Tell us a little about yourself:
I grew up in Sussex, then moved to Shropshire for university, where I studied at Harper Adams, before moving to the south coast in Hampshire. I’ve always loved animals, from learning to ride horses as a 4-year-old and having cats and dogs at home.
I knew I wanted a career with animals, with my first ambition being to become an Equine Vet. Studying Animal Management at college opened my eyes to farming and agriculture, and encouraged me to study Animal Science & Agriculture. Nowadays, outside of work, you will find me at my happiest spending time on my dad’s farm in the Welsh Borders or playing rugby in the mud!
Where did your career start, and how did it evolve to where you are now?
During my time at Harper Adams, I secured a Poultry Scholarship, which enabled me to spend a placement year in the poultry industry, and I continued working in the industry for 4 years after graduating. I held several technical roles with poultry hatcheries, which gave me a real interest in the poultry industry and also the wider agricultural sector.
After 4 years in poultry, I moved out of the Agriculture sector and into recruitment, which taught me the importance of building long-lasting, meaningful relationships. This brings me to the present day, where I have managed to combine my passion for agriculture and a career in recruitment at Noble Futures. I’m really excited to be in a position to make a real difference to the industry I am so passionate about and to the people who work within it.
What do you enjoy about recruitment?
What I love about recruitment is the interactions that you get to have with people. You get to have a real impact on people’s lives and careers, which can be so rewarding. Each role is different, and each hiring manager has specific requirements, and finding the right person to meet them is so fulfilling.
What do you enjoy about working in the animal-related industries?
I just love animals, so being able to work in the industry makes every day so interesting. Whilst my initial love was horses and my pets at home, farming and agriculture quickly became my passion. Working in this industry makes me feel like I am making a difference to the industry that puts food on everyone’s table every day.
What do you look for in a candidate?
What I look for in a candidate is someone with passion and enthusiasm for what they do. Technical skills are important, but to an extent can be taught; soft skills, personality and cultural fit are harder to find. The best candidates are those who are willing to learn, want to progress and have the real fire to succeed and progress in their career.
What is the one thing you think every CV should have?
Tangible outcomes. Many CVs read like a job description, listing job responsibilities. What sets a CV apart is that it shows what you did, how you did it, the outcome, and the impact of the results. I always tell candidates, where possible, to share the numbers, whether that is £s saved, % increase in sales, number of new accounts, etc. Hiring managers will scan your CV, so have things on there that will make you stand out.
What is your top career advice?
Be bold, brave and open to change… the perfect time to make a career change rarely exists, but if you have been thinking about it, go and explore the opportunities available to you. If you aren’t sure where to look first, speaking to a recruiter in your industry can be a great place to start.
We will be able to give you an insight into the market, the types of roles available to you and help position you in the best possible way to make you stand out from other candidates.