WHY I Love Recruitment – Part 2

I have previously posted an article titled “I Love Recruitment” , detailing my love of recruitment, but in my sometimes daydreaming state on a Sunday morning I try to drill down – why do I love this profession? What has kept me plugging away for so many years? 

I recall a post from an ex-employee on Facebook describing his time in recruitment, at a number of agencies as “doing the worst job in the world”. I was genuinely shocked at such an opinion, or moreover such a view of this career and working environment. I loved the job when this person worked alongside me. I remember this employee being in the office and the nature of the job during that period and I had nothing but happy memories from that time. The environment was structured around “positivity breeds positivity”, “success breeds success “, results breeds results and so on – but this was deemed negative to this employee. 

Thinking back on it, perhaps employees with a negative outlook or framework on sales would have a negative view of this environment. 

I, on the other hand loved this approach, my job, and the working environment. 

I have often taken to self-reflection on why I enjoy a career that is so often hated by others. Rejection never bothered me, long hours never bothered me – moreover, rather than bother me, I enjoyed working long hours, I enjoyed staying late to ensure a deal was closed, I enjoyed rejection as it made the success so much sweeter. In essence all the bitter hatred this employee felt were due to elements of the job I relished – perhaps this makes me a psycho – socio – path, I don’t know! What I do know is this was a great time in my career! 

Even when I’d drank a litre of espresso before 10am (probably not good for my Crohn's) and my heart was pounding from multi-tasking and high pressured morning power meeting, I’ve never felt so alive! Of course that’s probably because my brain is pinging out my dopamine receptors and my BPM is 150 but my focus is totally on point and I’m loving life! 

Moreover, when the proverbial hits the fan and you're intensely working out solutions to issues and problems, working from 7am to 11pm, scratching your head, nailing litres of coffee, those were the best days! I don’t know what this tells you about my personality type but sometimes pressure and stress brings out the best in me! 

When Covid “hit” it was all hands on deck for all workers, in all sectors, this was a time when the principles of “lean in” were at their most relevant. Despite many thinking that things would be easier with a Working From Home approach, in the world of recruitment this was far from the case. 

Structure and discipline, coupled with routine and determination were the key drivers to success during this period. I often read how lockdown was a time of reflection and mindfulness for some people. A time when circumstances allowed the hectic pace of modern-day life to slow so the true beauty of life could be enjoyed. Well I agree there is a degree of that, but equally there were the people who used that time to during lockdown to forge their career forward, to learn a martial art, develop a second language, lose weight, to train, to become a weight lifting, cold calling, recruitment machine! 

The main reason I love recruiting, other than the drive, the thrill, the achievement, the money etc, is because I believe my brain is wired that way. I love gambling, I am very controlled, but I love betting, I think my brain is wired for dopamine. Not that recruitment is gambling but there is very much a “win” and “reward” system hardwired into the game. Unlike laying your life savings on Sad Ken running the 3:30, the pay off and reward comes from hours, weeks, sometimes years of hard work. This is why I love recruitment!  

Now, I was neither 1 or the other, but like to feel I balanced somewhere in the middle during that time, but the thing that was cemented in my mind was even during this difficult period, how much I love recruitment! I did err on the side of slamming weights, cold calling power sessions, making protein shakes with triple the amount of recommended but hey that’s just me. 

And you know what else I learnt – I LOVE RECRUITMENT, and those are the reasons why.