Natalie Ruecroft, Consultant, Leeds

Overview of experience:

I started in January 2016 so I’ve been with the Leeds team for ten months now. I had zero recruitment experience before joining but was a well known face in the Leeds hospitality industry. With a genuine passion for Leeds and Yorkshire, my previous role saw me travel Europe promoting Leeds as a business travel and event destination. I even managed to present at a number of ambassador residences - fancy!

1. How did you get into recruitment?

I badgered Emma (at The Book) into meeting with me – hounded her to have a coffee in Starbucks with me and the rest is history.

2. What’s the most rewarding part of your job?

Seeing candidates secure the role of their dreams! As cheesy as it sounds, I genuinely love when I can call candidates and give them good news. The agency market is very competitive so securing a role within an established one is a big deal for a lot of my guys…I love making their day and helping them with their career.

3. What’s the most challenging part of your job?

Having to deliver the not so great news to candidates - if someone has their heart set on a role and they’re pipped to the post at interview stage, it’s never easy delivering the bad news. Although, I’ll always have another cracking role up my sleeve to brief them on…

4. What would you do (career-wise) if you weren’t doing this?

Working so closely with established, creative agencies has opened my eyes to the amazing work going on in the Yorkshire area! If I wasn’t at NM I would love to be down at the Round Foundry mingling with the creative cream of the crop!

5. What’s the weirdest job you’ve ever had?

Not so weird but just definitely not for me……waitress! I managed to get through two shifts working as a waitress at an Italian restaurant. I just don’t have the skill to remember the ingredients in the dishes and carry more than two plates at a time!

6. What 3 traits best describe you?

Ginger. Genuine. Gin lover.

7. What is your greatest fear?

Those two little girls from The Shining.

8. What’s the one thing you couldn’t live without?

Fake tan (ginger!)

9. Where is your favourite place to be?

At granddad’s house, whilst he makes me a cup of tea and lectures me about my credit card bill and how orange my feet are.

10. What is your most overused phrase / word?

Cute