1I just got back from the OSSA Staffing & Recruiting Conference in Columbus, Ohio, and the best way to describe the vibe those two days was real.
It wasn’t huge. It wasn’t flashy. But it was real.
Real conversations. Real challenges. Real people doing the hard, necessary work of building teams, managing clients, and trying to stay one step ahead in an industry that demands a lot.
You could feel the sense of shared experience — everyone in the room had stories of struggle, growth, and grit. Some were celebrating wins. Others were searching for what’s next. Trying to figure out how to act with certainty in a market full of uncertainty. But there was a collective understanding: this business takes everything you've got, and then asks for more.
I heard people talk about recruiter burnout. About ghosting. About adapting tech without losing the human touch. There was curiosity about AI, worry about margins, and questions about whether “good enough” is still good enough.
But here’s what struck me most: beneath it all, there was still hope. Still hustle. Still that belief that this work matters — and that the people doing it matter too. That has always been the mark of the staffing industry, and I was thrilled to see that it hasn’t been lost.
I left feeling grateful. Not just to have been there, but to be part of an industry full of people who care deeply about what they do.
Those who were there know what I mean. And for those who weren’t — just know this: there’s still a fire burning in this business. It’s not easy. But it’s worth it.