How did you get to your current position?
Pure luck. I am a philosophy graduate who realised that there is no career path in this world for said philosophy graduates. I have dabbled in a few different roles, mostly in customer service, and when I was unfortunately made redundant from my job as a supervisor for a stationary store, I decided to play it safe and get the exact same role in a different store just across the street.
Lasted four days there- I hated it, and came to terms with the fact that I wanted something entirely new. I applied to a job online posted by The Recruitment Lab and got a call from Simon, who informed me that the role I had applied for was no longer open- but asked if I was interested in working for them instead. Now here I am!
Favourite part of the recruitment process?
We have a few whiteboards in the office to keep track of our candidates and where they are in the recruitment process. Every now and then, I read a CV that really sticks in my mind, and I chat to a candidate who is so lovely, and I tend to then feel even more determined to find the perfect role for them. When those names get put up on the board, especially with a little tick next to it meaning they have been accepted, I just feel so proud and so happy.
What advice would you give to a younger ‘you’ starting out in your career?
Don’t fear the unknown. I had this plan in my head when I left school- I was going to stay in university through to PhD level, and then probably become a philosophy lecturer. I convinced myself that I wanted that, but really, I was just too scared to try something unfamiliar. In my final year of my bachelors, I realised that I wasn’t enjoying it anymore, and really struggled with the decision to try something new.
I didn’t stray too far; I decided I would still stay in university, but that I would study a masters in psychology instead. This didn’t last long- I was working as a supervisor alongside my masters and I was exhausted and unhappy. I realised that it wasn’t the subject that was the issue- it was university as a whole. It just wasn’t for me anymore.
So, I finally left, with no plans and no ambitions, and braved the unknown. And I learned that sometimes the best things happen to you when you have absolutely no clue what you are doing.
Dream job if skill, history and talent were not factors?
A musical theatre actress. I adore musical theatre, and I love to imagine myself on the stage, singing my heart out to a dramatic ballad or dancing along to a fun, upbeat tune.
Alas, I cannot sing, dance, nor act. In fact, due to a dodgy knee, I can’t even stand up for too long at any one time.
Maybe one day there will be a role that requires someone with no actual singing ability who just needs to sit on a stage, then it will be my time to shine.
What’s your favourite office snack?
Skittles! If I ever take a little too long to answer an incoming phone call, I am most likely trying to finish a handful of skittles very quickly.
I also love a good coffee, tea or energy drink. Otherwise, I need an afternoon nap.
Desk trinkets?
Paper, paper and more paper. Everything even remotely important is somewhere on a piece of paper on my desk. I know exactly where they all are, even if it looks like a random pile of scrap to everyone else.
I would love a little desk plant, but I am horrendously bad at keeping them alive, so I wouldn’t want to subject a poor innocent plant to that.
Radio station choice in the office?
I am not big on radio; I am more of a pre-set playlist kind of person. If I had it my way, we would have my extensive musical theatre playlist playing in the office all day long. There is nothing like feeling tired and unmotivated at 9am, and then hearing ‘Do You Hear the People Sing’ from Les Mis, and instantly feeling like you could start an entire revolution.
I doubt Simon or Dan would appreciate this though, so I will just hum it to myself quietly.
Friday afternoon celebratory beverage?
A white peach gin and tonic. Really, any flavoured gin and tonic. If I am REALLY celebrating, a Mai Tai.
Best book you’ve read?
I’m a big fan of the classics, I love understanding how a book came to be or how it shaped the world. ‘The Picture of Dorian Gray’ by Oscar Wilde is a favourite of mine, and Victor Hugo’s ‘Les Misérables’ will always have a special place in my heart and on my bookshelf, although he does like to ramble on quite a bit.
On the more contemporary end, ‘The Book Thief’ by Markus Zusak is an unforgettable read.
What’s your favourite movie?
‘Lilo and Stitch’ is my childhood favourite. It’s so silly and so sweet, and I have some really lovely memories of meeting Stitch at Disney World with my family and being so amazed that he was ‘real’. I have memorialised my love for this film with a tattoo of Stitch reading ‘The Ugly Duckling’ to a bunch of ducklings on my leg. I was a bit of an outsider as a child, so this movie meant a lot to me as the story of two outcasts becoming unlikely friends reminded me a lot about my own friendships and my own life.
What football team do you support?
I am a casual football fan- I get really into it when the big tournaments like the Euros or World Cup come around, but I am not too bothered about it otherwise. However, I come from a family of Manchester United supporters- they would be very disappointed if I don’t call myself one as well.
Inspirational quote?
“Don’t squander the gold of your days listening to the tedious, or giving away your life to the ignorant and the vulgar… Live! Live the wonderful life that is in you! Let nothing be lost upon you. Be always searching for new sensations. Be afraid of nothing.” Oscar Wilde