Olivia Clayton

Apprenticeship Recruiter

"I very much enjoy placing candidates and knowing that I am helping to make a difference to people’s lives."

What led you to work for PETA?

After spending 5 years working in childcare, I moved into recruitment where I have now been for the past 5 years. A lot of my family are in recruitment which lead me to take this route, I quickly found a passion for it, and I haven’t looked back since. My recruitment experience has been a mixture of external and internal, I very much enjoy placing candidates and knowing that I am helping to make a difference to people’s lives. This is what lead me to PETA as I wanted to take on the responsibility of helping others kick start their career.

What is your role at PETA and what drives you to do what you do?

My role at PETA is an Apprenticeship Recruiter, I help support individuals getting into the IT industry by offering apprenticeships to them. I am there to guide them from start to finish ensuring that they are confident they know what the job entails and what they can expect overall on an apprenticeship programme. Knowing that I am giving others an opportunity to gain practical experience in an industry that they are passionate about as well as earning at the same time and gaining a recognisable qualification, is very rewarding. Even if applicants aren’t successful for a particular role, I am helping them to gain confidence and practice for future interviews.

How do you approach your role on a day-to-day basis? What skills are required?

I approach each day with a methodical plan to ensure that all areas of my role are covered, so everyone is able to get the support they need from myself. Knowledge of how the recruitment process works is key for this role, as well understanding how to be adaptable for both clients and candidates and making sure that I tailor for everyone’s individual needs.

What are you passionate about outside of work?

Outside of work I spend time with my family and have my partner’s son stay with us on the weekends. I also enjoy spending time with my friends, going to the theatre and enjoy taking walks along the beach.

What are your personal values, and what is important to you?

Being empathetic towards others has always been a strong personal value of mine, as well as treating everyone fairly whilst continuing to stay true to myself and not take life too seriously.