Focus on Ireland

Louise Campbell joined Robert Walters in 2003 and has held overall responsibility for our Irish operations since then. Passionate about developing and retaining talent, she is also in charge of European Training for Robert Walters.

Following on from her recent inclusion on the Global Power 100 Women in Staffing list, we spoke to her about her career so far and her role as MD of the Irish business.

How does it feel to be part of the top 100 women in staffing?

"I am thrilled and honoured to be included in the top 100 women in staffing around the globe. I honestly believe that there could have been a number of women within the group who would have qualified for this accolade (many of them in the Dublin office), and hopefully there will be more names of women from Robert Walters on the next list!

What do you like the most about your role?

I’ve been working at Robert Walters for 12 years and in all that time, no two days have been the same. I can safely say I have rarely, if ever, been bored. What really excites me about my job is that I get to identify talent and help develop people’s careers. It’s extremely enjoyable to introduce young people into the business of recruitment, watch them flourish, and offer them incredible opportunities to propel their careers forward. Some of the graduates I hired in Dublin are now directors in other offices around the globe and myself and the management team in Dublin are extremely proud of that.

How has Robert Walters supported your career?

I’ve always felt extremely supported within my career at Robert Walters. I was given such autonomy to grow the business in Ireland and it has thrived as a result of the faith that was put in me. Even in challenging times, the Group stood behind me and that’s when you really feel the benefit of being part of such a global business. If you work hard in this company, it’s identified and rewarded, which is extremely empowering.

If you work hard in this company, it’s identified and rewarded, which is extremely empowering.

Tell us about the Irish office

The Irish office opened in 1999, and when I joined in 2003 it was an excellent time to invest and grow the business. We went from three people to 38 in two years - the Celtic Tiger was booming, Ireland was the place to be for many multinationals, and our profitability reflected this high growth phase in the economy. We started out as a predominantly financial services recruiter but diversified prior to the financial crisis. We now have a healthy mix of financial services and commerce & industry clients and despite downsizing during the downturn, we have grown our headcount back up and are more profitable than ever before.

Why is Ireland so important for the Group?

Ireland is the chosen destination for many shared service centres and, due to our corporate tax rates, is the HQ for many US multinationals, so nearly all of our global clients have a base in Ireland, which makes us a strategically important office for the group. Ireland is also a financial services hub, the Funds capital of Europe and is making great strides in the area of FinTech. 

Why work for Robert Walters in Dublin?

Our ability to attract talented people comes from our market reputation, our training programmes and our international offering. Many of our staff go on to work in other Robert Walters offices across the globe and we have a proven track record of successful international transfers. This is a very attractive option for Irish people and none of our competitors can offer this. We have a long-term strategy for developing client and candidate relationships and as the recruitment market becomes busy once again we are looking to grow our teams in all areas."

 

Interested in a career in recruitment? Search latest jobs today.