From Retail to Recruitment!
After a successful career in retail management, Mark decided to take the plunge and jump ship into the world of recruitment! After several years working his way up the retail ladder, deciding to make the move into a completely new sector was no mean feat for Mark. With years of steadily increasing pay behind him and a sector in which he’d climbed high, this was a big leap.
So, what prompted a family man happily settled in a job he knew well to jump ship and challenge himself in an entirely different industry? We caught up with Technical & Engineering Consultants Mark Everett to find out…
What drew you to Recruitment when you were so high up the retail ladder?
The opportunity for a much better work life balance was a key factor. Spending more time at home when I have a young family is much more appealing than shift work just to earn a bit more. I have also always enjoyed the recruitment side to previous roles I have had in retail so the opportunity to do that full time really appealed to me.
What has the change been like?
The change has been great, of course its been different but I'm a big believer in pushing myself to try new things. Skills are transferrable and I personally couldn’t have asked for a better transition if I’m honest. The training plan here at Prime and the structured way we work has been clear and easy to follow plus there is a great support structure.
What would you say to someone considering starting from scratch in a new field?
Do it, don’t be afraid to try and learn new skills and fields of work. There are many roles that need "certain skills" but you'll be surprised what skills you have in your locker that can be used in roles you haven't ever tired before.
I would say if you feel that an area is lacking you can always try online courses or up skill yourself from home. It's scary trying something new, I will say that but its been the best thing I have ever done.
I think for employers it's important that they also hire for skills that cant be taught such as cultural fit, soft skills like emotional intelligence, adaptability and work ethic, luckily for me Prime looks beyond the basics and now I'm an integral part of the recruitment team.
sooo....
All in all, it just goes to show that you should never underestimate a new starter! Mark had no recruitment agency work prior to this role and no formal training in the practice. And he has taken to it like a duck to water! Making placement after placement and consistently exceeding his targets, he is fast-becoming one of the most successful members of our team. From his example alone, we can safely say that if you consider yourself to have the right personality and work style for recruitment, you should go for it. We’re always open to investing our time in training promising new starters here and clearly it pays off!
