“I’ve heard some people say that it helps to think about the worst thing that can happen when being bold or taking risks, but I find it more inspiring to think about the best thing that can happen,” Anat Kigel-Taub, a sourcing manager based in Tel Aviv at Meta, says. “Opening your eyes to the opportunity and amazing possibility before you can inspire, motivate and empower you.”
As a manager, a big part of Anat’s role is centered on empowering her three teams as part of the International Talent Accelerator organization —Diversity, Research and Sourcing Development Program—to help people find positions and teams that align with their interests, passions and skill sets. Working closely with the Recruiting team, she and her team members support Software Engineering, Product XFN, Enterprise Engineering and Infrastructure teams across EMEA.
“I’ve spent my career in sourcing, and there are so many things that make this position unique at Meta. I mean it when I say that we’re in a position to literally change the world of recruiting. I’m always thinking about what comes next, after the best thing happens.”
Leadership opportunities within sourcing
Now part of the team for nearly five years, Anat reflects on her journey to a management role after initially joining Meta as an individual contributor (IC) while raising young children.
“I had been a people manager before I came to Meta, but when I joined, I was at a stage in my life where I didn’t have the bandwidth to focus on developing other people. Taking a senior individual IC role was not only an ideal solution, but an option I hadn’t been presented elsewhere. At Meta, you don’t need to be a manager to be a leader,” she explains. “Our team is composed of people from diverse backgrounds with varying experience, including some leaders who do join Meta as managers or in senior roles. We also have many people who, like me, choose to shift between the two tracks.”
“I was in my comfort zone, and I recognized that I needed to take on a new challenge. No matter your team or role, there are so many opportunities to learn at Meta. I’m grateful for this culture of growth and a strong sense of support from my team, which encouraged me to become a manager.”
Like Anat, Sowmya, a recruiting lead based in Dublin, joined the team as an IC before thinking about becoming a manager. Her passion for mentoring her teammates made for a natural transition to management, and she credits having strong support from her team for inspiring her to take on a new challenge. “There’s incredible flexibility and support to grow in different directions, and sourcers have the opportunity to move up to senior IC roles or take a management path.'' she explains. “ I especially appreciate that at Meta, a leadership role isn’t just about mentoring or guiding—it’s truly centered on helping people maximize their potential. There’s so much to learn every day, and I see so many chances to challenge myself.”
Sowmya loves spending time exploring parks, beaches and markets in Ireland with her family.
Working closely with recruiting to give candidates a great experience
In addition to a range of paths for people who are interested in sourcing, Sowmya highlights the synergy and close collaboration with recruiting as another unique aspect to her role at Meta. “There’s no hierarchy between a sourcer and recruiter here,” she explains. “Sourcers don’t feed into a recruiter's work. Instead, we partner to give each candidate a great experience.”
“Working closely with the Recruiting team to give candidates a great experience is incredibly rewarding. Together, we get to help people land their dream job.”
Reflecting on her experience and career journey, Anat agrees this is unique. She also notes how working with recruiters helps provide a wider range of perspectives—helping teams solve tough challenges in a competitive hiring market. “We’re building teams across EMEA, and having more diversity and representation across our teams is important as we work toward our goals. It’s essential to have people with regional expertise and different perspectives to build strong teams and the best possible technology and products.”
She continues, “Everyone drives impact here—Meta is a global organization with a startup feel. People who do well on our team bring what they know to the table, ask questions, and want to change things. To change the status quo and find teammates who can help us build for the future, we need to be bold.”
Sowmya enjoying a bicycle ride with her family on a forest trail in Dublin.
Driving ideas and innovation forward
With Meta’s plans to hire 10,000 new engineering hires over the next five years, Sowmya says the team has big goals. “It’s an exciting time to join the company,” she beams. “We are growing quickly, and new work choices across EMEA and Canada, such as remote work and cross-border remote work, have opened up an even larger and more diverse pool of candidates for us to consider.”
Within the Sourcing team, Anat highlights solving exciting challenges as something she feels inspired by. “I think sourcing is the best role! We’re finding candidates and helping them prepare, and we work closely with stakeholders to find the right people for the right roles. After almost half a decade at Meta, I still find myself surprised by the real impact we have on teams, the technology and products candidates go on to build, and the positive impact we can drive around the world.”
“Apply, even if you don’t think you’re a perfect match.”
For those interested in applying for an open role, Sowmya shares a few tips from behind the scenes. “Despite what people may believe, we always look beyond top universities, and technology companies,” she says. “We hire people from all backgrounds, as well as those who are early in their career or still gaining experience. Rather than focusing on what you haven’t done or skills you don’t have yet, prepare well and show passion for what we’re doing. You never go wrong when you bring your authentic self to what you do.”
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