The secrets of a Top Performer at SThree : meet Lèvent
Few years ago Lèvent was far away to imagine he would be working in Belgium in the recruitment industry on the automation market. And yet… just 18 months after having started as Recruitment Consultant in Brussels, his journey at SThree sounds like one of the best success stories in the company ! Meet Lèvent.
Hey Lèvent, tell us about your story !
I’m French, I grew up and studied in Nancy and went on an Erasmus program in Poland. This trip allowed me to meet people from all over the world and opened my mind. At that moment, I realised I was a people person ! After Poland, I got the opportunity to discover Turkey : what an incredible experience. This is where I met Anne, my Belgian girlfriend. The next year I moved to Louvain la Neuve to get closer to Anne and to try out Belgium. After graduating, I needed to find a job. I had a first experience in the banking sector and I had a few jobs in restaurants.
How did you end up in recruitment ?
I simply applied to a SThree’s job advert. The process was pretty long, it was in the summer and most of the managers were on holidays. I didn’t drop the bone : I called a few times to follow up on my application. Unfortunately, the feedback was negative : the managers were not convinced enough. So I accepted another role elsewhere but one week later, Kevin, my actual manager — who was on holidays when I came for my last interview — called me back to tell me he wanted me in his team. I was delighted ! And so I started in September 2017 at Progressive Brussels (one of SThree’s brands).
So how were your first few weeks on the job ?
It wasn’t easy ! I was working late at night and even sometimes on Saturdays : I had to work a lot to understand my market. I knew nothing about recruitment and about the automation sector. Once I understood how it worked, I gained credibility and everything went well for me. I made my first deal in November and the following months I made 4 then 5 recruitments.
Recruitment Consultant : what is this job really about ?
My job is to find the right candidate at the right time for the right client. I see myself as a football agent : the players are the automation specialists on my market and the clubs are the clients who have a specific need. I work with freelancers, I’m in charge of finding new opportunities for them and offering them a quality follow-up. I create strong rapport with my clients : I help them reach their development goals by finding them the right people. I search for projects, I find candidates and I create loyalty from my partners thanks to a close monitoring. It is really a fascinating job !
What’s the key of your success at SThree ?
Finding information about all the main actors on my market and developing my own style as a recruiter. I create close relationships with my stakeholders : I invite them to the restaurant, I see them outside of working hours to get a drink or to go to a football game together. And what really makes the difference is my market knowledge : candidates and clients immediately feel that I know what I am talking about.
What are you most proud of ?
What really makes me proud is when people recommend me. When I get a call from someone telling me « I want to work with you Lèvent ! ». I am honest and sincere with my candidates and clients. I work in transparency and create strong professional relationships. Some of those relationships grow into friendships… I even invited one of my candidate for my birthday party !
Top Biller, incentives, success, uncapped commissions, promotions… you are enjoying all the nice part of your job. But what are the negative aspects of your role ?
It’s a job that requires a lot of time and energy and if you don’t put clear limits, it can step into your personal life. The adrenaline, the incentives and the commissions challenge you to always go the extra mile. Since I started at Progressive, I have never been sick ! My brain takes over and I don’t want to let go of my business.
How are you different today compared to when you started ?
I am more self-confident and I learned how to keep my powder dry. Before, I talked a lot and would easily get angry. I have learned to focus. I also significantly improved my negotiation skills.
How do you imagine the rest of your career ?
Today I am a “Principal Recruitment Consultant” in the career path SThree offers and I am mentoring junior consultants in my team. I haven’t decided yet if I want to continue developing my own business or if I want to grow into management. Both are possible at SThree, so I know I have options and I’m not worried about it !
Are there open positions in your team ?
Yes ! We are actively looking for a « Sales Support Consultant » : the person will have a key role in our business ! She/He will be in charge to monitor our freelancers from an administrative point of view : answer all their queries and questions. The administrative follow up is crucial for our clients and the service we deliver. We are also always interested in strong sales people to enter a role in Sales & Recruitment.
What’s a good profile ?
No matter what degree you have, which school you went to or the amount of years of experience, what we want is an outgoing people person. People who know how to keep things light. A touch of humor is always welcome too !
If you’d like to try your luck, send us your profile to myfuturejob@sthree.com
Article written by Caroline, Talent Acquisition Consultant
