Why it’s never ‘just a job’

Last night I was exchanging online with a lady whose name looked familiar, I felt like I knew her, I liked her somehow. After the conversation, I sent her a PM.

I’d hired her in her last job, which she’d just left. Sure, I’d forgotten the specifics, but I never forgot her, even if I only hired her once, 9 years ago.

Remembering Mark

Recently I was moved to tears when I found out that an old friend and candidate of ours, Mark Shepherd was seriously ill. My thoughts are with his family.

I want the world to know that Mark was a bright, caring, talent, who had a special way with words, and whose presence will be sorely missed.

It is a loss for us all in the finance world, that he won't write again, or that we won't see what he would have become. He had just completed his first book when he was taken too early by his illness. He was the first person who showed me the power of my own job, when we met over 13 years ago.

A bright career ahead

Mark was the Assistant Editor for Property Week in the UK, and he had a bright career ahead of him, when we headhunted him. We were working on behalf of a client who was building something new with a cornerstone investor, and due to the reputation of that person, we sold the dream to Mark.

In one of the hardest but also funniest conversations ever in our company, I still remember Fred Tankpinou asking him if he’d ‘lift up his skirt and grab his balls’ and make the jump over to Lux to join this start-up. It was risky, but exciting.

He accepted.

Mark, the client, and us, were all thrilled.

On the day of the move, with all his belongings already in the removal van, he received a call directly from the client, saying that the investor had pulled out.

The company and therefore the job, wouldn’t be going ahead.

Mark called us and said, 'this can’t happen Rana, my whole life is in that van. I just gave up my career at Property Week, I’m ready to move. You have to help me find something else, and quickly.'

Moving quickly

I felt awful. I immediately contacted my top 10 clients and offered, free of charge, a chance to interview this skilled individual. I explained the predicament we were in, and that there would be no fee. I linked Mark’s skills to every available job that could suit – editing, communications, PR, and investor relations.

This experience, the pressure I felt to fix it for Mark, showed me what I could do.

Within 3 days I had him 2 interviews, and within 2-3 weeks he was hired. The new client was thrilled. I was thrilled. I didn’t care about the money or about the time wasted with the other client. Over the next few years, I couldn’t be prouder when he became the Head of Communications, or when he was the only person retained amid a layoff plan at his company.

Although we hadn’t spoken in maybe 7 years or more, I realised that nobody comes into our lives without leaving a trace, nobody.

A job is never ‘just a job’ because it brings you into contact with other people, and those people, will leave an imprint on your life.

Mark’s story crossed mine for a moment in time. Somehow we made a mark on each other’s trajectory, on each other.

Jobs are never ‘just a job’ in the tapestry of life. Every person, every interaction, will shape you.

I used to think that so many people come in and out of our lives that we forget most of them. But you don’t actually ever forget anyone. They are still there, the imprint of them, the conversation, the feeling left behind. The thing you learned, or wish you had. The thing they said that changed you.

Relationships are built slowly, over the myriad of tiny interactions that happen on an almost daily basis.

But changes in you, are going to last a lifetime.

Thank you Mark.

Rana is a Managing Director of Funds Talent, a Search and Selection Firm for the Funds Industry. Along with being a company director, she is a passionate people person, and an executive recruiter for the funds and asset management industry.