Louis Thomas,  Recruitment Manager

Louis Thomas, Recruitment Manager

Moving into Management

Thinking about moving into a management role within recruitment at an SME?

For me, it was always something I wanted to do and honestly, I saw it as a major milestone in my short career to date. I remember being told time and time again, “management in recruitment is one of the toughest steps to take.” And while that might be true in some ways, I can confidently say it’s also one of the most rewarding at times.

Stepping into a management role here at Rutherford Briant Recruitment has been great.

 

Backed to Succeed

What made it so exciting? The level of training, support, and genuine backing I received from the SLT, Directors and even my peers. You're not thrown in the deep end; you're given the tools and space to grow. Because we’re a close-knit team, it meant I could learn through making mistakes in a safe, encouraging environment.

 

Leading with Purpose

Leadership can feel a bit daunting, especially in a fast-paced industry like recruitment. But here, in an SME like RBR, the opportunities far outweigh the nerves. One of the biggest benefits is just how much impact you get to have. You're not just managing targets, you’re influencing the direction of your team, the business and the culture. The people you help hire, the processes you put in place, the coaching you deliver it all makes a real, tangible difference.

 

Best of Both Worlds

What I love is that every day is different. One day you’re supporting a colleague’s growth, the next you're helping shape the team's strategy or contributing to employer branding. You might be choosing new tech, refining internal processes or even influencing our presence in the market. And through all of that, you still have your own desk, your own clients, your own achievements and goals to achieve. You still get to recruit and build those relationships, as well as managing things internally too.

 

Shaping Strategy

Another huge benefit of stepping into management here is the exposure. You’re not on the sidelines; you’re in the room for key decisions. You get insight into financials, P&L, risk management and strategic planning. That kind of involvement is rare in larger businesses, usually you are told the decision and are not part of it.

 

Ideas That Make an Impact

And if you’re someone who enjoys coming up with ideas and actually seeing them come to life, you’ll love how agile we are. There’s no red tape and ideas are always listened to. You can go from leading a training session, to coming up with a new competition to drive performance. No two days are the same!

 

So, if you’re considering that step up into management, especially within RBR, don’t underestimate the opportunity. It’s not just about leading a team - it’s about learning, growing, influencing, and truly making a difference in a safe environment with endless opportunity.