My 10 Year Journey With Servisource Recruitment

Most people don’t set out to become recruiters. Anyone in recruitment will tell you that somehow, we just happen to ‘fall’ into the profession.  I know I sure did, when growing up I always wanted to be a Vet 😊

From The Start!!

I started off working for a recruitment company temping in various roles as a secretary within hospitals, clinics etc.   I was then taken on as a Recruitment Consultant for the company. I didn’t know what to expect, could I handle the stress and pressure that came with my new career?  The role was fast paced with people moving from one role to another, clients ringing in needing candidates immediately.  Candidates also ringing at the last minute, telling me they couldn’t go to work and letting my client and I down at the last minute.  This by no means was an easy job, but strangely I was enjoying it.

I left this role after 2 years feeling the need to explore new avenues.  I moved into Retail and then onto becoming a Travel Agent.  I knew at this point that I enjoyed helping people with their dreams and sales was something that came naturally to me.  Our company was bought over, which led to new management, new rules and new everything.  All of a sudden, the job wasn’t enjoyable any longer. It was all about targets not people.  So I left…………

The Interview!!

I saw an advertisement in the paper the following day-the position of a Recruitment Consultant in Dundalk. I thought, this is it, I need to go back and give recruitment another go.  I applied for the job, got an interview a few days later.  The interview was an experience I will never forget.  You know when you are asked at an interview, ‘Where would you like to see yourself in 5 years time?’, my response was, ‘do you want to hear what I should say or the truth’.  Both managers seemed intrigued, so of course they asked for me to tell the truth. I began telling my story of how I want to be running, owning and managing my own dog and cat rescue centre.  Not the best of answers to give what could be your future employer.   I cringed thinking to myself what have I just done and there goes that idea of being part of this company.  To my own disbelief, later that evening I received a call to say I was successful and could start on Monday.  I was delighted, that’s where it all began. What I didn’t realise, was this would be my 10 year journey with Servisource Recruitment.

My New Venture Began!!

My new role was a Recruitment Consultant for the Healthcare Division. When I say I didn’t really know anything about Healthcare and the roles within it, this was an understatement.  I had to study all the terminology as basic as what a RGN, DON were to what a Peg feed was, but I was adamant that I wasn’t going to let this beat me.  After a few weeks, I soon settled in getting to know the terminology, chatting to the clients, placing my candidates, I knew from then that this is it, this is what I want to do.  I eventually found a role and a company I was happy in.

Our team back then was a lot smaller, it consisted of two people running the healthcare division, along with our Manager, 3 staff in payroll and HR, an office manager, 1 person in marketing, 4 in construction and our Managing Director.  We may have been a small team but we were a very happy and energetic team with passion and a true family feel.

Two years later the company was thriving, I had assisted my manager in setting up offices based in Cork, Galway and Dublin.  We had new divisions one of which I started for Catering and Domestic in hospitals.  New people were joining our team, I was promoted to Team Leader and the company was growing fast.  We developed the healthcare division so much that at this stage it was taking over other divisions thick and fast.

My clients and candidates were like friends to me and my colleagues were like family.  Servisource Recruitment always put people and their service first before profit which was one of our main reasons for becoming the successful company that we are today.

Opportunities were endless!!

In 2011, Servisource wanted to expand the company into Northern Ireland so I was given the opportunity to become Regional Manager in Belfast, this was an exciting and fresh challenge for me and I loved my new role.  We were getting jobs in for nurses across Northern Ireland and the UK. In 2012 I was selected as a finalist with the NRF (National Recruitment Federation) Awards for Top Recruiter in Ireland.  I felt a massive sense of pride and had my team and company behind me, supporting me all the way.   I remained as Manager in Northern Ireland for 2 years, but I felt that my time had come to try a new area within Servisource, as I had given the past 5-6 years to Healthcare.  In our Head Office back in Dundalk an opportunity arose for me to work as a Business Development Manager for the Temporary Division Team. This gave me the opportunity to throw myself into a new area and gave me the desired challenge I was seeking.

I began from scratch, getting to know the industry, the clients and the candidates.  Servisource always gave me plenty of training and support to aid me achieve success in my new division.   The division expanded and I got to know my candidates and clients needs and requirements.  When managing my own desk in the temporary division I identified a gap in the market for a permanent division desk within Supply Chain Management and one for Clerical.  I put a proposal forward to my CEO which he welcomed and encouraged me to pursue the opportunity.

Where I am now!!

To date my new role is Senior Consultant for the Permanent Division and I am loving it.  I oversee the recruitment needs for all my clients across Supply Chain Management and Clerical throughout Ireland.  Servisource has always been good that way, if you have a dream, passion or an innovative idea, they back you 100% to pursue it. They are true believers in giving you the best opportunity to develop internally and support you with training and marketing requirements in order for everyone to you achieve their goals.

Team Spirit!!

Our company today, still has some of its original staff from when I first started. Servisource now have offices nationwide and over 40 staff in our Dundalk Head Office.  What a difference this was to when I first started out.  Servisource has been a great support to me both personally and professionally.  This is the place where I grew up, made friends for life and have a massive Servisource family of support around me each day.  What I love most and the reason why I am here 10 years is down to the people that I work with.  There are days that you don’t be in the mood for chat or have issues at home and other stresses in your life. When you walk through those doors, you always have people that genuinely care for you and want to support you, a true, unique team spirit.

When starting on the beginning of my career journey, I always thought it was about how much money I could make or would I have to work over time or weekends.  As important as these factors are that everyone has to consider, I believe it is more important that you are happy in your work environment and have a great team behind you backing you all the way.  I have been very lucky to have that throughout my journey 😊

Servisource has taught me so much in my years here, to believe in and follow your dreams.  I have thoroughly enjoyed the highs and lows of working here this past 10 years and I hope to have another further 10 years to come with you all, what that may bring no one knows 😲

See here video of me describing my role with Servisource: https://servisource.wpengine.com/team-view/lisa-russell/ 

by Lisa Russell – Supply Chain Management Consultant