Rewarding recruitment career with challenges in client engagement - Principle recruitment consultant Navartis Employee Review

I’ve worked in recruitment for over 20 years, with the last 8 years spent at Navartis. I joined the business as an International Recruiter specialising in the rail sector, despite having no previous experience in that industry. Over time, and with the support of the in-house training and development, I’ve grown into a well-rounded recruiter with a broad skill set across the industry. Being older than many of the people who work here, I initially wasn’t sure how well I’d fit in. In reality, I settled in straight away because everyone is driven by the same goal — to succeed and make money. One of the best things about Navartis is the variety of people and backgrounds within the business. We have people from all walks of life, which makes the environment both interesting and enjoyable. Since joining the company, I’ve been promoted several times and now work as a Principal Consultant — quite a journey from where I started as a Senior Consultant, just now with a few more grey hairs along the way. A lot of people think recruitment is easy or say things like, “You get paid that much just for sending a CV.” What many don’t realise is how challenging recruitment can be. It comes with constant highs and lows, balancing client expectations, managing candidates, and continuously working to match the right people with the right opportunities. Recruitment is far more than just filling jobs. It requires resilience, listening skills, creativity, problem-solving, and at times you feel more like a psychologist than a recruiter. It’s a true 360 role — from winning business and sourcing candidates through to managing offers, acceptances, and onboarding. Even then, the process doesn’t stop, as we continue supporting both the client and candidate throughout their development and first 12 months in the role. It’s definitely not an easy career, but it is incredibly rewarding.