"Know your market, be a strategic partner or advisor to clients and candidates instead of a one-off deal."
I had a few questions to ask Louis Fan, associate director in Hong Kong and he shared his advice for someone just getting into recruitment, what's kept him in the recruitment industry and why he chose to work at Eames.
1. How did you get into recruitment?
Started my career as an actuary but didn’t quite enjoy the role. A few of my college friends went into recruitment, which gave me a holistic view of the sector and how I could leverage my actuarial background in the field.
2. What is your advice for someone just getting into recruitment?
There are always ups and downs in recruitment, be tenacious and resilient to different obstacles. Be patient, proactive and open-minded to learn and enrich your knowledge in your specialism.
3. What is it about recruitment that has kept you in the industry?
I love the sector I specialise in, I'm able to interact and build relationships with senior executives in the insurance sector and continue to gain first-hand information on the developments in the area.
4. What is your proudest moment in your career to date?
Being able to help candidates along their path and boost their career. Also, over time, being able to develop a friendship as well as becoming my client.
5. What’s the biggest challenge you’ve faced in your career so far and how have you overcome that?
My biggest challenge was during my first year as an associate consultant, with limited resources to generate new CVs, meeting different KPIs while at the same time adopting myself into a people business from a role that doesn’t require a lot of interaction with people. I overcame it by being positive while receiving feedback from colleagues and direct managers as well as continuously asking and seeking alternative ways to a solution.
6. What is your number 1 secret to success?
Know your market, be a strategic partner or advisor to clients and candidates instead of a one-off deal.
7. What’s the best career advice you’ve ever given?
Advising an insurance chief financial officer on how to rebuild an entire department during a high turnover period and having a reputational crisis.
8. What are you driven by and how do you stay motivated?
I’m driven by the hunger for success and improvement. I am self-motivated, constantly reflecting and identifying areas to improve to help my career and life in general.
9. How do you keep a work-life balance?
I keep a work-life balance by knowing how to prioritize and structure my day.
10. Why Eames?
Eames is a great brand, with strong potential and the right platform for me to further my career.