I Got Hired: Recruitment Consultant at Nolan Recruitment

Posted on: 28 November 2023 by Richard Finch in Graduate stories

Olivia Cook is a Class of 2022 BA Geography graduate, now working as a Recruitment Consultant at Nolan Recruitment.

I had some friends I knew in the industry who put me in contact with my current employer. As I was unsure of where I wanted to go with my career, I thought I would give it a go and I definitely made the right decision!

I started with the first couple of weeks training and learning about the business and what recruitment actually is about. I picked it up really quickly and have already got my first promotion, I started as a resourcing consultant and moved up to a recruitment consultant where I have more responsibilities. Being with a company that actually supports you and wants you to progress is very important which is one of the reasons I really enjoy my job role and company.

It's really exciting, being in a new industry, you have to be open and ready to learn and observe everything you can.

The most challenging aspect of life after graduation was definitely the pressure of getting a job. It is quite a scary time that I don't feel like people talk about enough.

You are relieved to have finished your degree and want to enjoy your summer after a hard-final year at university but the number of applications and rejections you get before being successful with a job can really take its toll on your confidence.

Don't give up, keep applying to roles, something will come up eventually. Just stay open to different opportunities.

One thing I learned as a recruiter that I didn't know about during university is to put your CV on Job Boards such as CV Library and Totaljobs (there are many more) as recruiters look on job boards to find people that are relevant for positions they have live. Often, they will give you a call to discuss a job role with you and see if you might be interested.

It was definitely my personality and enthusiasm that got me the role, so when talking to anyone about a job, the way you come across whether it is in person or over the phone is very important.