My #FrazerJonesJourney – Molly Griffin
Sights set on moving overseas to a global financial hub
After graduating with a psychology degree, I joined a global recruitment firm based in Manchester recruiting into FTSE companies. I covered internal audit which was a niche area in finance. My experience was gained working across FTSE-listed MNCs, financial services and professional services, which I did for five years. I specifically enjoyed managing a large corporate client base and working regionally. Living overseas and experiencing a brand-new market always appealed to me – so I set my sights on Singapore. Not only was I keen on gaining exposure to Asia, but Singapore is a global financial hub and a central location to do exactly that. When I was ready to move on, I researched Frazer Jones and identified Charlotte and Sean as they were the best in their market. Specialising in HR search also seemed fulfilling as forming connections and networking with people are the focus. Your network truly appreciates the value of talent and its importance in achieving commercial success. With that in mind, as the largest HR search firm globally, Frazer Jones was the obvious choice and I joined in 2021.
“Specialising in HR search seemed fulfilling as forming connections and networking with people are the focus.”
Tailored specialist advice based on in-depth knowledge
At Frazer Jones, the key is offering tailored specialist advice to clients and candidates. With HR SMEs across all industry verticals, we use our in-depth knowledge to identify client needs and deliver our expert services. I am confident in how we function, especially when consulting clients because we are embedded in the local HR market. Connecting with local HR professionals also enabled me to adapt to a new culture and learn about the different priorities and skillsets expected in the market. After five years in recruitment, you think you know how it works – yet transitioning to a new market calls for a new approach. This has truly been a learning curve and I am proud to have made that transition and grow with my team. Our team of specialists provide end-to-end guidance and offer our clients insight into the market from every angle. This could be discovering how different organisations are embracing DEI, discussing who to hire for a newly created people function, or how to retain junior to mid-level talent in a highly competitive marketplace. I enjoy how different my day-to-day can be and the ability to share knowledge with our network.
“Embedding in the local HR market also enabled me to adapt to a new culture and learn about the different priorities and skillsets expected in the market.”
A mature working environment built on trust
My promotion to Associate Director within 12 months of joining the firm reaffirmed the value that Frazer Jones puts on progression and development, and I was proud to be given the opportunity to grow. Our hybrid work system and flexible hours create a mature working environment built on trust and this extends to enabling flexibility in the way we work. This allows me to work effectively to my own rhythm and I’m actively encouraged to get out and meet my network, which is one of my favourite parts of the job.
“Our hybrid work system and flexible hours create a mature working environment built on trust.”
Breadth in the HR market
Those outside of the HR industry are often surprised by the breadth of opportunities in HR. Beyond HR business partnering and talent acquisition, there are all sorts of specialist roles including HR transformation and organisation design, as well as HR analytics and talent strategy to name a few. There is a common misconception that recruitment is transactional – however, when you are highly relationship driven, this can create a deeper level of understanding which promotes personal trust with clients and steers away from the transactional approach.
Starting in HR, learning HR operations end-to-end can be key to becoming a successful HR professional
My advice for those keen to progress in the HR industry would be to build solid foundations through HR operations experience. Start in end-to-end HR operations, observe the entire employee lifecycle, and utilise that skill set. A lot of junior HR professionals want to jump straight into business partnering – but you need to appreciate the backbone of HR first to be able to advise the business appropriately. Your expertise will grow when you can put yourself in their shoes. Be patient with your career and learn from best practices. Starting in HR operations is also invaluable experience when looking to progress into business partnering or COEs (centre of excellence) such as reward or talent acquisition long term to appreciate how this all connects and the impact of each role and the interdependencies. This experience will be beneficial in more strategic roles whilst you can also leverage this skillset as part of end-to-end HR roles in smaller firms. Ultimately, you can be both forward-thinking and hands-on to meet the business objectives.
“Start in end-to-end HR operations, see the entire employee lifecycle, and utilise that skill set.”
Why moving into HR search specifically is a good career move
I find HR search provides a diverse and well-rounded portfolio for a recruiter. The roles themselves are broad, relatable and provide a great insight into all the elements that go into attracting and retaining great talent. Additionally, our candidates are our clients and vice versa, making our relationships and our role as strategic advisers truly meaningful. This holistic view enables us to support our network with their personal and professional career goals short and long-term. HR search is an end-to-end profession where you can constantly solidify your knowledge and adopt a 360-learning approach.
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