A Day in the Life Of... Lisa Panaro
Lisa Panaro joined our People team as a Talent Acquisition Specialist in April. Six months on, we have taken the opportunity to interview Lisa for our ‘Day in the Life Of…’ series to find out more about her, what her role entails, and to understand what she has learnt about Wilmington plc since joining the business.
Hi Lisa, firstly, do please tell us about your career background:
"I came from local government, having worked with North East Lincolnshire Council for 22 years.?I started there in an apprenticeship role and worked my way up, becoming a HR Operational Team Manager and HR Advisory Centre Team Leader.??It was a really varied role, recruiting people in public-facing roles to internal, operational roles.??
Since joining Wilmington, I like that things happen more quickly – we have greater autonomy to make decisions, with less red tape, which is very motivating.?I also like the fact that Wilmington operates a hybrid working model – I’m based in Lincolnshire, and can travel to Fort Dunlop or the London offices when required."
What does your role involve?
"As a talent acquisition specialist, my job is to deliver the recruitment service to Wilmington’s businesses. Wilmington is what could be described as an umbrella company and so I’m assigned to support the Training and Education-specific businesses in the group. It is my responsibility to source and screen potential candidates for the many varied roles that we have in these businesses, which includes ICA, Bond Solon, ICTA Singapore, FRA and Mercia."
What does a typical day look like for you?
"I meet the managers of the various businesses to understand what they need in the posts they are wanting to fill. I then create the recruitment post and promote it, calling on contacts and identifying the right person for the role.?Culture is so important and I really enjoy finding someone for each post. I also conduct pre-screening over the phone and I like meeting so many different people with different backgrounds."
What is an essential ingredient to making your day feel rewarding or accomplished?
"From a job perspective – it’s all about the offer! ?Finding someone and taking them through the journey of screening and offer is very satisfying, especially for roles which are difficult to recruit to."
Have you learned anything since starting your role at Wilmington?
"The business is so diverse – people who may be new to Wilmington may be surprised and its breadth.?In fact, they may know some of our brands, but not necessarily realise they are a Wilmington business. It’s a growing business too, so the scale of new roles that we are recruiting is larger than I had originally anticipated – I think that’s also due to the fact that it operates globally too, with offices in Singapore, the US and beyond. I find that really interesting – different territories have different approaches, terms and condition, different ways of advertising and even the interview process may vary. It’s been really interesting to learn."?
For anyone considering applying for a role at Wilmington, what would you like them to know?
"Everyone’s been so friendly, supportive and welcoming – and everyone is so passionate about the jobs they do.?You can really see this at all levels. The workplace environment is very professional and there’s a real team focus.??Everyone has gone out of their way to make me welcome and answer my questions as I have found my feet.??It also offers a great work/life balance – I have ?young children so to have the flexibility to work at different offices and from home is perfect."??
What advice would you give to others looking to pursue a career in this field?
"Just make the call! Just pick up the phone and talk to us – we are happy to answer any questions to help you find out more about the businesses.?There’s a brilliant culture, with an opportunity to progress in the role and develop your career not just in one individual Wilmington business but across the group – which includes different industries.?
I’ve come from public sector with a very set structure; here at Wilmington there is a lot more freedom to be creative and make a difference."??
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