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“Take your time to enjoy the learning journey. Remember, more haste = less speed.”
I had a few questions to ask Charmaine Chiam, associate consultant in Singapore and she shared how she got into recruitment, the challenges she has faced and why she chose to work at Eames.
1. How did you get into recruitment?
I took up a talent acquisition internship in a Fintech start-up where I was exposed to what internal recruitment looked like and the difficulties of tech hiring. From there, I slowly transited to be a full Tech Consultant.
2. What is your advice for someone just getting into recruitment?
Take your time to enjoy the learning journey. Remember, more haste = less speed.
3. What is it about recruitment that has kept you in the industry?
The dynamism of the job constantly keeps me on my toes and allows me to problem-solve almost on a daily basis. I feel that even if you are 10 years into recruitment, there are always new surprises that are going to pop up. After all, we are dealing with the complexities of human behaviour.
4. What’s the biggest challenge you’ve faced in your career so far and how have you overcome that?
I am quite shy in nature and I do take some time to warm up to people. However, recruitment forces me to come out of my shell and step out of my comfort zone in speaking with so many new and different people every day!
5. What is your number 1 secret to success?
I truly believe in the power of questioning. Whether you think it's a silly question or not, question everything and that way, you can pick things up a lot faster.
6. What’s the best career advice you’ve ever been given?
Any great result is usually not from a single big change. Focus on doing the small daily things well and you will eventually get there.
7. What are you driven by and how do you stay motivated?
Speaking to people who are smart and passionate about their work never fails to make my eyes light up. I am also driven by being able to learn and pick up new skills from different people.
People usually get demotivated when they are fixated on bigger goals. I like to stay motivated by sharing small wins/proud moments with my friends or family.
8. What do you think you would have been had you not gone into recruitment?
Probably would have gone to do something marketing or design related.
9. How do you keep a work/life balance?
This is honestly still a struggle for me. What works best by far is when I have a clear cut-off time and I would try not to touch work-related matters unless it’s urgent. I also think it’s important to have hobbies outside of work (e.g. hiking, reading, drawing for me) and that you make time to do them.
10. Why Eames?
I was really impressed by the level of questioning during my interview with Eames. They asked really good questions which made me think hard. There is so much trust and freedom given for you to try different methods as long as you deliver results. I also love the fact that people here are all really nice and understanding.
#TeamEames #WhatDrivesYou #QuickFire10