For this month’s blog, we delved into a quick-fire Q&A session - and boy did we learn a lot! We hope you enjoy finding out a little more about what makes the team tick, as well as what goes in to making sure Reset is always focussed on doing things the right way, not the usual way.
What do you enjoy most about working in recruitment?
Sarah Nicholas, Founder:
What I love the most is how diverse the role is. I get to utilise so many different facets of my personality and my skillset on a daily basis! I love working with people- coaching them to smash their interviews and helping them reach their goals. Helping people land their dream job is just the best feeling ever. I love the client contact- building genuine relationships and finding them what they need. You can’t beat seeing a business grow with the perfect team to support them.
What was your first role, and how did it shape your career?
Kimberley Lane, Recruitment Manager:
When I was a teen, I was offered an incredible apprenticeship with American Express. They allowed me to experience so many different roles across multiple departments- one of which was in their Recruitment team. I knew I loved it immediately and that really lit the fire for the rest of my career.
What’s your favourite area to work in?
Sarah Nicholas, Founder:
I love all our sectors for different reasons, but the two closest to my heart are probably Property & Estate Agency and Insurance & Financial Services. The property industry is like recruitment in many ways, so I find myself working with like-minded people in terms of skillsets, background and personality. It just means that things flow nicely, and we have a foundational understanding of each other from the start.
Insurance is an industry I know inside out- it’s where I spent many of my formative years and I just know what the roles entail. That means I can really focus on cultural fit when putting candidates forward for consideration.
What makes your team unique compared to other recruitment teams?
Sarah Nicholas, Founder:
We honestly do things differently. There’s no pressure to hit pointless targets, there’s no strict regime or corporate nonsense. We focus on quality over quantity in every aspect and make sure we have fun at work. I’m a big believer in allowing your team to play to their strengths- bringing people in that complement each other and allowing them to shine. Things get busy, for sure, but we place a lot of importance on enjoying what we do, so stress levels don’t get too high. Mega-stressful environments do not make for great recruitment.
How would you describe the company culture here?
Kimberley Lane, Recruitment Manager:
The first word that springs to mind is definitely “fun”! There’s a lot of laughter and support in the room. We’re encouraged to bring our own personalities and strengths to the table- your role is effectively built around you. There is a solid structure and an expectation that things be done properly or not at all, which just makes everything so much calmer! We come to work as our true selves, do what we enjoy, do it well and support each other in every way.
How do you work together as a team to ensure the best results for clients and candidates?
Sarah Nicholas, Founder:
Communication. We’re always in an open conversation about what’s working for us and what’s not, which results in constant improvement. If we’re finding it tough going in a particular area, we make focussing on it fun with silly competitions and things like that.
We focus on utilising each other’s capabilities and filling each other’s skill gaps- which means our candidates and clients get the very best service possible.
What’s the most important quality you look for in a candidate?
Kimberley Lane, Recruitment Manager:
In terms of skills and experience, this is entirely dependent on the role. There’s a huge amount of focus on learning exactly what the client is looking for in their next hire, so our searches are highly individualised.
In terms of universal qualities, I love to see ambition, a great attitude, a willingness to focus and work hard to reach a goal- and reliability! Reliability is sometimes tricky to come by in recruitment! Ultimately (unless a client has differing ideas) I put people forward that I wouldn’t mind spending 8 hours a day with myself.
How do you build relationships with clients and candidates?
Sarah Nicholas, Founder:
It’s all about rapport. Finding out what’s important to them and why. For candidates, we take the time and speak face to face wherever possible so we can really build a relationship. It’s the same for clients- we really need to immerse ourselves in their culture to understand exactly what’s needed.
There are similar roles are everywhere, but each candidate or hiring manager will be looking for something unique to them. Finding out what that differentiation is is vital.
What do you like to do outside of work?
Kimberley Lane, Recruitment Manager:
Well I have a teenage daughter so we spend a lot of time together- shopping and all the usual stuff! I love walking with my little dog, Joey, and generally getting outdoors.
I’m a keen traveller and always have something in the diary to look forward to- usually somewhere warm and sunny so I can really relax, with the help of some top-notch wine! I love the new experiences travelling gives you- I’m forever on the lookout for new experiences.
What’s one thing your colleagues might not know about you?
Sarah Nicholas, Founder:
Hmmmm, now Kim and I go way back, so this one may be tricky! She might not know that I always wanted to be an actress when I was a kid! I was involved in loads of productions over the years and would have loved to carry on with it all in my professional life.
If you could have any superpower in recruitment, what would it be and why?
Kimberley Lane, Recruitment Manager:
Oooo, good question! I think it would have to be invisibility! So I could get a VERY real idea of company culture or candidate’s lives by being a fly on the wall! The ability to spot a lie may come in handy too…
What’s the best piece of career advice you’ve ever received?
Sarah:
“Go in and prove yourself- make yourself invaluable before you even think about asking for a pay rise. That way, they can’t say no!” Dad.
Kimberley:
“Be reliable above all else – work hard and always go the extra mile wherever you can.” Apprenticeship Coordinator for my role at Amex.
Where do you see the recruitment industry heading in the next five years?
Sarah Nicholas, Founder:
I think everyone will fall back to the “old ways” (which are our current ways). Back to people-focussed recruitment with loads of face-to-face interaction. The Covid era gave us loads of technology and new ways of doing things that were “easier”, but face to face communication just can’t be beaten.
What are you most excited about in the future of your company?
Sarah Nicholas, Founder:
Continuing to work together and evolving what we do for the better. Kim and I worked together for a long time and it’s just great to be back. We work so well- supporting each other and bouncing ideas around. Kim is just full of enthusiasm and it’s contagious- there will be no standing still for Reset.