Recruitment Consultant at Quantica, Alison Clarke, spills the beans on her career to date.
All the previous career profiles can also be seen in the special How Did I Get Here?page.
Current job title
Recruitment Consultant – A specialist in HR appointments
Describe your initial training within the profession
I joined the recruitment industry having already qualified as a HR practitioner – CIPD (or the IPM as it was back then). I went through a great deal of training whilst in HR. I Started life in the recruitment industry with a high street agency who had an excellent continuous training program.
What positions have you held?
HR Manager, Recruitment Consultant, Branch Manager (Recruitment), Business Manager – HR Search & Selection, Head of Interim Executive Selection, Recruitment Consultant – HR Search & Selection
Is there a significant event you can tell us about which had an impact on your career?
Not really a specific event but I realized that I had found my ‘career home’ once I experienced combining my HR Management skills with Search & Selection and was therefore able to offer a truly informed and dedicated service to HR Professionals
What has been your greatest achievement?
Combining my recent return to full time work with being a new mum! Fortunately I work for a business that fully supports and understands the importance of work life balance.
Which of your colleagues played the biggest role in you getting where you are today?
No one particular colleague but I have been lucky enough to worked for some very talented managers who have inspired me.
What advice would you give to someone thinking of entering the profession?
Be prepared to work hard and never cut corners. Always treat candidates and clients with equal amounts of respect. Have an open mind and an enthusiastic interest in the business world. Understand the importance of good communication and teamwork.
Previous How Did I Get Here? features:
Susan Stevens, Toshiba Information Systems
Irene Burwin, HMG Paint
Trevor Lakin, IPPM
Alison Clarke, Quantica
Laurence Collins, Ceridian HR Consulting
Paul Kearns, PWL
Fiona Knight, KPMG
Adrian Glynn, Wilkins Kennedy
Joanne Darling, Cooper Parry
Sue Matthews, Coventry City Council
Nichola Nair, European HR Strategic Programmes Manager for Xerox
Alison Lewis, Corporate Learning & Development Manager, Oxfam
Jessica Diggins, HR Manager, Chartered Management Institute
Linda Klassen-Brown, Group HR Manager, The Logic Group
Keith Hanlon, HR Manager, Quantum Business Media
Andrew Mayo, frequent speaker and writer on HR issues
Jim Brooks, HR Manager for ServiRail Ltd
Jean-Bertrand de Lartigue, Chairman of HR2all
Karen Caddick, Head of HR, Channel Five
Madeleine Tate
Keith Luxon, HR Policy and Reward Director, The Laurel Pub Company
Jeremy Thorn, Chairman and Director of QED Consulting
Roger Pattison, HR – Training & Management Development Consultant
Verity McVarish, HR Manager for Sift Media
Rus Slater
David Kelly, Head of Development and Training for Aventis
Jenny Kevan, UK HR Manager for Abbott Laboratories
William Martin, HR Manager, Telewest Broadband
Craig Truter, HR Manager, The Body Shop
Martin Stockton, HR Transformation Leader, Towers Perrin
Nick Heap, Consultant, New Directions
Crispin Garden-Webster, HR Specialist, Asian Development Bank
Sandra Walsh, HR Delivers
Carole Leslie, Director, IT Learning Ltd
Shaun Dunphy, Project and Process Manager, EMEA HR Service Centre for MCI
Debra Artlett, HR Officer, NGJ
Dianne Miles, HR Manager, Rollalong Ltd
Jacqui Mann, HR Manager, Integra NeuroSciences
Isabella Montgomery, Human Resources Officer at The new Housing Association
Iain Young, Head of HR for Cofathec Heatsave
Have you got any useful insights or cautionary tales regarding your career? If you would like to contribute to the ‘How Did I Get Here’ feature please email our employment correspondent: Dawn-Marie Dart
Career resources
