Annie has just celebrated her fifth year working at OSA, so to mark the occasion she is answering five questions about what being part of the team means to her.
What inspired you to pursue a career in recruitment? I’d be lying if I said that working in recruitment has always been my plan. Initially it was the reputation of OSA as a business and the people involved in it that made me want to join when I started as an Administrator. The staff retention here is unbelievable so I knew they must be doing something right! I always think it’s quite difficult to know from a few interviews whether you are making the right decision about something so important, but this always felt like a good idea. Seeing the work that my consultant colleagues were doing and understanding more about the business made me want to explore this aspect. It’s a very encouraging environment, so when I realised that I wanted to become a consultant I simply asked if I could change roles.
What do you find the most interesting part of your role? I think that people often overlook the complexities involved in recruitment. Some candidates who I meet have literally taken years to get to a point where they are sat discussing their career with me, it’s a huge first step for them, whilst for others it’s an easy decision that they made earlier that day. It’s this motivation that I find to be the most interesting and important part of my role, as it shapes the way I work with that candidate entirely.
What has surprised you about your role? At the risk of painting myself as some sort of hermit, I quite enjoy my own company, so I’m always surprised by how energised I feel from meeting new people constantly. Building relationship is definitely one of my favourite aspects of the role, and I’ve now been here long enough that I have some returning candidates as well as a lot of clients that I have got to know really well.
What’s different about working at OSA? I’ve never worked for a company before that is so collaborative. From day one your opinion matters and is asked for. I love that the OSA team get to have input on everything from the business strategy of the company to what pot plants we have in the meeting rooms (plastic or they die). The investment and engagement that this inspires in everyone that works here is amazing.
What’s next in your role? We all undertook an introductory coaching course last year and I found it fascinating. Most people can listen, but to use words so sparingly and in such a way that they unlock a self-awareness and realisation in others is really inspiring. I am looking to pursue coaching further over the next 12 months and hope that this will strengthen the service that I can provide.
