Interview: Mandy Brook, RSE Group

We recently spoke to IRP Fellow, Mandy Brook, to discover her journey into recruitment and why she loves it so much.

How did you get into recruitment?

I’d gone on holiday and decided to leave my very high pressure, 90 hours a week sales role. They let me go the same day - as sales roles do. On the way back home I walked into an agency and said I need a temp job until I decided what I wanted to do and they said come and temp for us! They gave me a yellow pages and a phone and said get on with it. I've been in recruitment ever since!

Where do you currently work?

I’m the owner/MD of the RSE Group Ltd.

What do you love about the job?

I love the variety, meeting people from all walks of life. The difference you make is measurable and so rewarding! It’s challenging and different every single day. You are part recruiter, part counselor, part employment expert, happiness giver and super hero rolled into one.

How did you find the CertRP?

It was very well put together, easy to follow and you are helped every step of the way by a remote tutor. At the time it taught me a great deal and I know from my team that it’s an even more informative and better process now than it was when I took it.

Would you recommend recruitment as a career of choice?

If you love people, can easily start conversations, want to make a difference as well as earning good money and you are excellent at people matching, then this is the job for you. Honestly, don’t do it if you aren’t the person in the room “that matches your mates up with the one!”. If you can do that then either recruitment is for you or working for a dating agency! Similar principal! You need to make people comfortable and be the best that they can be, you need to educate clients and make people feel special because they are. If you think you bring out the best in people and can people match, not just skills but ethos, work ethic etc, this job will be the BEST job that you have EVER had! As an aside you really need to be organized and love social media too!

What keeps you in the industry?

It’s ever evolving, never boring, a challenge every day, mostly in a good way. My team rock and exemplify what is great about our industry. They just “get it”, watching them in action is a joy.

I want to change people’s perceptions about recruiters, we do great work, we change people’s lives for the better, we truly make a difference. To pass that knowledge on to others is something that makes me get up every day. I love it, always have!

Given your time again, would you do anything differently?

I would have had more confidence in my ability. I’d have gone with my gut feeling more on candidates, clients and staff. Trust your intuition, if it feels wrong it most likely is. If the client or candidate isn’t giving you the right signals walk away - some people can’t be helped, try as we might. Help the people that need help and want to help themselves. It can’t be a one-way street. Life’s too short to be anything but happy at work and in life. Practice what you preach.

Can you give us a great placement story?

Gosh I have so many, but the best ones are the placements you make who become friends. The candidates who become clients, the candidates who care about you and you care about them, they are the best good news stories you can have. They make this job the best ever job. I have clients and candidates that I have worked with from day one. That’s a good working relationship right there and as positive a story in recruitment as you can get.

If you're interested in sharing your recruitment story, please email us.