A milestone! 20 Years in and still going strong.
A little milestone that I nearly let pass me by, but I thought... sod it! 🎉
⬅️ Experience ✅ 20 Years ➡️ The Future
In May, I reached my 20-year milestone in recruitment, all of it within health and social care.
It's been a rollercoaster. Plenty of highs, a few lows (that's a lie, lots of those), a lot of lessons, and proof that no matter how long you've been doing something, every day really is a school day. I started out placing Nursery Nurses into childcare settings and, over the years, have recruited for just about every level imaginable, right through to Directors leading multi-million-pound organisations.
I've worked with some incredible people along the way. Some became mentors, some became friends, and some probably tested my patience more than they realised! Early in my career, I was fortunate enough to find a mentor who inspired and challenged me to be better (not a recruiter!). Although we've not spoken for many years, I still look back on the advice and guidance he gave me. It helped shape the recruiter, business owner and person I became.
If I'm honest, I haven't got a clue how many people I've placed over the last 20 years. Thousands, I'd imagine. What I do know is that I'm still in touch with many of them today, which says more than any number ever could.
When people ask what has kept me doing this job for so long, it's never really been recruitment itself. It's the people. The conversations. The relationships built over years rather than months. Watching someone take the next step in their career and knowing you played a small part in getting them there.
I've also had the chance to work with some truly amazing employers, care providers and leaders over the years. The people who turn up every day to provide care, support and compassion to others, often without the recognition they deserve. Being connected to that world has been one of the most rewarding parts of my career.
From the heart, I'd like to thank everyone I've had the pleasure - and in a few cases the displeasure! - of working with over the years to date. Every conversation, every challenge, every success and every setback has taught me something.
Recruitment can sometimes get a bad reputation and, like any industry, morals and ethics can occasionally get lost along the way. Looking back, one thing I'm proud of is that I've always tried to stay true to my values. I've made mistakes, learned from them, and done my best to treat people fairly. Relationships have always mattered more to me than transactions, and reputation takes years to build but only minutes to lose.
20 years on, I still love what I do. It's been a rollercoaster. Some highs, some lows, plenty of lessons and more than a few grey hairs. But genuinely it feels like it's only just getting started.
Here's to the next chapter with Pivotal People
(Couldn't find any photos of my first years in recruitment - sorry to disappoint those who are looking for a laugh!)
