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Top Insider Advice
A sideways or lateral career move can help give you a different perspective and broader experience. It helps you consolidate your knowledge. Always look around an organisation if you're happy before deciding to look outside. There are opportunities often such as secondments which might give you that breadth with an option to return to your 'home role' afterwards.
Career path
Head of Talent Acquisition
Phoenix Group
Started 06/2021 to PresentCompany
What do you like about your job and the company?
Although my day is often very structured with regular calls and meetings it can all change very quickly. With all the communication methods available I can find myself involved in a variety of different tasks, asks or conversations each day which I didn't plan. It keeps it really interesting. I'm also really lucky as we work in a hybrid role so I have a huge amount of flexibility about where I work. For me I enjoy the social interaction that the office provides a couple of days a week although I'm more productive on the days I work from home so like the balance of both worlds.
Greatest achievements
It was actually a job that I was recruiting for but I got one well with the hiring manager and upon reading the job spec and interviewing candidates I realised I had the skills and experience to give it a go. No regrets it was incredibly tough, and I had just come back from maternity leave and so made the difficult decision to come back full-time to take the job but I learnt so much in the first two years that it was definitely a career highlight. I was lucky in that not only was I able to build something successful from scratch, but as we supported a number of countries across Europe and required fluent native speakers we ended up building a really diverse and multicultural team which meant I learnt so much from those around me about the different cultures, traditions and approaches - for example did you know that in Germany it's unlucky to give someone a birthday present or wish them a Happy Birthday before their actual birthday?
Josh R
Senior Accountant
Top Insider Advice
The key advice I have given to all applicants and new starters is that Phoenix is a company where your opportunities are significant and plentiful. The key to capitalising on this is to be proactive, take the time to understand and reflect on your goals and achievements and communicate openly and honestly with the team around you about how you want to progress/operate within the business. The business can be fast paced and although all the resources and help are made available, it is incredibly important to make yourself accountable and seek the information you need for yourself. People are always willing to support you here but have respect for those who have taken the time to consider their requirements carefully and actively seek support before it becomes a critical requirement.
Tim B
Programme Director
Top Insider Advice
Notice how you feel about what you're doing and about how you're doing it. If it feels right then stick with it... if not adjust, notice how you feel and keep adjusting until it feels right.
Kieran J
Top Insider Advice
My recruitment journey was a rollercoaster. When I was in my final year of university, I was so certain that I wanted a job lined up for when I leave university. Therefore, I began applying 8 months in advance. Although it sounds like I was prepared, I wasn't prepared for rejection. I used to apply to roles whereby all the duties and responsibilities would fit perfectly, but the reality is that the employee market is so competitive. I received hundreds of rejections where I put my heart and soul into job applications. My advice is therefore simple, never take rejection seriously. Go with the flow, take feedback on board. This enhances your interview skills. You develop as an individual. Through constant rejection, you will land your dream role. Most importantly, do not undermine yourself throughout the recruitment process. Keep going with utmost motivation.