We Are DES: Meet Rachel Vaughan
This is a part of our featured story series “We Are DES.” These stories will introduce you to an individual at DES and the work they do to help fulfill the DES mission — you’ll also learn some fun details about how they spend time outside of work.
Name: Rachel Vaughan
Division: Human Resources (HR)
Job title: Talent Acquisition Specialist
What year did you start at DES? 2022
What year did you begin working for Washington state? 2022
In two sentences or less, describe what you do at DES.
I support the Business Resources and Buildings & Grounds divisions by consulting with the hiring managers on recruiting qualified applicants to fill challenging positions for DES.
How do you believe your role supports the DES mission of strengthening the business of government?
The recruiting process is extremely important and as the primary recruiter for two of the biggest divisions, my job is to ensure that I represent DES’ mission through fair recruiting practices. I do this by applying my own “unbiased lens” to every job posting that I am asked to support. I know my hard work, passion and dedication contribute to strengthening the mission of DES.
In what ways do you experience DES values in your everyday work? (respect; integrity; excellence; diversity, equity & inclusion)
I experience DES values every day in my communication and interactions with my growing HR family.
A few examples:
- When I consult with the amazing hiring managers from the divisions I support.
- When I connect with leaders within DES and with other state agency employees.
- Through the many emails I correspond to.
I enjoy observing how other DES employees represent this agency with their work — as well as how they apply DES’ values to respect all, have integrity, work daily to be excellent, embrace diversity, and consciously practice incorporating equity and inclusion into the work that we ALL do.
What did you do before working at DES?
I worked as a student technology experience manager for the Technology Services Department at the University of Puget Sound (UPS) located in Tacoma. I provided technical support for the entire student audience. I also supported UPS welcome-to-campus orientation events. I can’t take all the credit because I also worked with an amazing bunch of colleagues who supported me as well.
What do you enjoy doing outside of work?
I enjoy spending time with my very big diverse rainbow family! (LOL) Other things include: sleeping, cooking, sleeping again, watching ACTION movies with the volume up high like in the theater, relaxing on my patio sipping on fancy adult beverages all while MANIFESTING THAT I’LL ONE DAY WIN THE LOTTERY AND HELP EVERYONE I KNOW WHO IS STRUGGLING find financial relief and happiness, spending time chatting on the phone laughing at “life” with my friends, spending numerous hours watching YouTube videos, and encouraging my friends and family to STAY POSITIVE AND DREAM BIG! Yep, these are SOME of the things I do outside of work!
What is a fun fact about you?
Most people don’t know this, but I am the BABY of 13 siblings (seven brothers and five sisters + me = 13, all by the same mom and dad) and I am a mother of one! I also have a hidden talent for refurbishing furniture! I have a very intense creative mind. Restoring ugly, dusty old things and turning them into something beautiful is one way I manage stress when I have creative time AND when I’m extremely stressed out — which doesn’t happen very often!
