Company and Job title:
Euro London Appointments, Recuitment Consultant

Sector:
Business

Background:
Degree in French and Russian from the University of Exeter

Language skills:
French and Russian

How would you describe your job?
I find people for jobs and find jobs for people so it’s very fast paced and varied. You get given responsibility early on so have a lot of control over what you do.

How do your language skills help you do your job?
Working at a multilingual recruitment consultancy means I use my languages all the time, whether it’s testing someone’s language skills for a job or speaking to our clients in their own language. My languages have also given me a good cultural knowledge, which helps me to understand the different approaches people take.

What do enjoy most about your job?
I get to speak to a lot of different types of people from all over the world, who have some really interesting stories to tell. I also have responsibility to run my own desk – it’s almost like having your own business!

What other skills and qualities do you need?
You have to be able to talk to anyone so good communication skills are important in recruitment. You also have to be quite tenacious and have lots of energy and enthusiasm for the job. It’s all about winning by going the extra mile!

What's a typical day for you?
I get into work at around 8.30 and go through emails to see if there’s anything that requires urgent attention – new jobs, arranging interviews etc. The day is then spent talking to companies to get new jobs and discuss their requirements and also sourcing candidates for those roles – whether it’s looking at CVs or interviewing people. In between there is also a bit of admin, e.g. writing job adverts.

What's the best thing about knowing another language?
It opens up another world. Some people argue that English is the lingua franca but I strongly believe that speaking to people in their own language makes a big difference – it really allows you to relate to someone a lot better.

How do you use your languages socially?
I have a French girlfriend so am always using my French skills with her. I also use my Russian to keep in touch with friends in Russia who I met during my year abroad there.