Celebrating a year in the recruitment and headhunting industry

February 2021. This month marks one whole year in the recruitment and headhunting industry, and I could not feel more accomplished and proud of myself. It has been a year of tough hurdles to cross, as well as some learning lessons to take home.

I began my recruitment and headhunting journey just before the COVID-19 pandemic hit the UK. Needless to say, it was quite a rollercoaster ride. Working through the pandemic was difficult to start with, as businesses everywhere were doing everything they could to cut costs and save money. The market was quiet and job opportunities were so hard to come by, it made me worry about the security of my own job. Nonetheless, I was thankful that I got to keep my job despite the slow start. The quietness gave me the opportunity to push myself out of my comfort zone and learn the ropes of the recruitment industry, without feeling like I was thrown in the deep end.

Being a real estate agent on the sales front for six years, helped me learn a lot quickly in recruitment. The fast-paced environment of the real estate industry has allowed me to adapt quicker to new places, learn new things a bit quicker and deal with customers. Coming into recruitment/headhunting, I felt equipped with the right skills to assure my success moving forward.

However, as we all know, 2020 threw a curveball and COVID-19 forced a ‘new normal’ on us. Throughout my entire career, we worked at our offices or on site at showings - never from home. Thus working from home was quite a change for me; it was odd to not work in an office surrounded by my coworkers. Working from home alone has forced me to adapt quickly and be more self-motivated to learn the ropes, and to put in extra work after working hours so that I feel more comfortable with what I’m doing.

Through my first year in recruitment/headhunting, I must say that I have learned a lot. I’ve grown to be more confident in myself, be more self-sufficient and learned to collaborate better with others in the team. Admittedly I’m still working on my speaking skills, I feel like I’ve come quite a distance since I’ve started.

I’ve also learned that self-improvement isn’t the only thing that gives me satisfaction. Helping others has given me more happiness too. Every developer candidate that I can help in any way - from giving them CV/resumé tips to helping them prepare for an interview - makes me feel good about myself; knowing that I made a difference in someone else’s life. Watching candidates succeed and get the job they so rightfully deserve, has given me a sense of accomplishment and self-satisfaction that I never knew I could feel.

A year in the recruitment/headhunting industry has taught me a lot, and I could not be more proud of myself for this milestone. I’ve learned so much about myself and the industry and I can’t wait to learn and discover more.

Here’s to more years of learning!