara where she felt her personal and professional values were aligned with the company’s.

In the latest edition of our “All-In at Acara” series, learn how Rowan leveraged her previous high-volume customer service recruitment skills to develop into a proven full-cycle Senior Recruitment Specialist on one of Acara’s largest accounts.

Aspirations in medicine

I was born in Kuwait—a small emirate between Iraq and Saudi Arabia—and lived my early childhood in Jordan. I then moved to Texas where I lived for 20 years, attended Tyler Junior College graduating with an associate’s degree in science, and went on to get my bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Texas at Dallas. My original goal was to attend medical school, but after volunteering in hospitals and shadowing doctors, I felt it was not the best path for me. After getting married, I moved to California before returning to Texas for four years. In 2019, my husband and I moved to Nova Scotia, Canada where we currently reside.

The road to Acara

In California, I worked as a recruiting coordinator and then as a recruiter for high-volume customer service roles. This position taught me to function in a fast-paced, pressure-filled work environment to meet established business goals. After returning to Texas from California, I worked at a company for a brief time that did not value diversity and inclusion. Being of Middle Eastern descent, I was subjected to many racial comments. Wanting to leave the Sherman, TX area, I started applying for positions in other areas of the state. In my job search, I came across an Acara posting that detailed the company’s mission and core values—which  I felt aligned with mine personally and professionally. I felt welcomed from the moment I stepped foot in the Dallas office to meet and interview with the Acara team. I walked out of the interview knowing that I had found my next organization and position.

Life at Acara

I joined Acara in 2016 as a member of the Managed Services Program team where I became a top MSP recruiter. During the pandemic, I was promoted to Senior Recruitment Specialist and began working on one of Acara’s largest client accounts that requires me to fill a high volume of manufacturing positions for one of the largest semiconductor manufacturers in the United States.

What excites me most about my job is that I never experience the same day twice. I enjoy working with people and thrive on seeing candidates advance in their careers, find their dream job, and achieve success. And I get to help them along the way! My role requires that job seekers and clients have a positive experience throughout the entire hiring process and I enjoy fostering relationships with them to ensure success. If I was asked to describe Acara in one word, it would be supportive. The leadership team provides a supportive work environment and corporate culture for all employees.

Labor market challenges

Challenges have always existed in the talent acquisition world and will continue to exist. Before the pandemic, it was much easier to attract qualified talent. The current market is more difficult for recruiters because candidates have two or three solid offers to choose from.

My goal is to find and attract qualified talent and differentiate myself and my client from competitors. I refer to myself as the “Beast from the Middle-east” and jump on any lead or task that comes my way and ensure I provide the best service possible. I believe the semiconductor industry will continue to thrive because today everything relies on microchips, and technology in general. Therefore, the need for workers will grow exponentially.

Life Outside of Acara

I like to start each work day by checking and responding to emails with a cup of coffee. My husband is my biggest supporter and ensures that I’m able to focus on my work. Outside the office, you will find me on my farm with my seven-year-old son Sanad and my 6-month-old daughter Majd. I enjoy outdoor activities, including hiking, with my family and friends.

I’m an avid traveler and would love to one day tour as many countries as possible with my children so they can learn about other cultures and traditions. And, of course, try all different types of foods! If money was no object, I would travel to the Maldives—a nation of islands in the Indian Ocean that span across the equator. The beautiful water and white sands are heart and mind-relaxing.