1. What led you to recruitment?

I never imagined I would work in recruitment while I was still a student because the industry was not very well known. As students, we always felt no one knew exactly what a recruiter did but somehow they existed and seemed to always reject you for that job you really wanted. I enrolled for a sales traineeship within a recruitment agency soon after I lost my first job due to retrenchment in Cape Town. I wanted to try something new and test the waters a bit, and within a day they had contacted me for an interview. They explained the role and what they were looking for, in great detail. Four interview rounds later, I was on my way to becoming a recruiter.

2. What skills have helped you in progressing to your current role?

I think top of my list is resilience due to the nature of the industry. It took me a long time and making several mistakes before I could actually understand that this industry can be a tough one if you do not develop a thick skin and a very sharp mind. Secondly, I think a proactive spirit combined with a hunter mentality has helped shape my path to PageGroup.

3. How have you balanced the demands of the job with your life away from work?

The best advice I ever got was from my dad who told me to have two phones, one for work that I attend to during work hours, and the second for personal life. Never compromise on family and friends because they will be there regardless of the job you hold. The temptation is to work 24/7 due to the global nature of our business and this has been proven to be a one-way ticket to burnout.

4. What is most rewarding about your job?

I find it very exhilarating to see a process through from business development phase to recruiting for a role to finally placing a candidate. Some might say that’s the job, but we don’t always get to complete every process we start in this industry.

5. Do you have any advice to anybody thinking about joining PageGroup?

My advice is to research about the recruitment industry first before you join it, know that it won’t always be rosy, and have some sales experience under your belt before you join to give yourself a leg up. Good luck!