Behind the Design: Shaun Ostermiller
Pull back the curtain and get to know the people behind the design. The solutions we develop for clients and communities are brought to you by passionate individuals devoted to delivering better built environments — places that support healthy, productive, sustainable ways of living.Â
Our next #PeoplePassions blog post features Shaun Ostermiller, a human resources generalist in Billings, Montana, who’s a big architecture fan, (in no small part) handles recruitment efforts for the firm, and is an enthusiastic champion of making Cushing Terrell a great place to work.
What does a day in the life of a busy recruiter at a growing multidisciplinary firm look like?
Every day is different, but we’re communicating a lot — with service sector leaders, hiring managers, and job applicants. We pride ourselves on illuminating the hiring process and not leaving applicants in the dark. We do our best to get back to every candidate, so they stay in the know, no matter the outcome. It’s also our goal to improve the recruiting world in general. As part of that, we always have side projects going that involve discovery, evaluation, and implementation of new ideas.
Shaun at the Billings office.
How did you get into this profession and what do you like most about it?
At one point in college, I wanted to be an architect, but doing so meant starting from square one. Instead, I did the next best thing and combined what I’d already learned with one of my personal strengths, which is people skills. Essentially, I went into psychology and then worked in people management for a long time. Then, I moved back to Billings from Seattle and took a position with the Cushing Terrell HR team. Now, I’ve been with the firm for 12 years and have more than 20 years of HR expertise.
What I like best about my work is resolving employee concerns. I love getting to help people who work here, make their experience better, and in turn, make the company better.
What tips do you have for job seekers looking for a rewarding career?
One of the things I learned through college and interviewing for jobs is how important it is to think about what parts of the job you enjoy and to follow that joy. In my opinion, there are a lot of people in the world who have special skills, unique and rare skills, that happen to be monetizable. If you’re able to worry less about that monetization and more about your passions and practicing and honing those skills, you’ll find a lot of rewarding elements in your career.
Shaun and his dog Hermes and he and his mother, Kareene, on vacation.
Do you have a hot take regarding recruitment?
I do! Candidates should make sure their cover letters add value. When people feel they have to create a cover letter just because it’s part of the standard application package, we’re not always getting incredibly valuable information out of those letters, which is what we’re looking for. We want to know who you are, what you’re interested in, where your skills lie, and what are your ambitions. So, if I could offer a piece of advice for applicants, I’d say find value that maybe doesn’t fit on your resume, or unique experience, something that drives you, or something you’ve invested time into outside of work, and highlight that in your cover letter.
The other thing I would say is don’t be afraid of the times you’ve had a learning moment. Being honest about your mistakes, learning from them, and improving yourself shows life experience, ownership, and the ability to adapt and change for the better.
People who are great communicators and reciprocator, and people who build each other up, do well here [at Cushing Terrell]. We also earnestly try our best as a company to treat people really well, and I think it shows in employee retention and overall job satisfaction.
Shaun and the HR team during their annual team building event.
From your perspective, what do people like most about working at Cushing Terrell?
Our people. Our collaboration. People who are great communicators and reciprocators and people who build each other up do well here. Everyone says the people are great here. That’s a very common answer, but it’s true! We also earnestly try our best as a company to treat people really well, and I think it shows in employee retention and overall job satisfaction.
What kinds of things do you do outside of the office?
I like to watercolor paint. I do stained glass art. I love to be creative in my spare time. And I’m addicted to going to the gym. I go for two hours in the morning and two at night. I like traveling and food, and I’m on the board for Moss Mansion. It’s on the National Register of Historic Places, was built in 1903, and now serves as a cultural center in Billings. I do still have such curiosity about design as well. I try to soak it all up like a sponge as much as I can. So, it’s very fun to be a part of that board.
Shaun practicing CrossFit.
A little more about Shaun…
He’s an expert equestrian, CrossFit athlete, ice cream connoisseur, and says he’s an “all-around caffeine-dependent human.” Shaun attended Carroll College in Helena, Montana, for psychology before he began at Cushing Terrell.
At the firm, he’s also achieved two separate certifications: one covering his recruitment specialty and another (recently, in 2023) as a senior certified professional of human resources (SHRM-CP).
