Avoid the 7 year itch…
In a world where people jump from job to job and businesses struggle to keep hold of key talent, we talk to Calibre’s Associate Director John Cassidy, about what’s kept him at Calibre as he celebrates 7 years in the business.
How did you get into recruitment?
I didn’t go to university, which made it a challenge to get my foot in the door of the recruitment industry. When I left school I started as an administrator for a big recruitment agency in Leeds and then went to work in administration for a car dealership. But I’d caught the recruitment bug. I’d seen the business in practice and knew that hard work could literally pay off.
Most agencies were just looking for grads, but Calibre saw passed this. They could see I was ambitious and willing to put the work in, and they gave me a chance.
What support did you get?
Calibre don’t just leave you to sink or swim, which I know can happen in some agencies. They broke down the business into sizeable chunks and offered training and support all the way through. They helped me gain the skills I needed to run my own desk and then eventually run my own team. I’m now building that team, with four of us so far, and hopefully six by Q1 next year. There’s a really clear promotion path and you always know where you stand.
What do you enjoy about working at Calibre?
They’re a good bunch of people. Everyone gets on, no sniping, or politics. It’s not your typical recruitment agency with high pressure and no mistakes allowed. You get lots of support. There’s a good social aspect too with nights out, incentives and the Christmas and summer do.
I was one of the first employees outside of the leadership team, so it’s always felt like a really personable company. As we’ve grown, the directors have managed to get the balance right between being friends and leaders. They don’t leave anyone in the lurch, they’ll try and help them and identify why things aren’t quite right.
We don’t have a high turnover of staff and the directors really care about the people they employ. In lots of companies, you’d never be able to challenge a director, but here, they listen to you and take your opinions on board. It’s great to feel comfortable to voice your opinions.
How have Calibre kept you here?
There are places to go at Calibre. I’ve never hit a ceiling. Every time I’ve hit a target, I can ask what’s next and there’s a clear path showing me what I need to do to get there. There are no limits, no blockers. Plus the fact that there’s a good atmosphere in the office every day.
What’s been the highlight of your seven years with them?
Lots – the money you can earn by working hard is a good thing. Coming to the office and it being a nice place to work - I’ve never clock watched. The basic fact that it’s a great environment is a massive highlight I don’t take for granted.
What would you tell someone thinking about working in recruitment?
You need to have a good work ethic. You can teach recruitment and how to run a desk, but you can’t teach people to work hard. If you’re willing to work hard, that’s half the battle.
Be wary about which company you go to. Lots of companies take people on and chew them out again. It can give recruitment a bad name and can damage your confidence. Do your research and look for a company that has the right values and gives you the support and training you need.
