I've been in recruitment for 17 odd years - and it's been one hell of a journey. Not least as a female but also as a mother but I fought bloody hard, batted away the haters and created the reputation I have today and in turn, created my own Rec-2-Rec recruitment company - Tonic
Taken a good 6 years ago at The Global Recruiters Awards
When I started in the industry as a fresh-faced trainee; the general tone of the industry was aggressive. Each business was almost a carbon copy of the next, each office had the notorious 'boys club' mentality associated with recruitment AND you were one blanked month away from being sacked... the fear was real!
With my specific experience centred around growing the headcount of recruitment companies, I have been able to sit back and watch the growth trends fluctuate within the marketspace - particularly in regards to the culture and USPs of each business and what works when attracting talent and what doesn't.
In the Thames Valley region, there are at least 5 well-known recruitment companies who are still the typical 'wolf on wall street' type of business; their old school micromanaging approach to building a successful team of recruiters board lines on bullying instead of the inspirational management style you would have been promised in the interview. In many of these businesses, you'll be expected to be in the office at 8 am and you will struggle to leave much before 6 pm. Because of course, recruitment is life right?
Nope - your life is LIFE. You can have other priorities and passions outside of work and still be a kick-arse recruitment consultant!
These businesses bully - one might withhold your final salary if you leave as 'payment' for the training you've received.
Another will ensure you'll only get a commission if the rest of your team hits their target.
While another insists that you have to attend after-work drinks and partake in the 'dirty pint' ritual.
I'll hold my hands up and admit that this does work for SOME recruiters. I personally know some exceptional recruiters who excel in these environments. I am by no means saying that this Jurassic model of recruitment is obsolete and there is definitely a place for them in the industry.
What I am saying is there are OPTIONS. I feel like screaming from the rooftops
not all recruitment companies are the same!!!
Gone of the days when all recruitment agencies in Reading were a copy and pasted version of each other - and my client list is an example of this
I have chosen to work with a super small selection of businesses which I feel offer a refreshing alternative to the above... for instance.
One of my clients gives all employees the option to work from home entirely
Another has no set start or end times to your day - so you can do the pick-up and drop-offs without feeling parent-guilt!
And another offers unlimited holiday allowances.
This is all amazing right? But more than this it screams...
we trust our staff!
None of the above clients is KPI centric and when looking around their offices, they have a truly diverse workforce of HAPPY, successful recruiters - some are mums, some work part-time, some are in the office every day, some focus on just the 180 model of recruitment and others are most business development focused.
The point is that this new breed of recruitment agencies are the future because they understand that playing to their employees' strengths and understanding their loves, lives and passions will ultimately be what will give them a loyal and successful team of happy recruiters!!
If you are working in an environment that isn't making you happy as a recruiter, reach out to me - there are other options. Not all recruitment companies are the same.
SJ Murphy - 07547116410 | sj@tonicpeople.co.uk
Managing Director | TONIC