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 Describe your background and how you got into ITI never really embraced IT at school, it all seamed so complicated. And after doing a Catering Management degree, I found my natural career fit in the recruitment industry. I was always a strong sales person who consistently achieved targets and IT was simply something that supported me in my job to achieve those targets and something I used at home for social networking. It wasn’t until I launched my own recruitment company in 2004, HR Connexions, that IT started to take a bigger priority. I was fascinated with recruitment systems and my thirst for knowledge in how to use the internet to for recruitment was insatiable.
I had developed a deep understanding of SEO techniques and internet job boards and after 12 months, my recruitment company started to offer clients a flat fee recruitment service. Back then, the applicant and client processes were very cumbersome and very little of it joined up. Knowing that technology could help make efficiencies, and having experimented with various off the shelf solutions, we found that there was nothing that matched what we were looking for.
When you work for yourself, there isn’t an IT department to call on when things need doing. So, as well as building the website, driving social media & developing the sales CRM, I also found myself integral to the design of a recruitment system and key to project managing the development of an amazing piece of E-Recruitment software.
What do I like best about working in IT?As an outgoing, ebullient type of person, I never saw myself as a stereo-typical “fit” to IT. However, I think that the amazing speed of developments within this sector have really opened it up to a whole new type of personnel. This in turn has meant that creativity, drive, competition and passion are prevalent in a sector that has had a reputation for being dull and “geekie”. Because of this, I love the fact that anything is possible and you are only limited by your own imagination.
What have been the highlights of your career so far?The delivery of total customer satisfaction, repeat business, testimonials and referrals all contribute to one constant highlight. To hear that customers just love your system (without prompts) or repeat bookings for training on web 2.0 recruitment techniques just keeps putting a smile on my face.
What are your Tips for Success?I am a firm believer that any one can do anything if they set their mind to it. However you gauge success, I believe that durability and tenacity play a vital part. To keep doing the same thing over and over again is hard work and sometimes feels impossible. Listening is also very important and a skill that not many of us have. I come across HR teams all the time, being forced to use software that their IT department has developed. It clearly doesn’t suit their needs, makes processes less efficient and because of the costs involved almost impossible to change. Listen, think and challenge.
Can you share a few words of wisdom for those people who are thinking about pursing a career in IT?
IT can be a very creative, sexy and exciting industry. There are so many channels to specialise in, you can now choose something that lights your fire and will give you a huge sense of satisfaction. You don’t have to be a programmer to have a career in IT. IT is the back bone to the future, whether you are involved in Strategy, Software Design, Operations, Marketing, Project Management, Sales, Finance or Recruitment – IT is essential to the survival of many businesses. I believe that this will only progress and develop further into the 21st century.
Tell us about your life outside workAs I spend most days in an office, I try to be outside as much as possible. If I have any spare time, I always look at the sky and make a decision from there. I love gardening – I am an obsessive “grow your own” nut case. I love cooking for friends and inventing dishes (usually with the strange vegetables I like to grow). I spend a lot of time walking the dog as he needs a lot of exercise and there is nothing better than exploring the countryside with him and getting lost. When I have more time, I like to improve my oil painting, horse riding, diving and skiing skills.
How important do you think your education or background has been in influencing your career choices?I would say not at all directly, I never set out to be in IT. However, my Catering Management degree gave me the opportunity to work as a Recruitment Consultant in Catering. This then lead to a more specialised Recruitment role, which in turn has lead me to set up my own company, see a gap in the market and subsequently allowed me to adapt & improve my skills to succeed in a market that did not exist 5 years ago.
Do you think enough is currently being done to counter balance what has become an obvious lack of women in technology?No, it is still a male orientated industry. However, I feel that we are entering a true technological revolution, where IT is touching everyone, even your grandma. As IT gets further embedded into our society, workplace and education, I think that more women will start to gravitate towards this exciting industry. After all, isn’t the iPhone really designed for a woman?
If you could give young women looking for a position in the IT market place a single piece of advice what would it be?Be persistent in promoting yourself! Make sure you have a great CV, online presence, portfolio of work, references & polished interview skills etc. Drive, durability and determination can conquer everything else!
To read more about Lis' company please go to: www.hrconnexions.co.uk
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