Like many graduates after university, I was constantly deliberating the exact career path I was wishing to take. The financial industry appealed to me strongly but I also appreciated the people centric approach taken by consultancies. What I found was Plenum, a niche search firm with big ambitions, a highly motivated work force and a supportive space for independent growth.
An initial in-depth explanation of the investment industry was extremely insightful and whilst I had previous knowledge of the financial sector, Tc’s ability to instruct from a commercial standpoint allowed for a deeper insight into the industry in its entirety. The combined efforts of TC, Simon, James, George and Ellie made my experience at Plenum positively memorable as they were always keen to offer advice and discuss challenges and solutions.
The movement of talent is the core premise behind any headhunting operation and naturally, therefore, is an incredibly people orientated industry. However, what I didn’t expect (and what soon became clear whilst working) was that a highly analytical mindset is also required to be able to strategize, coordinate and monitor both candidate submission and maintain client satisfaction.
The role itself meant that I was having face to face meetings with extremely interesting people within the industry from the first week. These soon became 1-on-1 meetings between myself, candidates and clients about opportunities and more generally about trends within the industry. This type of independence was actively encouraged by Plenum and provided valuable life skills.
My year at Plenum has gone exceptionally fast and as my time here draws to a close I am able to reflect on all that I have learnt. Working at Plenum has been an invaluable experience and provided insights I will surely take forward into my future career. So, instead of following the herd in the hope of “finding yourself” on a post university gap year consider joining Plenum, it could just be the career you were searching for.
By Joe Mayer