What's your job about?
Hudson is a leading recruitment and talent solutions agency in the Asia Pacific. Hudson is both data and people-driven and is committed to finding the best fit between people and organisations. I specialise in Change Management within the Projects and Transformation team in Brisbane. I work with organisations (predominantly in the resources sector) that are undergoing some sort of business transformation. It could be a new technology being implemented, structural changes, process changes, or many other types of change. It is my priority to know the candidates in the change management space. Daily, I am calling to check in and see what their situations are, catch up with them over coffee (or virtually), or reach out to candidates I haven’t spoken to before. Knowing candidates and their experience, skills, values, and passions is essential to be able to place them in roles they will excel. When clients approach us with a role to fill, it is my responsibility to fully understand what the client is looking for so that I can then find the perfect candidates within my network (my talent pool). Other daily activities include catchups with my manager, checking in with my team, organising interviews and administrative duties, and a LOT of learning! Hudson is well respected within my specialisation, so I feel a responsibility to make sure that I know what I am talking about when I talk to candidates. Researching areas within Change Management is an ongoing thing, and I love that.
What's your background?
I grew up in Northern NSW in a small town near Byron Bay. My dad is very passionate about yachts, so weekends were spent on the water with my parents and younger brother, whether it was sailing, whale watching, or just going to the beach! When I was 14 we spent 5 weeks sailing through a string of islands in Papua New Guinea, delivering school equipment and medical supplies to the villagers. This was a huge experience for me, it was very grounding and gave me a massive appreciation for my life and the opportunities afforded to me. My family are also very tight-knit and very supportive of one another, which I think has played a big part in making me who I am. I studied psychology at university because I thought it would be a great way to help people, which I am very passionate about. But after working in people management for 4 years whilst studying, I was exposed to recruitment and training and realised how crucial it is to hire the right people for the right role. We spend so much of our lives working, so we should enjoy it! When my now-manager reached out to me to see if I would be interested in a career in recruitment, it seemed like the perfect way for me to apply my knowledge, experience, and passions to a career (I’m also very chatty, so it helps that I get to talk to a variety of people every day!).
Could someone with a different background do your job?
Yes! So many of the skills required for recruitment are not specific to industry, experience, or culture. You need to be a good listener, a good communicator, organised, analytical, and willing to learn! I think a common misconception is that you need to be extremely extroverted to work in recruitment. You don’t need to be the loudest person in the room. If you love people, are good at communicating, and are confident in yourself, you can really excel!
What's the coolest thing about your job?
I think the coolest thing is when you build a relationship with a candidate and place them in a role that they really love or really wanted. It’s so rewarding having an impact on people’s lives. It is also such an amazing culture. You are rewarded for hard work, the people you work with are like-minded, and it’s a lot of fun!
What are the limitations of your job?
There are so many positives to working in recruitment, and while the workload can get intense, it’s such a great culture at Hudson that it makes it worth it. I think the biggest hurdle to jump would be the initial stage when you are calling people who don’t know you to build your desk. It can be quite daunting when you start, so if you can’t handle people rejecting you sometimes, or if you don’t like speaking to people you don’t know, this probably isn’t the right job for you. You need to be confident in yourself! In saying that though, my experience has been that people are quite happy to tell you their stories when you are happy to listen.
3 pieces of advice for yourself when you were a student...
Make time for yourself. Don’t fall into the trap of not seeing friends or family because uni is too stressful, life is too short! You won’t remember what your 3000-word essay was on when you were 20, but you will remember the relationships you forged and the good times you had.
Your GPA does not define your ability – experience and exposure are SO important! Get a part-time or casual job in the area you are interested in so that when you finish you have the qualifications as well as some experience. Go to industry events so you can meet people or volunteer at those events!
Step out of your comfort zone whenever the chance arises – it's character building! It is a great way to build your confidence and help you grow