FRANKLIN FITCH'S ACADEMY SUCCESS STORY: ROBYN'S JOURNEY

In August 2021, Robyn, a member of our London US team, enrolled in Franklin Fitch's Academy Program. She has been a part of our intensive training programme, where she has received classroom and on-the-job training from our committed L&D Managers, giving her the tools she needs to get started in the recruitment sector. We spoke with her about her experience in the Academy, her decision to pursue a career in recruitment, and how she's settled into her new role and team at Franklin Fitch.

Introduce yourself, your career journey at Franklin Fitch, your current role and your responsibilities. 

My name is Robyn and I joined Franklin Fitch’s US London team in August 2021. After graduating from university in the spring, it was my dream to relocate to the big city that is London. I’ll be honest and say that recruitment wasn’t a career I had considered before Franklin Fitch reached out to me. I was pretty open in terms of what roles I was considering, I just know I wanted a career that offered unlimited progression, the chance to earn good money and be rewarded for my hard work, and meet new, likeminded people in the city that was soon to become my home. Six months on, I’m really glad I was open to having that initial conversation, as I’m now working in a role that ticks all of those boxes. Since starting here, I have been part of an extensive training programme, where I have been provided with all of the tools, support and expertise to get me up to speed with the world that is recruitment. I work with both clients and candidates in the US market, to either fill their positions or land candidates their dream role. 

Since joining Franklin Fitch what has been one of the biggest challenges you have faced? 

I would say the biggest challenge I have faced would be diving into the unknown. I had moved from a small, seaside town in Wales and jumped feet first into a huge city, living in a house with five other strangers and working in an industry I didn’t have much knowledge of. When starting at Franklin Fitch, I found a great support network. Everyone at Franklin Fitch couldn’t have been more welcoming and supportive, both in terms of work and my personal life. They really went above and beyond, and even offered to help me find somewhere to live prior to my big move. I found having a job that I could really get my teeth stuck into gave me something to focus on, and everything else slowly fell into place. 

What was the training programme like for you at Franklin Fitch? 

The training programme at Franklin Fitch is second to none. You are thrown all of the tools, resources, knowledge and expertise you need to develop the skills to become an excellent Recruitment Consultant; some of the more senior members of staff are testimony to that. You have a dedicated academy manager, Charlotte, who is there to support and guide you throughout the whole process. It is great to know that no question is a silly question. All the staff are so supportive and there is always someone who is happy to help you out when you need it. 

What are your thoughts on being on the programme and why did you choose a career in recruitment at Franklin Fitch? 

I’m really glad I have been offered the opportunity to jump onboard this excellent training programme. It is true that recruitment has a lot of ups and downs, and sometimes it can be tough when you experience knockbacks. However, working closely with your mentors can ensure that you have greater control over those factors, and help you to build resilience, so when you do experience those knockbacks, you can use them as lesson and bounce back quicker every time. The reason I chose a career in recruitment is that I wanted a job that would give me the opportunity to continuously improve and progress. I always used to worry about being stuck in job where I would hit a ceiling of progression; however, this is a job where that would never happen. The great thing about Franklin Fitch is that you never have to wait for a promotion, you are all on your own path and once you hit those targets, you can climb the career ladder. I wanted a job where I would be rewarded for my hard work, and would get out what I put in. I’m more than happy to work hard, stay late, go the extra mile, as long as I am seeing those results. Finally, it was the people for me at Franklin Fitch, the brilliant mentors, managers and friends. Since being here, I have made some really great friends and done some really cool things. 

Any advice you would give to future recruiters? 

My advice would be to take the leap. A lot of people don’t know too much about the recruitment industry, but be open to having that initial conversation and find out a bit more about it before you rule it out. Take advantage of the exceptional training and development opportunity on offer, as they help to build all the skills and confidence you need to be an excellent Recruitment Consultant. Be patient and persistent, show up for yourself every day and you will reap the benefits!