We know how it feels. You don’t know what career you want to choose but your parents keep adding pressure? They’re trying to help but your heart’s set on a different direction. Sometimes you just need to say ‘sorry Dad, accountancy isn’t for me!‘ You’re not alone, this short tale will help.

Giles Bennetts, 2015 Nottingham 1st Class Graduate

So there I was, approaching my finals, with one eye on my exams and the other eye on a ski season, when my housemates started securing their graduate placements. Reality struck. They were heading towards a good salary and the next exciting chapter of their lives, and I was in danger of being left behind.

The trouble was that I was far clearer on what I didn’t want to do with my life than I was on what I did want to do – my two summer internships in accountancy had at least taught me that much (sorry Dad).

Sticking to My Guns

You know the drill. Every parent secretly dreams of their child becoming an accountant, or a lawyer, or some other well-known profession that sounds impressive to their friends. However these industries didn’t excite me, I wanted to find a career that was fast paced and dynamic, where I could progress quickly and where I was in control of my earning potential.

Finding ‘The One’

After weeks of looking through job adverts and researching my options, I kept coming back to recruitment. I’ll be honest, the potential salary on offer was a head-turner (around £40k in my first year, rising steeply if I was successful), but it was more than that. I guess the job requirements really resonated with me. They were looking for someone who loves working with people, who likes having clear goals and being instantly recognised and rewarded for meeting those goals.

Professional and Challenging

One thing that really struck me about the recruitment industry was that it’s very professional, and very competitive. There’s lots on offer – excellent training, fast-track career progression, plus exposure to senior management and strategy within FTSE 100 businesses. I quickly realised that it wasn’t going to be for the faint-hearted, but if I put in the hard graft it could be highly rewarding.

Being Choosy

To help navigate the industry, I worked with a specialist recruitment consultant from RULE Recruitment, who helped me identify the best companies in the market and prepare me for the interviews. It can be a difficult industry to get into as they only consider the most ambitious and motivated candidates. I had to go through three rounds of interviews, including a presentation and role play exercise, which I found challenging and exciting. In the end I was offered three roles, and I chose a smaller, privately owned firm – a professional company with a good training programme and great offices in the City of London.

My First Three Months

Now I am a fully-fledged member of the rat race, enjoying living and working in the capital. I have my own sector recruiting internal auditors, and in my first three months I’ve earned a great bonus, and I’m on target for a promotion in February.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s hard work. I’m often working 12 hour days, and some days can be incredibly frustrating when things don’t go my way. I have to be resilient and determined, but I have a great team around me, and we definitely know how to work hard and play harder!

If you’re chomping at the bit to get into recruitment, have a look at our latest vacancies – we’re sure there’s something to whet your appetite!