Jack Brooks has been with us at MorePeople for two years now! It's great to see how everyone's careers evolve here at MorePeople into whatever specialist sector they work in.

Hear from Jack on how he's found his last two years...​

What made you want to leave hospitality and move into recruitment?

I had planned on leaving the hospitality industry for a few reasons. The unsociable hours played a large part in that decision, but I also knew that for my own career progression, it wasn’t going to be my long-term goal. In all honesty, I actually fell into recruitment. After interviewing with a few local Sales and Finance businesses, I was chatting with friends at the gym when Andy, the CEO, approached me. He asked if I knew anything about recruitment and if I had heard of MorePeople. The answer to both questions was no.

After two interviews with different businesses, MorePeople stood out the most. The uncapped earning potential, the impressive office, and even the gym membership made it my first choice.

Were there any skills or experiences from hospitality that you’ve found surprisingly transferable to recruitment?

Coming from a management background in hospitality, I was already confident speaking to people I had never met before and with whom I often had little in common. That confidence helped me to pick up the phone and dial, and then build genuine rapport with candidates and clients.

I learned how to find out what interests people and connect with them by relating it to my own experiences. That ability to build common ground quickly is still one of my strongest skills today.

What’s been your proudest moment or placement so far?

There have been many moments in recruitment that left me feeling proud, and even after two years, the buzz of finding someone their next step in their career has never gone away.

My proudest moment so far has to be a recent placement for the UK Operations Director at one of the largest fresh produce businesses in Europe. It was a process that took longer than I first expected, but the sense of pride in knowing I played a part in making it happen is something I go back to whenever I feel impostor syndrome creeping in, or when things do not quite go as planned in a process.

What do you think people misunderstand about this part of the industry?

The sheer size and scale of the industry. The agri-food sector contributed more than £145 billion to the UK economy in 2022 and continues to grow. Before joining, I had never really thought about where the food in supermarkets or on my plate actually came from. Even now, I am still learning new things from the businesses we partner with and the articles I read about the sector.

There are also far more opportunities than people realise. In Operations alone, we cover roles in Production, Supply Chain, Health and Safety, Transport and more. And that is just my team, without even mentioning the other eight specialist teams within the business.

What advice would you give to yourself on day one if you could go back?

I would tell myself to invest in knowledge from the very beginning. Reading articles and watching videos about the industry has given me the ability to speak confidently with supervisors right through to C-suite executives about market trends and the state of the sector. If you know what you are talking about, you will be seen as someone who adds value to candidates and clients. It also means that when you find yourself at dinner with fifteen of the most senior directors in the industry, you can still contribute to the conversation.

What excites you most about the next stage of your career?

I am gradually moving towards a more senior role. Having managed teams of up to twenty people in hospitality, I have always enjoyed seeing others succeed. Now with the experience I have gained, I can share knowledge with new consultants who are sat exactly where I was two years ago. At the same time, I am still learning every day from the directors and senior consultants around me.

Beyond my own journey, our Operations team is going from strength to strength. We have just had a record-breaking quarter, strengthened relationships with long-standing clients, and opened the door to new partnerships across the industry. The next stage promises to be even more exciting.