Recruitment careers, representation and progression: a conversation with Programme One
Recruitment isn’t always a career people hear about at school or university. Both Jasmine Alexander and Iszy Shirley found their way into the industry unexpectedly. Now, through Programme One and LHi’s ROOTS community, they’re helping more people understand the opportunities available and what needs to change.
Jasmine, Talent & Project Manager at Programme One, joined Iszy, Senior Consultant at SciPro and LHi’s UK & Europe ROOTS lead, to discuss Black representation in recruitment, their own experiences and why attracting people into the industry is only the beginning.
Making recruitment a visible career choice
For Iszy, a background in psychotherapy might not seem like the obvious starting point for a recruitment career. But the connection became clearer once she started: listening, empathy and supporting people through significant moments are all part of the job.
Working at SciPro has also given her the opportunity to build a career in a sector she finds personally meaningful, speaking with people whose work advances our understanding of human health.
Jasmine sees a similar need to challenge assumptions through her work at Programme One. Many of the people she speaks to have never considered recruitment, or aren’t sure what the role involves. Outreach to schools, colleges and community groups helps introduce the industry to people who might otherwise never encounter it.
Getting people through the door is only the start
Programme One works to address the underrepresentation of Black talent in recruitment. In the conversation, Jasmine explains why that work must extend beyond hiring.
Retention and progression matter just as much. Success means people enjoying their work, feeling valued, developing their skills and seeing a future for themselves in the industry, including as leaders.
For employers, that means looking at the whole experience, from hiring and onboarding to the support and opportunities available as someone’s career develops.
Finding community and support
As LHi’s UK & Europe ROOTS lead, Iszy helps shape our internal community focused on cultural heritage, ethnic diversity and inclusion. ROOTS brings colleagues together to celebrate different cultures, learn from each other’s experiences and create space for conversations where people feel heard and supported.
In the conversation, Iszy shares why this work matters to her personally and how conversations within ROOTS helped bring LHi and Programme One together.
Support has also shaped her own career. Iszy reflects on learning from colleagues at different stages, finding a manager whose strengths complemented her own and having people around her through recruitment’s highs and lows.
Considering a career in recruitment?
Their advice is to look beyond the job title. Take time to understand the market you’ll work in, the people you’ll learn from and the support you’ll have when you start.
The conversation offers an honest look at the skills recruitment develops, the relationships it builds and the work still needed to make the industry more representative.
Watch the full conversation above, find out more about Programme One, or explore career opportunities at LHi Group