TO THE YOUNG PROFESSIONAL 002
Second interview in the series. I had a chat with my good friend Luke, an associate director within the world of recruitment. As many of us go through recruiters when looking for new roles, I deemed it necessary to speak with a recruiter to share some insight into the recruitment industry as well as some very useful tips for younger professionals.
JF: Who are you and what do you do?
L: Hi, I’m Luke and I am an Associate Director at Nonstop Recruitment, a recruitment company covering a range of industries including pharmaceuticals, medical devices, technical and digital. Aside from my day job, I am a photographer and have been booked to work with both professional & amateur models and have also had the opportunity to cover London Fashion Week.
Prior to all of this, I studied Law at The University of Hertfordshire and despite completing my degree and getting a 2:1, I knew I didn't want to go down the private practice route. I ventured into a number of career paths, ranging from Credit Risk, Broking, Finance and even considered setting up my own sports website (something I wish I stuck at given the recent explosion of podcasts etc - always follow your heart!!). I stumbled into recruitment with no prior experience in May 2013 and have since gone on to enjoy a challenging yet rewarding career that has allowed me to help others also.
JF: It is interesting that you tried a number of careers prior to going into recruitment - that ought to be a major takeaway point for readers - it is OK to try different things if you are unsure about your career path. Given your experience in recruitment, what would you say is the biggest downfall of the young professional/recent graduate and how would you advise overcoming this?
L: Recent graduates often have the expectation that the riches of the world are theirs and ought to come to them near enough immediately. Now I do not completely knock this way of thinking, this is just the way some older corporate heads feel towards younger professionals. I think young people are starting to embrace their value, worth and the impact of fresh ideas in an ever-evolving business world. However, there does need to be a level of humility with this too - if you enter a field that you know nothing about, as I initially did with recruitment, understand that it is okay to lean on others, learn from those who genuinely know more at that point in time and just be a sponge.
Within recruitment, typically you don’t earn the big, lucrative six figure salary until late year 3 or 4. First year total earnings, including commission, normally range between £35-40k for those that have some natural ability as well as being willing students while starting to make headway in their market. Find a company that believes in you and is willing to work alongside you for you to fulfil your own potential - at the end of the day, they stand to benefit if you can become a high earner.
JF: I definitely agree and strongly believe that humility is indeed key when it comes to career progression. How do you suggest a professional remains consistent in their current role?
L: Working hard helps, particularly at the beginning. You will not find your way to a six-figure salary by year 3 without working longer hours, accepting that the initial extra graft and the mistakes you make are all part of the learning process. Working hard isn’t enough, though. Work smart. You have to work smart! That is a skill in itself and it takes time to really master this. Work on remaining effective and productive during working hours - and outside of them if you so wish - so consistently self-evaluate and reflect on how you are spending time. Did you make the most of the time you spent in the office? Did you get distracted too often and/or too easily? Once you start to learn the ropes within your role and industry, combine that with working hard with working smart and you will be one step ahead.
JF: What traits do you believe young professionals need to exhibit early on in their career?
L: Humility (cannot stress this enough!), self-awareness, an open mind and the ability to see the bigger picture. I have elaborated on why above. Know your worth - if you aren’t sure what it is, look around on job boards for what the going rate for someone in your position is, or speak to a consultant in the industry.
JF: Finally, what 3 pieces of advice would you like to leave with the young professional reading this today?
L:
1 - Step outside of your comfort zone. If you think that you aren’t comfortable with a piece of work that you have been assigned, just give it a go and get feedback from a specialist upon completion. Most people learn best by doing - if you never test yourself, try new things or work on ways to diversify your skill set, you will remain stagnant - where is the fun, excitement and reward in that?!
2 - Look at all of your options, take your time and then go with your gut. 8 times out of 10 it is the right thing to do. If you try it and it doesn’t work out, dust yourself of and try again - embrace the lessons that come your way whatever role you find yourself in.
3 - Don’t compare yourself to others, whether it is via social media, with friends in conversation or things you read. Social media is a weird one and is actually a very skewed microcosm into one’s success and how they got there. Run your own race: set goals daily, weekly, monthly or yearly (I do all of these) and focus on achieving them. If you miss some, and you will, figure out why, reflect and review - then work on implementing a plan to improve going forwards.
Final Words:
Luke is indeed very well-versed on all things recruitment and definitely knows what he is talking about. I do believe that this is as a result of him combining all of the above tips. My favourite point was the importance of being a sponge. Wherever you are, academically or professionally, it is important to absorb as much as you can - learn and constantly strive to be better!
Be sure to follow Luke on Instagram and Twitter and check out his amazing photography page. If you need a photographer, he is your guy - don’t forget to tell him Jennifer sent you! If you are a young professional looking for a new role or advise on where to go next, Luke is extremely helpful and could be instrumental in helping you making your next move.