Profiles of our people

Firas

Name : 

Firas

Job Title : 

Recruitment Consultant

Location : 

London

Joined company : 

Dec - 2010

Studied : 

Law

Introduction

I studied for an LLB Law Degree at the University of Westminster and then went on to complete a Postgraduate Diploma LPC at College of Law. It was only after reading up on the industry that I realised it was perfect for me. After all, I love a challenge and I’ve always had a passion for sales.

SThree was an easy choice of company. A big selling point for me was the training. It’s highly talked about in the industry. Then there was the earning potential and the clear progression path from trainee to directorship. Infact, everything I read and heard about SThree before I joined was so positive that it almost seemed too good to be true.

But once I sat down for my first interview my doubts quickly faded. The selection process was intense. There were hours of interviewing, work samples and presentations. Then we met Senior Consultants, Team Leaders, Managers and Directors. It was daunting, but I understand why they do it. They want the best candidate possible.

My role

I’ve been with the company for nine months now. Getting my first deal was huge. It happened in my fourth week and was all down to hard work and determination. The great thing about SThree is: your hard work is recognised. I’ve been voted by my colleagues as Most Value Person (MVP) three times in a row and I’ve been on three Lunch Clubs and three Breakfast Clubs. But it’s not just about prizes. It’s about the feeling you get when you know you’re one step closer to your goals. It’s about building rapport with clients and candidates, so eventually, they come to you.

Sometimes it can be tough. Like when candidates drop out of interviews or decline an offer. These things happen. You have to learn how to overcome them. The real art is anticipation. As my manager always says, "what is worse than not doing a deal is the surprise of not doing a deal".

My greatest achievement so far is being promoted after five months. Or maybe it was hitting my first car target. To be honest, I feel like I’ve achieved something just by being here. Building a desk in an IT market that hasn’t been done at my brand office for a while gives me an enormous sense of achievement.

Give it your all and the opportunities here are limitless. Every month, my manager and I discuss the areas I can improve on and devise an action plan. The next step for me is promotion to Senior Consultant. Then I’ll start mentoring new trainees and begin building my own team. Speak to me next year and I’ll be in a Team Lead position!

Training

The training is great at SThree. They don’t expect you to pick up the phone and start doing deals from day one. You’re trained on the job and formally with the Learning and Development courses. These don’t end when you get promoted to Consultant – they continue throughout your career.

The induction is very thorough as well. You start your first day with a presentation from your new manager on the history of the company. You know where it came from, where it’s at today and where it’s going in the future. Then you’re given a daily plan and a ‘Recruitment Bible’. These sit on every consultant’s desk. After that you’re partnered with a Senior Consultant who becomes your mentor. From day one you’re taught how to truly do the job and it carries on throughout your career. The learning curve never ends.

Working at SThree

The environment at SThree is all about nurturing success. You get that sense of teamwork from the moment you step in the office. It’s vibrant and there’s a real sense of belonging. Because your targets are mapped out, the hard work and resilience is always rewarded with progression, great commission, team nights out or even holidays to Las Vegas! It’s definitely a work hard, play hard mentality.

It’s a busy and dynamic office. There’s always something going on. When a consultant does a deal, everyone celebrates. I love that. It’s especially exciting towards the last days of a period when all the consultants and managers are looking forward to the all-important end of the period figures.

SThree is a unique place to work because, even though the Group has over 2000 staff, you’re never lost in the crowd. Whenever you do a deal, an email goes out to each individual brand. And whenever you’re on the list for an exciting holiday abroad, everyone knows. The billing league is updated monthly, so your hard work is recognised, respected and rewarded.