There was a time, a few years ago, when raucous nights out and boys’ clubs went hand in hand with a career in IT recruitment. If you weren’t male or prepared to party hard, it probably wasn’t the job for you.
Laura, our Account Manager, remembers those days but has also seen a different side to recruitment – one that she encourages other women to join.
Laura has worked in IT recruitment for over 9 years. She tried to leave the industry once (to sell broken TVs to developing countries, of all things), but the draw of recruitment pulled her back. She was good at her job, understood the industry and wanted back in. However, on her return, her personal situation had changed.
As a single mother, the world of IT recruitment wasn’t an easy one to return to but, fortunately for Laura, there were a couple of agencies – Provide being one – who stood out above the rest with a very different attitude towards gender equality.
In fact, it was a specific call 6 years ago, from an old colleague who now worked at Provide in Milton Keynes, that led to one of the best decisions Laura ever made.
“I’ve always loved working in recruitment. I’m nosey by nature and love hearing about people’s lives. You need to really enjoy talking to people in this job, and to be genuinely interested in their story, which is why I think so many women are perfect for the role,” explained Laura.
“It sounds cliché but in this job you really do change people’s lives, which can make it an incredibly rewarding career,” added Laura. “Don’t get me wrong, it can be tough and you have to know how to pick yourself up and push on after a bad day but if you have good colleagues around you, that’s easy.”
And it’s that support from peers that makes working at Provide so great for Laura.
“I was the first single mum to join Provide but they were so accommodating. They allowed me to work part time and thoroughly supported me when it came to my family commitments. The Directors and my colleagues – who are now great friends – always instinctively know how to help. It feels like being part of a big family at Provide. Everyone here really cares about each other”
It’s all about the people…
“I didn’t come out of school with loads of qualifications but I knew how to communicate with people. My drive and personality has enabled me to excel in this job and earn a great salary, which in turn has allowed me to support my family financially with a nice house, new car, holidays, new clothes, etc. it shows that you don’t have to be an academic to succeed or to find a fulfilling career. If you’re interested in people and work alongside great ones, anything is possible.”