Zoe joined Element 3 years ago and in that time she's been promoted and grown the team, she's a Senior Manager and is responsible for the HR, Legal & Business Support teams. We asked her some questions about her journey in recruitment and if she's got any advice for someone looking at Recruitment as a career.
How did you hear about Element?
I was referred to Element by Tom Chambers, (Business Director), as we have been friends for a number of years and I had mentioned I was looking for a new role in agency recruitment. He put me in touch with Steph and Steve - the rest is history!
How did you start your career in recruitment?
My first step into recruitment was with Page Group in their Reading office. I joined the HR and Business Support team and specialised in HR recruitment across the Thames Valley area on both a permanent and temporary basis. I really enjoyed my time there and was able to build on my previous B2B sales experience, as well as making some amazing friends along the way! Like most recruiters, I ‘fell’ into recruitment but it has proven to be a challenging yet rewarding career choice.
What does your job involve?
I manage our HR & Business Support team here at Element so I’m responsible for hiring new consultants and developing the team as well as working with the other Managers and Business Directors on our team strategy and forecasts for the year. I am also still a hands-on recruiter and really enjoy meeting with my clients, building new relationships and supporting candidates with their job search and securing their dream roles! I recruit in the South West, covering permanent, contract and temporary positions.
What is the hardest bit about working in recruitment?
You need a lot of resilience in this job as the knocks can be quite hard at times! Learning to switch off at the end of the day/week is a skill that takes a good few years (if ever) to learn but it is important that you try and reflect on the wins from the day/week as well as the moments that didn’t go so well!
What advice would you give someone starting out in recruitment?
- Don’t try to run before you can walk! If you can master the basics of recruitment early on in your career and get into great habits then you will always have them to build on.
- Listen to the consultants around you and don’t be scared to try out different questioning/sales styles as there isn’t always a one size fits all in recruitment.
- Get nosey! Ask lots of questions – there is very rarely a silly one!
- Be prepared for an extremely step learning curve in the first year in recruitment, there is always something new to learn and you need to be able to think on your feet.
- Make sure you take your annual leave entitlement! It can be easy to get burnt out in recruitment and it’s really important that you look after yourself and take some time off to enjoy life!
What’s it like working at Element?
I really enjoy working at Element and have recently celebrated 3 years with the business! We have a fantastic culture, where we are treated as adults and have the flexibility to manage our time appropriately. I work with some fantastic colleagues, and we celebrate success as well as supporting each other through challenges. We also have some amazing social events and sales incentives such as a yearly trip to Palma and I am lucky enough to have enjoyed 5 work trips since joining Element. Everyone is friendly, approachable and we all work hard to make sure we give a great service to our clients and candidates.
What has the next 12 months got in store for you?
Team growth! We are super busy on the HR & Business Support desk and are hiring for Recruitment Consultants and Candidate Managers to join the team. The best part of my job as a Manager is developing talent, watching Consultants learn new skills and become successful Recruiters!
