Why move from IT into recruitment

Alberto Munoz started out as a consultant in our IT division in Madrid in 2011 and since then he’s been promoted to manager, senior manager and most recently associate director. He loves having the opportunity to combine his two passions, technology and working with people, and discusses why a move into recruitment could be a great step for someone within the tech industry.

How did you get into recruitment?

"Back when I was living in Barcelona, I was hired by a small headhunting firm to evaluate the language skills of candidates. They needed someone who could interview Spanish, English and German-speaking candidates for a top telecommunications company. It was the perfect role for me as it combined my dual passions of language and technology. I immediately took to it and before long I was managing my own clients and candidates.

How has your career progressed since you joined Robert Walters?

I joined Robert Walters as a consultant in 2011 with the task to set up the IT division in Madrid. There were tough times along the way but I grew the team and was promoted to senior consultant. As the division grew I moved up the ladder to manager and senior manager, before recently being promoted to associate director. At Robert Walters, you are given a great deal of independence and decision-making power right from the beginning. This is very rewarding and I believe that has really helped me to grow my career here.

What are some of the benefits of working at Robert Walters?

It’s wonderful to work with a group of extremely talented and ambitious people – the passion of the staff here has really helped us to achieve success in the Madrid office. There are lots opportunities to travel, to learn from senior people in the business and above all to work in a fun and sociable environment where you can make good money.

Describe the culture in the Madrid office

Five years ago when I joined, there were a handful of people in the Madrid office, today we’re a large and profitable business. We’ve grown rapidly in the last few years but what’s really important to us is that we maintain that family feel of a smaller office by socialising together, going for Friday night drinks etc. The feedback I get when I speak to competitors is that their offices are overly stressful, there’s no emphasis on team bonding and there can be a very aggressive atmosphere. It’s not like that here - we work really hard to maintain a fun, positive atmosphere and to ensure that the Madrid office is a really great place to work. I think that our culture is what sets us apart in this marketplace.

What opportunities are there currently in Madrid?

The Madrid office has grown quickly in recent years and we forecast strong growth in the future. After years of hard work we have a strong employer brand in this market which has enabled us to attract great talent in almost every division. For young professionals who may have a few years’ experience under their belt and who are now looking for a more business orientated role and structured career path, there are many great opportunities in our Madrid office. At present we are really keen to hire professionals from the technology sector.

Why would you encourage someone in IT to move into IT recruitment?

A move into recruitment would be particularly attractive to someone with a background in technology, who would like to utilise their commercial skills as well. It’s a great career path for someone with that knowledge or interest in IT, who may have worked in the field for a few years but who is ready for a change or to move into a role where they could also be more client facing. It’s a great opportunity to transfer their skills into a career where they can receive excellent remuneration while working in a fun and sociable team environment."

For IT professionals, it’s a great opportunity to transfer their skills into a career where they can receive excellent remuneration, while working in a fun and sociable team environment

 

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