Paragon Recruitment’s Post

The past two months have been full of changes in my professional life 🔄, one of which was the completion of my collaboration at CoverWallet, an Aon company. This experience was a challenge that I embraced with enthusiasm, and although it was not always easy, I am grateful for everything I learned 🌱. Here are some of those learnings 👩💻: - Adaptation and Diversity at Work: The challenge of entering the Bancassurance vertical within an Insurtech 🏦 led me to work in an international environment 🌍 with colleagues from Ukraine, Spain, Argentina, France, Colombia, Belarus, and more. Although English was our greatest ally, the truly enriching part was understanding the diverse ways of working, customs, schedules, and personal treatments that each one brought from their home country. - Relationship with Stakeholders: The experience at CoverWallet deepened my understanding of collaboration with stakeholders 🤝. I learned the importance of understanding the needs of each part and how each team has its points of view according to their priorities. Navigating these waters to advance my initiatives was a key aspect of my growth in this area. - Structure and Organization: CW's culture of efficiency and compliance led me to a more structured and organized version of myself 🗂️, focused on understanding what's really important, optimizing, and prioritizing my responsibilities. - Focus on Product and Technology: The opportunity to share with talented product managers, product ops, and tech teams was a fascinating and unexpected journey 🙌. As a Product Manager, I found myself venturing into slightly more technical tasks than I ever imagined: designing func and tech definitions, assisting with information architecture, befriending APIs (who would have thought!), reading code, and even building some SQL queries for SalesForce! Why not?🙆♀️ My colleagues often looked at me in awe, with faces that said, "How did you get here?🤔" The answer is simple: they taught me to fish rather than handing me the fish 🎣. Well, maybe not to fish in the traditional sense, but definitely not to be afraid to roll up my sleeves and get wet in technological waters!😉 In summary, this year at CoverWallet has been intense and challenging, and it has allowed me to grow in ways that pleasantly surprise me 📈. Finally, I want to thank everyone who was part of this adventure 🚀. To my colleagues, who have become examples and role models, I thank you for making this experience memorable and enriching 🙏. Until the next adventure 🌟 ☝️P.S.: To the Madrid office team, your positive energy, fun activities, and unwavering commitment not only kept the work flowing but also kept the smiles coming. Thanks for the good times! 😊 #productmanagement #productmanager

When I reflect on the key moments in my career which one would I say was the most pivotal? Was it deciding to leave fashion and go into design taking the CEO role at The Conran Shop to work with Sir Terence Conran and reinvent the Brand? Was it leaving a good job at Top Man and taking the MD role at Urban Outfitters Europe to set up the Concept in this market and take it across the continent and beyond? Was it leaving my role running a branch of an accountancy executive search company, taking a 78% pay cut, to move into an allocator (junior admin) role at Top Man? All because my inner voice was screaming at me that the work I was doing wasn’t right for me. Was it taking the job at the search company as a summer telesales temp and subsequently dropping out of University because I ended up getting my own branch and earning a relative fortune by the end of the summer holidays? Was it leaving a very successful early career in banking at NatWest, where I was called into head office and told I was the fastest promoted person in their history, to run off to Uni (polytechnic actually!) because I thought I was getting old before my time and wanted to have some fun? Or was it my most recent move from being a Global CEO to becoming a Life Purpose Coach because I get so much reward from helping people connect to their purpose, balance and joy? The answer is who knows? What I do know for certain are two things. Firstly, every career decision I made was off the back of listening to my inner voice and doing what felt right rather than over thinking it. And secondly, every single one of those decisions was linked. Nothing happens in a vacuum. What’s the most pivotal moment in your career? #careerchoices #success #innerwisdom

I decided to try out something new 😊 💫I decided to take up a summer work program in the United States immediately after I concluded my final semester in school. I wanted to enhance my communication skills, meet new people, and try out something new outside my scope and what I am generally used to. I got a position as a sales associate in an organization. I got to work with different people from different parts of the World. My boss would make a statement that still resonates so well whenever I think about it. She said, “Anita, treat this business as though it is yours”. That was all I needed to hear. I would get to work on time, pray for and over the business, and would always ask myself, what would I do better if this business was really mine? This mindset fueled my work experience as it didn’t just make my work easier but made it more enjoyable. By the time I was concluding my program, I was awarded as the most professional worker as a result of my sound work ethic. 💫As a sales associate, I learned to communicate, negotiate, multi-task, recommend, pay attention to details and be a good team player. I learned sales and marketing skills and customer service skills. I experienced different cultural shocks, but I developed new international friendships and cross-cultural understanding. I even tried new dishes ( many of which I did not like😂). In all, it was an awesome experience and totally worth the try. I have decided to share this new experience with you my LinkedIn family. #summer2023 #internationaldevelopment #salesandmarketing

