exaqueo, a workforce consulting firm based in Alexandria, is growing. The firm recently grew to six; the latest addition has a recruiting background and comes from LivingSocial, among other work experiences. Susan Strayer LaMotte, founder of exaqueo, says that she will be hiring another person soon.
"We're in growth mode," LaMotte says, "but we're not yet posting a job opportunity." She says she is waiting to close a few more contracts before opening the position.
exaqueo works with startups and high-growth companies that have talent issues. "Employers have a brand within the talent market," LaMotte explains. "[That brand] is how your employees see you." The firm helps companies clarify their employer brand through employee interviews, surveys and even focus groups. It then aggregates the data it collects to maintain employee anonymity and then shares the findings with the employer.
LaMotte says she works "where business meets behavior" and advises employers to pay attention to the kind of people they hire—not just for the skill sets they bring to the company, but for whether they as individuals are a good fit for the company overall. She recommends laying out "what it's like to work for your company, both good and bad. If the [person you're interviewing] is still interested in the job, there's great potential there."
LaMotte draws on her background in human resources; she has an MA in human resource development, an MBA and experience working HR in large corporations. She also wrote a book,
The Right Job Right Now: the Complete Toolkit for Finding Your Perfect Career.
exaqueo works with clients all over the country, but does not have a huge presence in the District yet. "We'd love to work with more people in D.C.," LaMotte says. "The D.C. market is fascinating. People don't value talent [here] like they do in other markets."