From Full Time Education to a Full-Time Career in Recruitment - Aneesha Mahmood
Up until around a month ago, I spent the past 4 years studying.
This started off with an undergraduate degree
in Health and Social Care and finished with a master’s degree in International Business and HR Management. During this time, I decided to only work part-time in customer service as I wanted to push myself to achieve good academic grades. I strongly believe that both of my degrees have contributed to my decision to enter the recruitment sector.
In my Health and Social Care degree, I developed my knowledge around communicating with people from all backgrounds, and how to address situations that entailed difficult decisions which may arise as a result of certain backgrounds. This also enabled me to learn about UK law, and policies in organisations around aspects such as the mental health and well-being of individuals. Across the many modules I completed as part of this degree, I particularly enjoyed a module around managing and developing people in organisations. So, I knew that I wanted to continue my studies in this area. This brings me on to my master’s degree. Although this was a very challenging time for me, undertaking a full-time course during the global pandemic, I thoroughly enjoyed learning about the different types of organisations which exist internationally and how strategies can be put in place to increase competitive advantage. Here, I got a real insight into the importance of strategies, such as marketing research, for businesses.
Also, I learnt that the HR function within organisations is a crucial aspect that contributes to success. The two modules which sparked my interest were employment law, and talent development. This is what got me thinking about how I could apply what I’d learned in my future career. After a while, I became a little anxious and worried about how I could find a job that was not only related to my degree but one that I’d be able to enjoy. After completing my studies, I started to undertake research around the career paths I could pursue, which allowed me to utilise my current knowledge and skillset…
This is when I came across a job advert for a role in HR Recruitment. The role seemed like a fantastic opportunity for me to enter the world of HR and expand my knowledge in practice. So, I applied for the role, and the next day received a phone call from Amy Ewens from Nicholas Associates Group. We talked through the role in a little more detail along with my experience, and before I knew it, I had an interview booked in with Jacqui Wall at Ashley Kate HR and Finance. Shortly after this, I was delighted to have been offered the job!
I am now just over a month into my role as a HR Recruitment Resourcer, and I have already learnt so much. The team at Ashley Kate have made me feel so welcome, and I am really enjoying working in this role! There is a great team culture here, and I have been able to work closely with the team of consultants, to complete a variety of tasks. I have already been able to apply my knowledge and experience in these tasks. For example, using social media to put my name and the brand name out there has allowed me to apply my knowledge of marketing. Speaking to candidates every day has enabled me to increase my communication skills, and to learn more about the different roles within HR and the experience candidates need to have for various roles. This has ranged from experience in Employment Law to Learning and Development. I have also been enhancing my knowledge around topics in the workplace which are of interest to me, around Mental Health and Wellbeing, and Equality, Diversity and Inclusion.
If you are in a similar situation to the one I was in and are having a tough time finding a career that relates to your education, or even if you are looking to change careers and try something new, I would strongly recommend looking into recruitment. No day is the same, and it can be challenging! But ultimately, I believe that entering the world of recruitment was one of the best decisions I have made, as I feel a real sense of achievement and satisfaction at work. I am determined to continue to develop in my recruitment career.
