05/08/2020
Francesca Batt: My Client Server Story
Client Server
I didn’t know what I wanted to do after I left sixth form, so I thought I would take a gap year to work and make up my mind. I started working as an admin/receptionist and just like that one year turned into three years and the thought of going back to studying was just not on the agenda anymore for me. I had moved into contracts for an oil response company and I knew I didn’t want this to be my career long-term. I saw a job advert on Facebook for Emirates, I had never thought about ever becoming Cabin Crew but the advert grabbed my attention straight away with the chance to live in Dubai.
I was only 21 when I moved and this was all new to me. It only really hit me that I was leaving everyone when I got on the plane. When we landed I wanted to get the next flight back, but luckily I was persuaded to stay with some great friends around me. I literally took each day as it came and lived out of a suitcase for the first three months. Our training was intense, but the second my first flight took off I knew I had made the right decision.
After two years it was time to come home after an amazing experience. On my return I took a couple of months off to catch up with everyone and spend most of the savings - it was now time to find a job.
My friend was in recruitment at the time and said it would really suit my personality. I love talking to people and I’ve always been confident and bubbly so I thought “Why not?” I went for a few interviews and came across Client Server. I was attracted to their split desk model as the thought of doing business development horrified me, especially being new to the industry. They also offered a great training course so that you’re not thrown in at the deep end, so Client Server’s model really stood out for me.
I accepted the position and started in November 2016. The biggest adjustment I had to make when I joined was sitting at a desk for the day. I was so used to being up constantly for the last 2 years not behind a desk and trust me going from 20,000 steps or more per flight to that “recruitment stone” that everyone tells you about when you start that was a huge adjustment.
I started as a Consultant on Client Server’s Infrastructure desk and enjoyed working with incredible clients. They’re the leading technology companies and you get to be a part of and witness their growth. After two years, I wanted to get a greater understanding of what recruitment was like on the business side and joined the Internal Recruitment Team.
I got to maintain my relationships with my candidates as they would be working alongside me, which I found really suited me as a person. I’ve made so many friendships with my colleagues and couldn’t see myself working anywhere else.
Once you find a company that you like it makes the office environment so nice to be in. I get to train everyone that joins so I’m not always doing the same thing and I’m split across the entire business. I want to continue building out our Sydney office and be able to travel to develop our new offices – I love travelling so this would be perfect for me.
Recruiters get really bad stick but we are actually alright, we’re a good bunch of people here. Hopefully more women will get into recruitment because it’s fun and you can make a lot of money. It can be stressful, but when it’s good, it’s really, really good.