“Be Memorable” Award Winner: Sophie Yang
Five years after commencing his recruitment career with PeopleIN’s labour solutions business AWX, today Johan Thomas is an Account Manager with an enviable record of success.
From international student, to junior recruiter, to today being an essential part of AWX’s Melbourne team, Johan says it’s the opportunity to make a positive impact on the lives of others which has motivated his professional growth.
"The most enjoyable part of my job is helping people” Johan said.
"I moved to Australia as an international student myself, so helping those new to the country gives me great satisfaction. It's not just about finding them work, it's about helping them settle into a new lifestyle too."
He says it can be particularly rewarding when he’s able to help a candidate overcome adversity to land their ideal role.
“A few years ago I had a candidate who had a few challenges with their employment history but once I placed them in a role best suited to their skill set, they not only excelled in their role but were recognised as AWX Melbourne’s best candidate of that year.”
Outside his career in recruitment, Johan keeps busy in many ways. Weekends are spent working as a DJ at one of Melbourne's nightclubs where he’s often able to use his communication stills to foster connections and extending his network. He also practices jujitsu, noting “balance between work and life is important in improving my mental health and self-confidence.”
Johan said he appreciates AWX's values, particularly their emphasis on accountability and good character, both key contributors to fostering a positive work culture.
He says working in recruitment isn’t always easy but presenting authentically is vital for building relationships with clients and candidates.
"So Tribe positioned itself as a business that could do those things, so the business owner didn’t have to. It’s an offering that is suited to any small to medium business; we’re here for anyone who has employees and needs support to manage the back of office stuff".
“Through referrals and word of mouth, the business started to gain momentum and gave me new opportunities as an Account Manager. We were taking members of our wider HR team to meetings with our clients, and after shadowing at these, I started doing them myself.
“I had my first baby in 2014 and then returned to work. I came back to account management and to good sized team but then the landscape changed and we had to rapidly downsize. In a smaller team I took on further duties and eventually became the Operations Manager.
"Skills can be taught, but a great attitude and reliability are crucial. Treat others as you want to be treated," Johan said.
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