What were you doing on May 4, 2020?
We were launching a brand-new recruiting company—in the middle of a global pandemic.
Yep. That really happened.
XPG Recruit was officially born on May 4, 2020, right as the world was shutting down. What started as months of prep work between the three of us—Rich Thompson, Amy Carlisle, and Ann Schulz—was suddenly thrown into chaos when COVID hit full force in March. Our original launch date was April 2. The timing? Terrifying.
Not only were we facing the personal fears that came with a global health crisis, but we were also putting our careers, savings, and futures into a brand-new business at the exact moment the job market imploded. In April 2020 alone, over 20.5 million people lost their jobs, pushing unemployment to 14.8%—the highest it had been since the Great Depression.
It was, to put it mildly, not an ideal time to start a recruiting business.
But You Know What? It Turned Out to Be Exactly the Right Time.
With companies on pause and people working from home, everything slowed down—except conversations. We found that people were more open than ever to taking a call, talking about their careers, and hearing our vision for something different in recruiting.
We weren’t just starting any recruiting company—we were building one for the staffing and recruiting industry itself. One that focused on people first. One where finding the right fit mattered just as much as filling the job. And one where we could offer folks a life-changing opportunity, not just a new title on LinkedIn.
Those early months gave us clarity. They forced us to really dig into who we were, what we wanted to stand for, and how we could do things better.
Fast Forward Five Years…
We’re still here. Still growing. Still loving what we do.
Reaching five years as a business is no small thing. In fact, only about 50% of small businesses make it to the five-year mark. That stat alone makes this anniversary feel like a pretty big deal. No, last year wasn’t a breeze either—2024 was a pretty tough year across the board. The job market saw massive fluctuations, with layoffs hitting tech and finance hard, and hiring freezes becoming the new norm. But we kept showing up. We adjusted. We weathered the storm (again). And we are positioned well for continued success.
What started as three people with a big idea has grown into a thriving company with thousands of candidates in our network and over a hundred amazing clients who trust us to help them build their teams. From small businesses to major industry players, we’ve had the chance to support organizations across the country—and we don’t take that trust lightly.
Every role we help fill, every conversation we have, and every career we help shape is part of a much bigger story. We take pride in the impact we’re making—not just within individual companies, but across the staffing and recruiting industry as a whole. Whether it’s helping a candidate land a life-changing job or supporting a client during a critical hiring push, we know our work matters.
Our People Make the Difference
Through it all, we’ve built an amazing team of people who make us better every single day.
They’re smart. They’re experienced. They’re fun to work with. They know this industry inside and out, care deeply about doing great work, and—let’s be honest—we just genuinely like them. Our team isn’t just good at what they do; they make this company a place we’re proud to be part of.
They show up with curiosity, creativity, and a sense of humor, even on the tough days. They bring fresh ideas to the table, take pride in helping clients solve problems, and go the extra mile to match the right people with the right roles—not because they have to, but because they want to.
They’ve helped shape the culture we always hoped to build—one built on trust, collaboration, and a shared belief that our work can truly change lives. It’s rare to find a group of people who are not only incredible professionals, but also the kind of humans you actually want to grab lunch—or a drink—with after work.
They don’t just make our customers happy. They make us excited to come to work every day. And that’s something worth celebrating.
What’s Next?
More growth. More great people. More opportunities to connect the right talent with the right roles and make lives better in the process.
We’re incredibly grateful to everyone who’s supported us—whether you’ve partnered with us, trusted us to find your next job or next hire, or simply cheered us on from the sidelines. You’ve helped us reach this milestone, and we’re just getting started.
So here’s to five years of XPG Recruit. And here’s to the next five—bigger, better, and just as bold.
Thanks for being part of the ride.
— The XPG Recruit Team