Name: Laura
Job title: Manager
Degree obtained: BA Psychology, University of Durham

Laura joined Marks Sattin as a Trainee Recruitment Consultant in June 2004 after completing the Graduate Management Training programme at Harrods.  She works in the permanent team dealing with Banking & Capital Markets clients and was promoted to Senior Consultant in September 2005 and Manager in September 2006.

As a Psychology graduate I have always had a strong interest in people. Initially I embarked upon the Harrods Retail Executive programme. This fast-tracked me to store management and within 2 years I was running a £17m TO department with 200 staff. However I quickly became frustrated by the bureaucratic and hierarchical nature of the industry and did not feel that I was progressing quickly enough. 

Recruitment is all about people and it seemed the perfect ‘fit’ to combine my sales background with a people focused industry.  So far MS has only exceeded my expectations.  The frustration I felt previously has been replaced by ambition that I can achieve whatever goals I set myself. My desk + my computer = my business. Whilst MS is incredible at providing all the support and training you could need (everyone has time for you), I can decide what clients to target, what markets to tap and carve my own niche in the financial recruitment industry.

I was recruited to join the Banking and Capital markets team and have been challenged from day one. Dealing with The City and highflying professionals it is a huge challenge to become part of their world.  It’s great reading the FT in the morning, learning about new regulations, market changes and take-overs and then targeting the right candidates for these changes.  Cold calling is one of the challenges of the job and there’s nothing better than winning new business and of course, placing the candidate. Whilst one day you can be lunching with Goldman Sachs, making placements and enjoying the success of your fees there will also be disappointments and you have to be prepared to take the highs and the lows.

Within the industry I could not imagine working for another firm.  Professionally we are focused on our candidates and clients, giving an exceptional level of service that rewards you. Personally the team and culture is fantastic: young, driven and a lively atmosphere where you are constantly rewarded as an individual and a company. The high points are the company trips abroad, the uncapped commission and the opportunity to grow my career and potentially set up my own team in the future. Overall recruitment is very much a work hard, play hard culture but it’s rare to find a group of people who you can work along side all day and then go out socialising with afterwards as I have at Marks Sattin. For me, it’s the people that make a company.