Congratulations to Natalie Cox on her promotion to Principal Consultant in Midlands Local Government.
We spoke to Natalie about her career with Venn Group.
What first drew you into recruitment at Venn Group?
I joined Venn Group four years ago, after a few years in teaching having realised it wasn’t the career for me. I wanted a career where I could progress and maintain a healthy work-life balance; Venn Group allowed me to do this. I’ve always been confident and good with people, so recruitment seemed like a great fit, and after interviewing, I quickly realised Venn Group was a company I wanted to work for and represent; the team ethos here is really what drew me to it and I’ve felt that team support throughout my career here.
What has been your proudest achievement?
Being a part of the Midlands Local Government Team and watching it grow into one of the most successful teams in the company has been a great achievement. It’s been really rewarding helping to build solid foundations alongside my colleagues and seeing the relationships we’ve developed across the local authorities and reputation we have now.
What has been the biggest challenge you’ve overcome?
My biggest challenge was stepping up, alongside my colleague Bella, to help manage the team. During a tough time last year we had to step up and ensure the team continued to be successful; it really put us through some trials and tribulations but it made us both into much better recruiters. Having those extra responsibilities really made me appreciate my Manager and Director more for the extra things they have to deal with on a daily basis as well as the nuts and bolts of recruitment.
What has been the biggest change you’ve noticed in your approach since you began recruitment?
I am quite an emotional person, so at the start of my career this sometimes came out when dealing with difficult scenarios. However, I’ve really been able to hone in on this and have become much more patient.
What advice would you give to your past self who had just started at Venn Group?
Try not to compare yourself to others, recruitment can be really tough but it is important to focus on your journey and no one else’s. Listen to the people around you, take things in as much as you can and try to adopt these to your own working and learning style as you go.
What characteristics make a good recruiter into a great recruiter?
You need to be resilient and determined, it can be tough and you can get a lot of setbacks, but dealing with and pushing through the tough times makes you into a better recruiter.
What key lessons have you learned from those who have managed you?
I have been able to learn so much from my manager, Hannah Smith, such as attention to detail and maintaining quality within all we do, which are embedded into the way I work now. Being patient is something I have taken from Emma Walker, my Director; this job brings up a lot of challenging and frustrating scenarios, but how you handle them is what is important, and she has been a great example of how to do this. Both are great examples of what a great recruiter should be but also great role models of successful women in this field. They are determined, resilient and dedicated to their craft and I have taken so much from them over the years.
What do you enjoy the most about working with the Local Government market?
Knowing we are helping the local communities in a small way is great. We have supplied councils with exceptional consultants and contractors in so many areas to help on topics such as Brexit, SEND and Public Health (especially around the pandemic). The people you meet and get to work with in Local Government are fantastic! I really enjoy the variety and challenge it brings.
What keeps you motivated?
Seeing results of course keeps me motivated. However, the results you get aren’t always what you want, so trying to remain positive and ensuring that energy is put out to your team really does help with motivation. If people around you are positive and always look for the good in a bad situation, you can’t help but feel the same too.
How do you make sure you continue to learn?
I mostly learn from others, so I try to see how those around me on my team or business unit deal with different scenarios and adopt the aspects I thought worked well. I also use the Venn Group training programme to ensure I am continuing with my professional development; we have a fantastic training programme for all levels of the company so taking advantage of this is key.
We also heard from Natalie’s management team who have supported her throughout her career:
‘Natalie’s persistence, drive and determination has driven her to reach this exceptional achievement. I have witnessed how hard Natalie has worked to get here over the years and how she has gone on to build incredible client and candidate relationships. She has amazing job control and organisational skills which means nothing is ever missed. She also has an ability to stay professional and calm at all times, ensuring she always delivers the best service. I am very proud of Natalie and what she has achieved and have loved seeing her grow into such an accomplished and self-sufficient consultant. I am excited to see what is next for Natalie.’
Hannah Smith, Manager
‘I’m delighted to see Natalie achieve her promotion to Principal Consultant within our Local Government Division. Since joining Venn Group almost four years ago, Natalie has worked incredibly hard and has been such an energetic and motivated member of the Midlands team. She is really passionate about her market and works so hard on behalf of her clients and candidates to ensure she gives the best service she can. Natalie is a pleasure to work with and I’m very proud of her achievements to date, which I’m sure will continue in the years to come.’
Emma Walker, Director