In today's people behind the brand, the series where you get to know the Orbis team, we sat down with Grace Inwood, Associate Consultant.
We chatted all about recruitment, the Orbis Academy, Grace’s background in psychology and her first placement.
Let’s jump in.
Tell us about your journey to recruitment?
After I left university I had absolutely no clue what I wanted to do career-wise.
I considered my options, like pursuing an MSc in Clinical Psychology or going into Market Research. But, my academic experience meant I knew I needed a job where my hard work would equate to good money - just like my hard work at uni equated to good grades.
I really thrive and feel most motivated in this kind of competitive environment. So, after researching potential grad jobs and reading up about recruitment, I had a gut feeling it was the career for me. Then, I heard Orbis were hiring for an Academy where I’d join and be trained alongside other people in my position.
I thought this would be the perfect way to kickstart my career in recruitment so I applied, and 10 months later I’m still so glad I did!
What's the best part of the job?
The best part of the job has to be working alongside an amazing group of people.
Orbis hires the best kind of people (if I do say so myself haha) and it really shows. I feel very lucky to have met colleagues that are now not just colleagues but my friends!
What's the biggest challenge?
The biggest challenge for me has to be the fact that to a certain extent, a lot of the recruitment process isn’t in your control. This means you’ll often have unexpected outcomes and this can be very frustrating!
What is something that you wish you'd known at the start of your career?
IT’S NOT A RACE!
I can’t stress enough to people that are new to the academy that your first 6 months in recruitment isn’t a race. Who makes the first placement, or how many, and how quickly, seemed so important when I first started. But, looking back, I wish I'd realised the most important thing is to get all the basics right - get the basics right and the placements will come eventually!
You have graduated from the Orbis Academy, what has been the biggest challenge you’ve had to overcome?
The biggest challenge has probably been working on my confidence. I was the last person in my academy to make a placement, and I thought this was a reflection of my ability as a recruiter.
But, the placements have started to come, and I've also realised that how much you bill in your first 6 months in recruitment doesn’t determine your entire career.
You have a background in psychology, tell us a bit more about that. Do you think these skills transfer into your approach to work?
Psychology is all about why humans behave the way they do. So, this has definitely helped me as a recruiter!
For example, it’s a known Psychology fact that people generally like people who like them (reciprocal liking) - so, showing a keen interest and liking to your candidate will give you a much better chance of them liking you back, which can only make our lives easier. So, yes, I do think these skills transfer into work.
If you had to pick one highlight from your time at Orbis it would be…
Making my first placement!
In another life, what do you think you'd be doing?
I love Psychology and I’m a huge mental health advocate, so I think in another life I’d have done an MSc in Clinical Psychology and have ended up being a therapist.
