WFH? No thanks. Why working from the office is so much better.

As everyone attempted to navigate the pandemic, I was busy gearing up for a new job. Well, not a new job exactly. You see, I first worked for Silven during 2014-2018 before taking the plunge into self employment.

It was great. I got to set my own hours, work from home and be my own boss. Who wouldn’t want to do that? Me, after two years. I was itching to get back into the office. Something that I think many people are feeling right now...

The move back to Silven has been good for me in more ways than one. Here’s why I’ve loved coming back. 

It’s a new challenge

I might not have been out of the industry for long, but there’s definitely a few key differences from when I first started. Having learned recruitment the old school way, I'm a huge advocate of lots of phone time - engaging with candidates and clients. It’s the only way to really get to know a person. This is still possible but I’ve had to adapt slightly with video calls!

Coming back during a global pandemic also brought about other obstacles. For example, the market is facing challenges itself. As a recruiter, I need to work with my clients to ensure they know their value proposition while identifying areas that they can take advantage of and meet demand.

There’s also a huge amount of candidates looking for roles, and applications are going through the roof. But how do you know they’re the right person for the role? The need for a market expert has never been clearer. 

It’s great to be part of a team

Ask anyone who works from home what the best thing about it is, and they’ll likely say the flexibility. But Silven offers me this, plus more! The atmosphere, expertise and working environment in our Manchester HQ is unlike any other business I’ve worked with.

I love coming into the office, working alongside a strong team of people and running things past others to get a variety of ideas and knowledge. And if I ever do need to work from home, I’m able to. 

Silven provides us with all the tools to be able to carry out our work - wherever we’re based. Most of us are currently back in the office, 3 days a week, and I find that level of balance is exactly what I was looking for. To be fair, with a 15-month-old at home, I’ve been coming in on the WFH days quite a bit. Work is like a holiday! 

It’s provided me with first-hand experience  

I kept in touch with Ian and the team and when they said they wanted me back, I knew exactly what I wanted to do. Although I might not have had to search for a new job, I did have to make a decision to leave my current role - no matter how easy that might have been. 

To anyone looking for a new opportunity, my advice would be to keep a positive attitude and make yourself stand out with top-notch references. Don’t be shy to ask your previous bosses for a recommendation. It’s easy to do through LinkedIn - these are extremely valuable and stay with you forever.

It’s a difficult time right now but the food industry will always be busy. Make sure your CV and LinkedIn profile focus on tangible achievements that can be backed up by evidence and solid numbers. In challenging times, clients will be looking for people who have dealt with transition and change. There are opportunities to be had from the streamlining that lies ahead.

So, how can I help?

If you’re thinking about taking the leap into uncharted waters as an interim, or are a seasoned interim looking for a new contract, I’d love to chat. Just drop me a message.