Qassam Diab

Few people can navigate through their first year as an I.T. recruiter despite undergoing intensive training. However, as an energetic business professional, Qassam Diab just completed his fifth year in the challenging field of information technology.

Born and raised in Chicago, Qassam is the oldest of six siblings. He spent his teen years in Palestine before relocating to Illinois, where he graduated from Moraine Valley Community College with two AS Degrees in Networking & Security. Wanting to continue his educational pursuits, he went on to obtain his BA in Information Technology from Western Governors University (WGU)

Following graduation, Qassam accepted several positions as a Technician and Infrastructure Engineer, until pivoting his career goals and transitioning into IT recruiting.

In his spare time, Qassam enjoys reading about holistic health, neuroscience, psychology, and conspiracy theories.

What is your typical day, and how do you make it productive?

I take a cold shower and I do not look at my phone for at least an hour a day. Working from home allows me to be productive by getting out and walking or working on some DIY projects before I start my day. I start each morning by checking my email at about 8 a.m. I make my email replies and phone calls. As a Recruiter it is a critical part of the job to do a lot of networking with industry professionals. After five years, I have done well personally and professionally. During this time, I have been promoted three times after being recognized on four occasions as the recruiter for the quarter.

How do you bring ideas to life?

By reading, and engaging with social media platforms such as YouTube. I also take the time to network, collaborate with colleagues, and attend networking events. I like ideas that improve our quality of life, whether it is for me, my family, or work.

What’s one trend that excites you?

One of the most innovative trends that excites me is A.I. Especially when it evolves healthcare and biotechnology and enhancing patient experience

What is one habit that helps you be productive?

Aside from work, I believe in having a good life balance by doing things that are productive at home. Many of my projects are do-it-yourself projects. Being out in nature, using breathing techniques, walking outside for sunlight, cold showers, and dopamine detoxes from my phone particularly. All of these things are habits that help to keep me in balance and productive.

What advice would you give your younger self?

I would tell my younger self to definitely focus on taking a few more risks with financial investments. Read more productive materials, and socialize more. I used to worry about being a top student. I would tell my younger self to stress less and not care about striving for the top-notch grades.

Tell us something you believe almost nobody agrees with you on?

A few things that I believe have created interesting conversations!

• The Chainsmokers are the best pop artists out there.
• 5G is frying everyone’s brains.
• Using a tongue scraper daily is a very underrated hygiene routine

What is the one thing you repeatedly do and recommend everyone else do?

I follow Andrew Huberman. He is a neuroscientist and psychiatrist in behavioral sciences. He has a podcast teaching the neural science of breathing and the techniques used to reduce stress and anxiety. His technique entails taking a long inhale and taking a much longer exhale. I often do this practice, three to ten times. I find it very beneficial, and I would recommend that everyone practice this technique daily.

When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, what do you do?

The best thing to do when you’re feeling overwhelmed is to follow the previous suggestion. Practice the Andrew Huberman breathing techniques to reduce stress and anxiety.

What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business or advance in your career?

One key strategy to being a Recruiter in the technology industry is networking, especially if you place a person in a management position where they will be hiring their own teams. It makes for a mutually beneficial relationship.

What is one failure in your career,  how did you overcome it, and what lessons did you take away from it?

There have been times when people have missed the interview. There was a miscommunication. I take blame for this. I owned up to my mistake, apologized and just reached out to the clients with a reschedule and it worked out.

What is one business idea you’re willing to give away to our readers?

I think that anything in software development is bound to be highly lucrative, especially if that overlaps with innovating fields in AI/ML/VR. As one of the world’s fastest growing industries, the possibilities are endless.

What is one piece of software that helps you be productive? How do you use it?

I use Notepad++. The program allows me to use multiple tabs so I can multitask. I use multiple tabs to either right candidate notes, conference call notes, or appointment scheduling notes. It is convenient for any kind of note.

Do you have a favorite book or podcast you’ve gotten a ton of value from and why?

I don’t read books often, per se, but my favorite podcasts are produced by Andrew Huberman. He uses his platform called Huberman lab. He shares a lot of beneficial information and interviews subject matter experts on topics like neuroscience, biology, Physiology, and about how to optimize ourselves as humans.

What’s a movie or series you recently enjoyed and why?

The series I am addicted to is Mr. Robot on Amazon Prime. It’s about a hacker who wants to save the world and learns more about himself throughout the process. Definitely for Psychology thriller enthusiasts and techies who admire legit hacking!

Key learnings:

• A good recruiter is empowered by great networking and/or passion for Tech
• Working from home enables a balance for work/life self-care.
• Breath Work Techniques are essential destressors