Introduction
Hi, I’m Sash, and until recently I was a Science Teacher in a large Secondary School in Essex. In 2022, I decided to pursue a new challenge in IT and Digital Recruitment. In my first few weeks, I’ve learned a lot about recruitment and the industry. But fear not, I’m here to share my top tips for surviving your first few weeks in recruitment.
What’s the worst that can happen?
Rejection is a part of the job, and it’s not so bad. Most people are nice about it, and if they’re not, it says something about them, not you. If you’re new to recruitment, you will get knockbacks, but it’s important to remember that it comes with the job. If someone says no, it’s not the end of the world.
Ask questions!
People are generally helpful, so don’t be afraid to ask for help. There’s no such thing as a stupid question. You’re not expected to know everything on day one. If you’re lucky enough to work for a supportive company like me, all you need to do is ask someone for help and you will receive it.
Treat people as you want to be treated:
It’s good advice to treat others how you want to be treated. Sometimes in this job you have to call candidates and give them bad news, although this never feels nice or enjoyable, there is a right and a wrong way to do it. Put yourself in the candidate’s shoes, would you be happy with just a text saying “better luck next time mate”? probably not. Why not take the time to call the candidate and explain the reasons that they may have been unsuccessful this time. Take this time to ask if you can keep in touch in case you could be useful in the future. Why burn a bridge that you may one day come to need!
AAS – Acronyms are stupid:
Since my first day working in recruitment, I have tried to write down every acronym that has been thrown my way. Unfortunately, I have not succeeded, although by my current estimations if I had, I would have used 24 notepads, 18 pencils and no longer have movement in my left hand. I get it, in IT there is a lot of long named programs and software, so it makes sense to make them shorter, but on my first week, every time I tried to read a job advert I felt like a pensioner trying to understand a text message from their grandson. Just know that this gets easier. You will pick up what these mean in time, and if you don’t know what any of that means just refer to tip #2.
Last but not least, enjoy yourself!
I know this one is said all the time but it’s true. You are at work around 40 hours per week. Why do something that isn’t fun or enjoyable. Since joining Greenfield, I can genuinely say I have laughed and enjoyed every day. Don’t get me wrong there are times when you need to work hard and get your head down. I’m all for that, but make sure you spend some time every day enjoying yourself, having a chat with a colleague, going out for lunch at McDonalds with people from the office or a quick pub lunch on a Friday! Just make sure you are doing something every day that you enjoy.
Conclusion
So, there you have it. My first blog post! As I continue to develop in recruitment and continue to learn new skills and have new experiences, I will continue to include them in my future blog posts.
If you are thinking about a career change, then I highly recommend exploring recruitment as a career. If you’re looking for your next step in your IT career, check out our jobs page.
