Brian Batchelder works out of Fleishman-Hillard’s Washington, D.C. office recruiting digital and public relations professionals for various offices throughout the U.S. Before his return to the agency in 2006 (he was a PR practitioner in the Boston office from 1999 to 2003), Brian worked as assistant director of employer outreach for American University, where he provided career coaching to undergraduate students and outreach to high-profile, private sector companies.

When he’s not searching out top communications talent, music and sports compete for Brian’s attention. Whether it’s a New England Patriots game or a Rolling Stones concert, you’ll likely find him with a ticket in hand.

When interviewing potential hires, Brian has a foolproof method of weeding out the prepared candidates from the unprepared candidates. But he’s not talking.

Shirley Chan is a regional director for Fleishman-Hillard Hong Kong. Shirley’s 11 years of human resources experience includes time spent as a corporate director for Comba Telecom, where she established the wireless solutions company’s global human resources function. She currently is responsible for the agency’s Asia Pacific region and most recently has been recruiting in Hong Kong and Tokyo.

When she’s not recruiting communications professionals, Shirley — who’s fluent in Cantonese and Mandarin — might take to the water for some scuba diving and wakeboarding. That is, if she can tear herself away from the latest episode of “Grey’s Anatomy.”

Shirley likes to maximize her recruiting opportunities by meeting as many people as possible, so be sure to look for her at your next outing. And if you’re at a loss for conversation, there’s always a time-traveling robotic cat to talk about.

Mary Czarnecki has human resources generalist and recruiting experience in the financial, legal, agribusiness, and technology industries. Mary, who began her career in human resources at Alliance Capital Management (Sanford C. Bernstein) in New York, is responsible for staffing across various practice groups in Fleishman-Hillard’s global network.

When she’s not traveling across the U.S. in search of industry talent, Mary may be found relaxing to the music of Alicia Keys, watching a Pedro Almodovar film, or working up a sweat with Muay Thai kickboxing, the national sport of Thailand.

She’s an active member of the Society for Human Resource Management and a compassionate interviewer. Just don’t show up chewing gum and wearing a wrinkled shirt.

Ariane van der Haegen, a vice president at Fleishman-Hillard Brussels, has recruiting responsibilties in the Czech Republic, France, Italy, and several other countries in Europe. Prior to joining the agency, she was a recruitment manager for KONE, an international engineering and service company that employs 30,000 people worldwide.

Ariane is an enthusiastic member of the international Talent Development team. In her spare time she may be found riding a trail on horseback or watching “La Roue de la Fortune,” the French version of the popular American game show “Wheel of Fortune.”

Although one of her favorite movies is “Liar, Liar,” Ariane’s advice to job-seekers is quite the opposite. Be true to yourself — it’s that simple.

Michelle Leff, a manager based at Fleishman-Hillard London, provides employee relations, recruitment, training, and staff development support for the agency’s human resources director in Europe. She is responsible for recruiting and staffing for practice groups in the U.K., Africa, and the Middle East.

When she’s not crossing continents looking for top communications talent, Michelle may be found watching the cult classic, “Dirty Dancing,” standing in line for Madonna tickets, or striking any number of asanas in yoga class.

Michelle believes that there is one surefire way for a recruiter to bring out the best in a candidate. Are you listening?

Yu Li, a Talent Development director for Fleishman-Hillard Beijing, has recruiting responsibilities for the agency’s Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou offices. Before joining the agency, Yu was in charge of recruitment and training for a leading logistics company in Beijing. Earlier in her career she worked as a human resource specialist at JP Morgan in Paris.

Yu relies on her experience in personnel administration and employee relationship management to help identify top talent. When she’s not on the job, you may find her preparing a favorite recipe, watching a cooking show, or maybe just eating.

With regard to successful recruiting, Yu believes that maintaining good contacts is the key. If you don’t agree, just ask the FH practice group leader who recommended her.

Karen Mahoney, a director based in Fleishman-Hillard San Francisco, has recruiting responsibilities for the West Coast, Canadian, and Chicago offices. Before joining the firm, Karen worked at Aquent, a marketing communications staffing agency. Her accomplishments included establishing the company’s recruiter function in San Francisco and heading up its newly emerging Web team.

Karen’s recruiting expertise is in the areas of marketing communications, creative, and technology. When she’s not on the job you may find her digging into a New York Times crossword puzzle or working on a guest list for her imaginary dinner party. (Salman Rushdie and Jamie Oliver, for starters)

She’s a meticulous interviewer with a keen eye for talent who believes the little things can make a difference. So remember, send a follow-up thank you note and avoid typos at all costs.

Andrea Scaduto began her career with Fleishman-Hillard as a Talent Development intern. She is now a Senior Specialist who works out of the agency’s corporate headquarters in St. Louis, assisting in the management of the visa and immigration program, the employee referral program, and university relations.

Andrea is a dedicated team member who provides recruiting and staffing support for various practice groups throughout the agency. In her spare time, this outdoor enthusiast might be found on a hiking trail or traveling the terrain on her mountain bike.

A degree in psychology gives Andrea an advantage when it comes to interviewing candidates. But rest assured, if you ask intelligent questions, the smart money’s on you.