In March 2020 I left my college to embark on my spring break, yet little did I know that due to the upcoming pandemic, I would never end up returning.

Like many others, the rest of my bachelor’s degree ended up being fully remote and as a result, most of the jobs that I had applied for were on pause. Eventually, I started interviewing with a few companies, yet when I applied to Stanton House, it really stood out by a mile.

I was a psychology major with a minor in sociology and it was safe to say that I did not have cybersecurity experience, but I did have people experience.

What made Stanton House stand out from other recruitment agencies that I had applied to? Well, that is simple. I felt like the people I met at Stanton House truly cared about my development and would challenge me to be the best I can be every day. When I got an offer from Stanton House, it was an absolute no-brainer, and I accepted then and there. Their mission, their people, and being the 5th hire (1st US hire on cyber too) was very enticing as I wanted to be a part of building something great.

Say ‘YES’ to everything

When I first joined, I did not have a strong sense of what the job would look like. I really tried to hit the ground running, saying YES to everything and as result, I found I was developing my skills quickly. As the wider team grew, I adopted more of a team lead role and have taken that position and learned to just roll with it. The doors to management and leadership opportunities were opened to me as the next step in my career, and the opportunities to continue to learn and adapt to this world have been immense. I can safely say it was the best choice of my professional career, and I have never looked back.  

I can definitely say that my skills have grown exponentially since joining Stanton House. I think this has largely been due to the nurturing yet stretching environment that is created in the office. I felt like wins were highly celebrated and losses were turned into learns so that I was also moving forward. I also feel like my manager, Henry knew exactly the type of leadership I thrived best under (autonomy!) and gave me the space to come to him but let me do what I thought was best and make the mistakes I needed to make to learn.

Embrace your creative side

One thing I really like is the creativity you can showcase at Stanton House. If you have a project idea, you can take the lead on it and just run with it. As a result, we have implemented lots of different programs such as: introducing a CSR committee, organizing monthly workout classes, setting up a Women in Business Forum, and introducing Financial Wellness classes. All of which, only enhance the already stellar culture that we have! 

What do you find most rewarding about your current role?

As a client-facing consultant, I love the relationships that I build. Small things like knowing someone’s favorite Holiday, dog’s name, or favorite place to ski, are all aspects that I love to know and help aid in a great relationship. Seeing the trust that clients show in us, and our recruiting capabilities makes me very proud of the team – the feedback that we get is glowing and I take great pride in providing a seamless experience.

I also take great pride in the team's growth – being the first hire on the cyber team, it has been amazing seeing the team grow both individually and as a group. Each person has such strong capabilities and as much as I teach them, I also learn from them every day. The shared knowledge is palpable and the support we give is inspiring.

What makes Stanton House different?

As I reflect on my experience at Stanton House, I have to say that we genuinely do have one of the best working cultures I’ve ever experienced both inside and outside the office. Everyone works incredibly hard and celebrates success with genuine enthusiasm. I also really appreciate the fact that leadership is so open to new ideas or new ways of working. Not only do they listen, but they also action ideas we are passionate about and give us ownership and support to execute specific projects. The office culture and the friendships that we have with each other both in and outside of the office are very meaningful and help us be a high-performing and open team.

What top tips would you give to anyone wanting to accelerate their career in recruitment?

• Ask questions! I still ask for advice on different ways of executing things to continue to learn
• Jump into things – I always found it was best to jump into the field with both feet. That level of fearlessness and confidence pays off.
• Challenge the status quo – think you have a better/faster way of doing things? Speak up about it! Everything is adjustable in the field of recruitment.

Looking back at my journey it's weird to think that I started with zero experience and knew nothing about recruitment or cybersecurity to then leading a team, launching internal initiatives, and being the 2nd highest biller in the company. This makes me realize, that with the right mindset, you really can achieve anything. 

To start your journey with us and to find out about the current opportunities we have available please contact Meg Appleby, at meg.appleby@stantonhouse.com, or +44 779 590 9781.