My First 12 Months as a Facilities Management Recruiter

Ever wondered what it’s like to be a Facilities Management Recruiter? Just over 12 months ago, Laura joined us as a Recruitment Consultant. Based in our Leeds office, she recruits in our technical division. We’ve posed some questions to give you an insight into the first 12 months as a Facilities Management Recruiter.

So Laura, tell us, what attracted you to work in Facilities Management recruitment?

In all my previous roles there has been a common factor that I’ve enjoyed and that is that I love dealing with people. Especially where I could be offering advice and supportive services. I joined Catch 22 with no prior experience of Facilities Management Recruitment but had good transferable skills that I knew would be a great fit to work in the industry. I wanted a varied role where I would be picking up the phone to people daily and offering a consultative approach in conversations. Being a facilities management recruiter definitely ticked those boxes for me.

What have you found to be your biggest challenge?

Getting prompt responses from candidates or clients. The market moves so quickly at the moment and trying to get commitment and fast responses from either side can be frustrating at times. But I do love a challenge and am motivated to find solutions to any challenge put my way.

How would you describe the team at Catch 22?

We’re a varied team that come from different career backgrounds so everyone has their own experience and skill set to contribute. We’re a mix of big and small personalities also that work well and bounce off each other. In the Leeds office especially, we have a variety of interests and hobbies. We have gamers, foodies, both soul music and heavy metal fans. We love a friendly competition too!

What advice would you give to someone looking to start a career as a Facilities Management Recruiter?

Recruitment is such a varied role that it can build on existing skills but also offers opportunities to push yourself out of your comfort zone. My best advice would be to just get stuck in, the call may feel awkward, but it gets easier with each one made.

What do you love most about your job Laura?

Every day really is varied. There’s no way of knowing what might come onto my desk. The Leeds office is in a great location too! We’re out in the countryside in a nice building so I enjoy coming into the office. Plus I really enjoy the great company from my colleagues too!

What qualities do you think makes a great consultant?

Resilience, attention to detail and drive. For me a great consultant doesn’t need to know everything about recruitment or the roles they’re working on. But they must be able to assess quickly key information and spot opportunities. Also having the drive for results and knowing that sometimes persistence is key to achieving that.

What advice can you share about dealing with setbacks?

I frequently hear that Recruitment is like a rollercoaster, full of ups and downs. When things don’t go to plan it’s easy to be demotivated. However,  the best thing is to take a quick moment, shake it off and just get with the next thing. I believe in just “cracking on and moving forward”.

What are you looking forward to in your next 12 months as a Facilities Management Recruiter?

There is definitely more I can learn about both the Recruitment and Facilities Management industry. I’m looking forward to seeing where my skill set can pushed and up-skill myself even further. This will include continuing to attend networking events, meeting more clients in person and taking part in some of the training opportunities that Catch 22 offers to its employees.

Thanks Laura. It’s great to have you in the team and we wish you continued success in the year ahead.

If you are interested in a career in FM recruitment, we’d love to hear from you! Give our branch a call in either Leeds, London, or Manchester and start your journey today.