​​​The FJ Friday Feature Blog gives a chance for our candidates and clients to get to know our team better. This week's FJ Friday Feature speaks with our Managing Director of the UK and EMEA, James May. James is based in our Didsbury office in Manchester and is actively hiring. If you are interested, get in touch with James for new opportunities.

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1. What initially got you into recruitment?

Like most people, I fell into recruitment. When I graduated university in Birmingham I got a role in Technology Sales selling security, managed services, and infrastructure hardware. After 3 years I left that company as my then girlfriend (now wife) and I decided to go travelling around Asia, Australasia, and America. When we returned I was contacted by a consultant from FJ who had some tech sales roles for me to look at however he also introduced me to John who sold me the dream of recruitment. Even on day 1, I didn’t really understand what it was but very quickly realised I was pretty good at it and caught the bug, and here we are 13 years later!  

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2. What are your favourite things about working at Finlay James?

First the people! We manage to find like-minded individuals who want to develop a career and be successful as well as wanting to have a good time. Secondly, with us being a small business I am able to have a direct influence on changes to the operation and company direction. If someone has a good idea we will try it and implement it quickly (sometimes within hours) to see whether it makes the boat go quicker!

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3. What goals do you have for the next 5 years?

Firstly, to build the business back up following the impact of the pandemic. We have navigated the situation pretty well in my opinion and managed to change certain parts of our culture around expectations and accountability whilst maintaining the family feel.

More long-term will be to grow out the London and Chicago operations alongside developing those in Manchester into leadership roles so we can scale that location at pace.

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4. What do you recommend to someone who is just starting up in recruitment?

Work harder than those around you, live up to your own potential and compare your performances with the best not those at the bottom.

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5. Describe your perfect, non-work day.

A perfect non-working day would include an early run, football training with my eldest son Bobby first thing, a walk in the hills with the family and then the pub with some mates for a few beers and maybe some football in the background.

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Looking for new opportunities within the tech space?

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Click here to look at our live roles!