You can’t spend 25 years in recruitment – 16 of them with Waddington Brown – without experiencing a few changes to industries, client needs, and candidate priorities.
As she bids farewell to the team for an incredibly well deserved career break, we asked Talent Specialist, Stephanie Harris for her insights on HR recruitment.
Why has recruitment been such a rewarding career?
It’s been a privilege to work with some amazing colleagues, candidates and clients, and I’ve loved working in partnership with companies to help them build brilliant HR teams. I discovered a real passion for supporting HR professionals in the early years of their careers and have loved working with candidates who want to develop and push their careers. Getting to see how people’s careers unfold has given me a real sense of pride and satisfaction.
What has changed most about the recruitment industry?
I’m actually not sure much has changed – not at the core of a recruitment business. Employers still want good people for their businesses, and the best way of achieving that as a recruiter is to build your network, develop relationships and be trusted as someone people want to work with. People talk about the revolution of AI, but human connection sits at the heart of recruitment
Back in 2008 or 2009 we talked a lot about the ‘war for talent’ and here we are still talking about it, but with the added complexities of Brexit, COVID and economic uncertainty that mean candidates will only go through the upheaval of a job change if it’s a great development or earning opportunity.
“Getting to see how people’s careers unfold has given me a real sense of pride and satisfaction.”
What phrase have you said most often to candidates?
The right role, for the right person at the right time! And it’s absolutely true, I’ve seen it again and again that a candidate will be disappointed not to be offered a role only for something that fits them even more beautifully to be just around the corner.
What are the fundamental rules of great recruitment?
Be honest, be authentic and treat others with the courtesy you would like to receive. Recruitment can be a tough industry to work in and you need to be able to manage the highs and the lows, and be resilient enough to bounce back when you drop the occasional ball. Twenty five years in and I still don’t always get it right, which I always feel personally – because I care very much about every person involved in the process of job hunting.
What has changed most about HR and the people who work in the profession?
HR’s professionalism and credibility has accelerated over the years. The idea of running a business now and not having HR in place to create structure and consistency for employees seems very odd. And increasingly HR – now more frequently spoken of as People and Culture – has taken a seat at the table, with HR Directors taking C-suite roles and becoming essential strategic leaders.
What will you miss most? And least!
I will miss my amazing colleagues the most, along with the brilliant clients, candidates and associates I work with. That being said, I won’t miss the emotional rollercoaster of recruitment – the fantastic ups come with inevitable downs and it’s time to step off that ride!
Stephanie centre, with (l-r) Linh Pook, Eithne Sanders, Nina Metson and Rosie Barrack
