Hey there! I'm Chris. In this current phase of my life, I’m navigating the world of recruitment at Moniepoint. It’s not common to approach recruitment from a sales perspective, but my experience has shown a pretty strong connection between the two. Here, I will share my ideas on sales and recruitment and how the ways they overlap help find the best people for every role. 

First, let’s start with a bit of my background 

Who is Chris? 

Born and raised in the States, I'm the product of hard-working immigrant parents who carved out a better life for their kids in a cosy East Bay Area suburb. Growing up, it took me a while to realise their sacrifices and how these shaped my perspective on work and life. My mom, an Ecuadorian immigrant, embodies the sense of hard work, independence and grit taught to her by her mother. My dad, a successful professional in the oil and gas industry, showed me the meaning of discipline and perseverance.

My first job didn't come until I was 17, thanks to the comfortable life my parents provided. I worked at a coffee shop as a barista, making coffee and lattes for people. It helped me build my people relations skills. From then on, I took up jobs and roles that leaned towards people and sales.

Stumbling into recruitment, therefore, was a mix of serendipity and my inherent drive to do quality work, treat people with respect, and be kind. Reflecting on it, my approach to recruitment and in a way, my stint in sales have been deeply influenced by my background.

How I found my way into Recruitment 

Remember I said I had a career stint in sales? I sold ads in a school newspaper at the university I attended. I also worked at a non-profit where I was responsible for selling tickets for an annual event, which was our main fundraiser for the year. I also worked as a salesperson in a couple of software start-ups where I was either directly selling or had to get qualified leads booked for my manager to have sales meetings with potential clients. 

I was also in a business fraternity where I was responsible for different things. For example, I was in charge of  “Alumni Relation” where I was responsible for re-building relationships with people who used to be members and raising money from them. I also had to figure out ways to leverage their position in tech companies to benefit our active members. This led to several people finding jobs and internships. Although I didn’t realise it then, I was actually serving as a connecting dot and being a recruiter. 

Through these experiences, I saw that sales and recruitment were alike. This led me to join a recruitment agency as an entry-level recruitment coordinator when I moved to Portugal. When we think about recruitment, it's easy to overlook the skills borrowed from sales that make a recruiter truly exceptional.

The Intersection of Recruitment and Sales

Imagine you were a candidate I was convincing to join Moniepoint. What would you like me to do? What would you like to see or hear? And would that be different from, say, trying to get you to buy something? In my experience, not so much.

Recruitment, like sales, centres on three pillars:

Relationship building

My approach has always been to treat candidates respectfully, genuinely understand their career aspirations, and maintain high-quality interactions. This philosophy isn't something I consciously decided to follow; it reflects the values instilled in me by my parents and my cultural heritage.

Persuasion

Persuasion is another sales skill that plays a pivotal role in recruitment. It’s not about manipulation. Rather, it's the art of presenting opportunities in a way that resonates with candidates. Every time I speak with a potential candidate, I try to highlight how the role aligns with their aspirations and growth. Similarly, in sales, it's about showing the value of a product in meeting a customer's needs. This skill demands a deep understanding of both the product and the customer—or, in the case of recruitment, the role and the candidate. It's about painting a picture of a future that's too compelling to pass up.

Grit

As a recruiter, I’ve come to accept that not every candidate would take up my offer. However, when there’s a candidate I’m sure would offer value to the company, grit is what keeps me going even when the candidate declines. I once followed up with a potential candidate for over 6 months because I was sure the candidate was the best fit for the role.  Grit is perhaps the most critical value I bring to my role: a relentless determination and resilience that I've inherited from my hard-working parents. This quality is necessary in both sales and recruitment. Facing rejections, navigating challenging negotiations, and continuously striving to meet targets require a level of perseverance that not everyone possesses. Grit means pushing through the no’s to get to a yes, constantly refining your approach and never losing sight of your goals. It's about being resourceful, learning from each interaction, and never giving up on finding the perfect match for both candidates and the company.

Interestingly, my experience in sales helped solidify these principles. Sales is about connecting with people, understanding their needs, and providing value. Similarly, recruitment is about connecting the right people with the right roles, understanding the needs of both the candidates and the company, and ensuring a good fit. The two aren't all that different when you boil them down to their essence, as both require empathy, understanding, and the ability to build trust.

My laid-back tone and approachable manner might mask the depth of determination inherited from my parents. My mom's tenacity and my dad's discipline have subtly influenced my work ethic, making me relentless in pursuing quality and excellence in recruitment. This has not only helped me stand out in my field but also in building meaningful, lasting relationships in the professional world.

Moreover, my international background has endowed me with a broader perspective, allowing me to appreciate diversity and leverage it in recruitment strategies. Recognising the strength in diverse experiences and backgrounds has been key in my role, much like it is in sales, where understanding and adapting to various customer backgrounds can make or break deals.

Expanding my Experience at Moniepoint 

My experience at Moniepoint has been nothing short of enlightening, largely due to the incredible people I've had the pleasure of working with. As an international company, Moniepoint has introduced me to individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds, enriching my professional life and personal growth. This diversity mirrors my own multicultural upbringing and aligns with my belief in the strength of diverse perspectives.

Working at Moniepoint, I've found a place where my values—quality, respect, empathy, and grit—are not just appreciated but are part of the company’s values. The opportunity to meet and interact with people from all walks of life has not only enhanced my recruitment skills but has also made my daily work deeply rewarding.

Thanks for joining me on this personal reflection. Come join us and make a difference at Moniepoint through the work you do by checking out our careers page.