What do you do?

I work in Early Careers, which means I help attract, hire and support people at the start of their careers, like apprentices, interns and graduates. I work with managers to find future talent, run recruitment processes, and make sure new starters have a great experience from application through to joining and developing in the business.

Why do you do it?

Honestly, I fell into recruitment in general, and then I somehow fell into Early Careers too! It wasn’t a career path I’d specifically planned, but once I started working in it, I realised how rewarding it is. I love being able to help people get their first opportunity and seeing the difference that can make to their confidence and future career. What I enjoy about working at CP is that every day is different. I get to work with candidates, hiring managers, providers, colleagues across the business, schools and Universities, so there’s always something new going on. And while I wouldn’t say spreadsheets are my passion in life, I do enjoy the organisation, planning and using data to make better decisions. It’s a really nice mix of people-focused work and problem-solving.

What kind of projects have you been involved in?

I’ve been involved in quite a few exciting projects across the Early Careers space. A big part of my role is building talent pipelines for the future, so I’ve worked on school outreach programmes, careers fairs, work experience placements and insight days to help young people learn about career opportunities they might not have considered before. One of the things I enjoy most is getting out into schools and speaking directly with students, helping them understand the different routes into work, whether that’s through apprenticeships, graduate programmes or other early career opportunities. I’ve also organised and delivered work experience programmes and insight days, giving students a real taste of what it’s like to work in a professional environment. It’s really rewarding because you’re not just filling vacancies, you’re helping young people make informed career decisions while also helping organisations attract the next generation of talent. Seeing someone attend a school session or insight day and then later join as an apprentice or graduate is always a highlight.

What’s top of your bucket list?

Top of my bucket list is doing a road trip around America. I’ve always loved the idea of being able to see so many different places, cultures and landscapes in one trip, from the bright lights of New York and Las Vegas to national parks, small towns and everything in between. I think what makes it top of the list is the sense of freedom and adventure. Rather than flying from place to place, you get to experience the journey itself, discovering places you wouldn’t normally visit and making memories along the way. It would be the perfect mix of sightseeing, food, meeting new people and ticking off some iconic destinations I’ve always wanted to see.