Freya B.
About me
| Freya B. | |
| Philosophy | |
| Philosophy | |
| Undergraduate | |
| Vanbrugh | |
| 2014 | |
| United Kingdom |
My employment
| University Recruiting Specialist | |
| Google (Previously) | |
| United Kingdom | |
| HR, recruitment and training | |
| Large business (250+ employees) |
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A day in the life of a University Recruiting Specialist in the United Kingdom
Contractor at Google, working in their Uni Grad recruitment team.
Briefly describe the organisation you work for
I was previously a contractor at Google, working in their Uni Grad recruitment team. Before then, I worked for Teach First, a UK education charity, in their recruitment team, events team and school coordination team.
What do you do?
I am an in-house graduate recruiting specialist
Reflecting upon your past employment and education, what led you to your current career choice?
Whilst at Teach First, I was working in event coordination and administration. Recruitment seemed like a fantastic step up and gave me so much visibility to the organisation. In my recruitment role, I became a line manager. I was also given so much more autonomy and leadership opportunities.
Is your current job sector different from what you thought you would enter when you graduated?
I thought I would join a structured graduate programme. Since I graduated, I've been figuring out my own career progression!
Describe your most memorable day at work
I delivered a presentation at the University of Nottingham to an audience of 200 staff and students. I had a microphone, a room that could fit 500, and a screen the size of four floors! In order to be 'presentation-ready', I had to deliver the presentation to a panel of senior leadership beforehand, so the stakes were high for this event. It was a terrifying experience, but such a rewarding one.
Are there any challenges associated with your job?
Recruitment can be a very challenging role. Targets are high, there can be a lot of pressure during certain periods of the year, the business can change its priorities and you need to quickly re-prioritise your work.
What’s your work environment and culture like?
This has depended on the organisation I've been with. Google was a fantastic organisation to work for - it was casual dress, there was breakfast and lunch in the office, and Friday socials every week. As a contractor, there are some challenges with culture to be aware of, but it was still a great experience to have. At Teach First, they had a flexible working policy; you could flex your hours, work from home, and make sure work fitted around you. It was such a nice aspect of the culture; it was hard to give this up when I moved jobs!
What extracurricular activities did you undertake at university and what transferable skills did you develop through these?
I was on the tennis team and I sung in 2 choirs. I also did an internship at a Higher Education institution - which helped me secure my first role after University.
What would you like to do next with your career?
I have just returned from a career break so I am looking for a permanent role, as opposed to contractor positions. I have several ideas about where I want to take my career next and I'm seeing job hunting as an exciting opportunity to plan out the next step.
What top tips do you have for York students preparing for today’s job market and life after graduation?
Look to gain commercial experience alongside academia, whether through internships or part-time jobs. Attend development workshops that the University makes available to give yourself exposure to other business skills you may want to consider developing e.g. project management / presentation skills.
What topics from students are you happy to answer questions on?
Working in recruitment, contractor v permanent jobs, Google / Teach First, interview preparation, CV/Cover letters, assessment centres
Is there anything else you’d like to tell us?
Having just returned from a career break, I am also job hunting as I'm sure many other graduates are. We are in this together! If you want any support with interview preparations or CV/Cover Letter writing, please don't hesitate to drop me a message.
Next steps...
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