A day in the life of Helen Stacey at Aspire Jobs

Tell us about yourself

 My name is Helen, and I am an experienced Recruiter and businesswoman who owns and runs Aspire Jobs Recruitment Agency based in Ringwood in the beautiful New Forest. I specialise in supplying permanent and interim staff to companies across Dorset and Hampshire and have over 31 years recruitment industry experience.

How do you start your day?

I’m a morning person so 3 times a week you can find me at the Gym at around 6.15am. One day a week I also have PT with a lady locally to me. This has obviously been done via Zoom since lockdown. I then head home, get showered and ready for work and am normally in the office by 8.30am ish.

What’s your favourite part of your job?

I love the fact that no 2 days are the same in recruitment. You can have the best and the worst day all in the same day!

I love dealing with clients and the bit I have missed the most during 2020 has been going out to see clients face to face and face to face networking within the local business community.

I don’t specialise in any market and deal with a variety of industry sectors for any roles from junior through to Executive. This make it exciting as one moment I can be searching for an Accountant and the next a Marketing Manager (as an example).

I love the relationships I have built with my clients – some of whom have been with me since I started in recruitment in 1988! This really helps me to get under the skin of the business and the culture so I am not just recruiting on skills but also personality match as well.

I have a small office in Ringwood which is in a very old Coaching Inn. There are about 6 other companies in the building which means I can always chat to others in the corridor or shared facilities when I need to otherwise it can be quite lonely working on your own!

What’s the best thing about your role?

Cheesy as it sounds, I love finding clients the best person for their role and company and equally finding a great candidate their dream role.

Do you have anything that ticks you off or really annoys you?

Ha I have a few pet hates. I can’t stand lateness in my personal or business life – I think its really rude and to me anyway it indicates that the person who is late thinks that their time is more precious than yours

Who was your inspiration?

This is an easy one and is a lady called Barbara Mills who was my very first boss at Alfred Marks in recruitment. She taught me everything I know which includes how to treat clients and customers but also how-to party and have fun whilst doing that. We are still friends to this day.

What do you do to de stress away from work?

Pre Covid, I love travelling and eating out and spend a lot of time with my husband socialising with our friends and family. As I said before I also work out (mainly to work off the food and drink consumed) and do love to ski but can equally be found relaxing on a beach somewhere enjoying the local culture

What’s the best lesson you have learnt in your career?

To treat people as you wish to be treated and not to assume anything! Recruitment can be very demanding as your product is people, and they have a mind of their own and can change their minds!