Brooke is one of Totum’s BD & marketing consultants dedicated to recruiting entry level marketing and business development roles. Here she shares her experiences of her first few months as a recruitment consultant and her love of true crime!

Career beginnings

What is your background?

After finishing my A Levels, I decided I wanted to get straight into the working world – I knew it had to be in a position in London (I had always been obsessed with the buzz of it all when I used to visit for days out). I have worked in recruitment for six years, with just under five of them being at Totum as Team Coordinator. I moved into my current role as a Consultant on the BD and marketing team in January and am enjoying every minute so far!

How did you get into recruiting?

I went to register with an agency for some junior positions, but they had an internal administrator role they thought I might suit and invited me back to interview for it. So it was a little by accident but I have always loved the idea of talking to people and being able to help them for a living and recruitment ticks those boxes.

What career advice would you give your younger self? 

Don’t be afraid to ask questions! There have been so many times where I have kicked myself for not asking what I thought was a ‘silly’ question that could have helped me learn or save time.

What is your biggest recruitment challenge?

I think so far, it has been finding the best way to organise myself. The BD and marketing team is particularly busy so it’s very easy to let things slip if you’re not on your A game!!

Tell me about your favourite clients (probably as Recruitment Administrator)

Ones that remembered me or took an interest in what I had to say!

Changing roles

What have you already learnt in your new job as a BD and Marketing Consultant?

I have really gained a lot more insight into how law firms are structured and also how many different roles there are in BD & marketing in law.

As Team Coordinator, I had one or two meetings per week, so it has been a bit of an eye opener having at least three meetings per day as a Consultant. There’s lots of concentrating and speaking - and lots of sleeping as soon as I get home!!

What have you already enjoyed?

I have loved meeting and speaking to people from all different backgrounds and learning about their stories and interests and how they came to where they are – something that I didn’t really do much of in my previous role.

What do you think are going to be the biggest challenges?

I think the hardest part will be giving people bad news, if they haven’t got the job, etc. One of the best parts about this job is taking people through each stage from application to interview, giving advice etc., so once you do get to know the candidate I can imagine that being really hard to do!

The same goes for clients. I think it will be difficult to tell them if their preferred candidate decides not to take the role!

Tell us something people don't know about you?

I have always been really interested in true crime (possibly stemming from some questionable parenting leading me to watch episodes of CSI at the age of eight…). I always wanted to be a forensic scientist but after discovering that I have a ripe fear of blood, I think that recruitment probably suits me better…

If you would like to find out more about Totum's BD & marketing function or chat through recruitment opportunities with Brooke, she can be contacted atBrooke.Mcclure@TotumPartners.com