As part of our commitment to continually improving our services, Specialized Group's Daniel Biggs conducted a candidate interview with Nikita Lee. Daniel recently helped Nikita Lee find a new position as an HR Manager.
1) Please tell us about your career to date?
I started my career as a graduate in HR in a manufacturing plant of a major automobile company. Before that, I had also completed a 4-month internship with a global FMCG company during my university days. For my first role in the plant, I was in charge of making sure that HR-related processes were executed according to the Japanese labor laws and was also involved in a large-scale hiring project for foreign technical trainees. After 2 years in the plant, I was relocated to the global headquarters where I managed the compensation and benefits and international mobility for approximately 2,000 inbound and outbound expatriates. I was also able to travel frequently and spent 6 months in the US being involved in major projects with global counterparts.
2) What triggered you to change jobs?
I felt that I had come to a stand-still in my career and was looking for a more challenging opportunity that would lead to further personal development and career growth. I believed that my strengths lied in operations management and was actively looking to return to a similar role. I feel that life should be a constant learning process and I am always on the lookout for new challenges.
3) What were the factors in accepting the opportunity that Specialized Group introduced you to?
I have been a long-time fan of the company’s products and felt very excited to be able to be part of the team. I admire the company’s philosophies especially with regards to employee engagement and believe that I will be able to carry out their vision in my new role while putting my existing knowledge and skills to good use. I am also confident that the new environment will provide me with the opportunity to be more creative in my daily tasks.
4) Did anything make you uneasy to change your job? How did you solve or overcome the uneasiness?
As this is my first experience changing jobs, naturally I was worried about the career progression and prospects in the new company. I was also worried about the change in benefits as the information was not made available at the start by the hiring company. Thankfully, I was able to obtain all the necessary information through Daniel and became excited to start working in my new role.
5) What did you think about the services given by Specialized Group?
I am very satisfied with the services provided, especially with Daniel who spent time understanding my needs and tailoring the job recommendations to my personal preferences and strengths. He also responded quickly to any questions and was very professional in managing the entire process.
6) Do you have a message for those changing jobs?
By spending time analyzing your strengths and weaknesses and creating a concrete career development path and personal wish list, you will have a better picture of the role that is most suitable for you. Do not feel pressured to select the first recommendation or offer, and do discuss your expectations with your recruiter and they will be able to assist you in finding the perfect fit.
