Role: Principal IT Specialist
Company: Lucas Love Recruitment
Track Record:
What is your educational background?
I studied at Castlereagh College completing a GNVQ Advanced in Leisure and Tourism Management . I then attended the University of Wales, Bangor where I completed my Recruitment and Employment Confederation Accreditation in 2010.
What was your very first job?
I worked at a Designer Clothes Store when I was 18 in North Wales. The job was great, meeting new people every day and of course looking at new fashion trends!
What made you decide to pursue your present career?
I actually fell into my career! My Husband was playing professional rugby in Wales and I registered with a recruitment agency and the rest is history! I am a very sociable person so recruitment is the perfect career for me. I started my recruitment career with a global recruitment organisation in Cardiff as a consultant and was promoted to Branch Manager on relocating back to Northern Ireland. My responsibilities included account management, contracts, tender management and recruitment. I was previously with a local agency in Belfast as a Business Manager focusing on IT recruitment and development before joining Lucas Love.
How long have you been in your current position?
I have been with Lucas Love Recruitment for 2 months; I joined the organisation as a Principal IT Specialist after 7 years experience with two other organisations.
Does your role offer ongoing training and development?
Lucas Love Recruitment offers training and support to all staff and encourages personal development as well as in-house training. All employees are offered external training courses for their particular suitability.
What does a typical working day involve?
Every day is different in recruitment, there is no such thing as a typical working day. Recruitment is very diverse which makes it exciting. On a daily basis I have to assess client and IT candidates needs and proactively work to ensure these needs are met and exceeded. Social media and networking is key to my role as well.
What are your main responsibilities?
To name a few; researching and gaining knowledge of competitors and technical markets, responsibility for recruiting and resourcing candidates for permanent and contracts opportunities, advising clients on IT recruitment needs, developing IT Business and cross selling for different markets.
What skills do you need?
You need to be able to multitask, react quickly in a highly competitive market and be a natural communicator.
What’s the best thing about your job?
It is a fast moving, competitive and exciting industry. Every day is different, you will be meeting an array of candidates one day and the next be travelling around Northern Ireland attending network events and client meeting s.
And the worst?
There is not enough time in the day to fit everything in!
What personal qualities does your job require?
To be in recruitment you need to be a natural communicator, adaptable and determined. Having a good sense of humour helps as well!
What advice would you give to someone wishing to pursue a similar career?
Recruitment is a great career which offers a variety of development opportunities and is very rewarding. If you are highly motivated, results driven and have a strong personality recruitment could be for you.