Today marks the conclusion of my incredible journey at Super73. I began as Customer Service Technical Support, both for B2C and B2B, in a contractual role, but as is often the case with startups, I found myself wearing many hats. From balancing showroom duties and service center tasks to managing inbound/outbound shipping of parts, every day was a new challenge and opportunity to learn. My role quickly evolved into Order Support, which naturally extended to Outbound Logistics. Eventually, I found my niche as Warehouse Coordinator, my longest-lasting and most impactful position. Over these 3 years and 8 months, I’ve grown immensely, not just professionally but personally. The last year and 10 months were particularly challenging as I balanced full-time studies in International Business with my responsibilities at Super73. Yet, these challenges were also the most rewarding. They honed my skills in time management, multitasking, and strategic thinking. I’m incredibly proud of my growth and achievements here. I've learned so much about logistics, customer service, and operational efficiency. But beyond the skills and experiences, what I treasure most are the relationships I’ve built. My colleagues have become friends, and these friendships feel like a second family. Their support and camaraderie have made every challenge manageable and every success sweeter. Super73 wasn’t just a job; it was a community where I found purpose and passion. I’ve never enjoyed learning and growing more than I have here and I will forever be grateful for this opportunity. Now, it’s time to take a well-deserved break, enjoy the summer, and refresh—something I haven’t done in a while. As I look to the future, I’m excited about new opportunities. After the summer, I’ll be starting my job search again. If anyone has ideas or connections to help me find a part-time job that I can balance with my studies, I would be incredibly grateful. Thank you, Super73, for an unforgettable journey and for shaping me into the professional I am today. The picture attached was my ‘once’ in a lifetime experience as model at Super73 as well. 😅 #CareerJourney #NewBeginnings #JobSearch #Networking #Super73 #Gratitude

Life is so interesting, I tell ya. Your wants and career fulfillment today will look SO different tomorrow. Even if you’re 100% sure today it won’t change tomorrow, I guarantee you it will. Let me explain. When I was first starting to work way back around 15-years old; what was important for me was working in a busy fun environment. My measure of success was landing jobs in department stores, airports, malls. Sure enough, my very first job was at Target as a cashier (still one of my favorite jobs ever🤩). When I was tired of all that and wanted something different, working for a big corporation was what I wanted. I vividly remember driving around, seeing “cool office buildings” and thinking WOW I want to work there! Wearing cute little business attire outfits and not uniforms, climbing the corporate ladder, and mentioning I work for the corporate office every chance I got is what I wanted. And I got that - for over 17+ years. Now I see different corporate buildings and gets chills. It represents confinement, silly office politics, really uncomfortable clothing, annoying parking, and the absolute worst; pizza parties. The point is, we’re all in different stages of our lives and careers. What works for you will not for the next person and we’re all on our own different evolutions. My wants and desires in career fulfillment are completely different now than they were when I landed my first at 15. Now its all about freedom and independence; freedom from a structured routine and environment. Ability to work and perform anywhere, to have complete trust that the work will get done (really well too), and complete ability to be 100% creative in my approach. Regard of location, time, or outfit. No matter where you are on your journey I really hope you achieve it. Just be sure not to judge the person next to you because they’re most likely on a completely different journey on their own.

Absolutely thrilled to share a bit of my journey today! My path to where I stand today as part of the GURLER MAE brands has been anything but a straight line. Despite studying computer networking at university and completing two independent Cisco courses, I struggled to find work in my chosen field. After countless interviews over six months, I found myself having to rethink my career plan. While living with my parents at the time, my dad’s advice was poignant - “You need to get a job, and you can carry on looking while you work.” So, I headed to the job centre. It was here that I landed my first job as a retail security officer for brands like M&S, Gap, and Topshop at Oxford Circus. The customer service training was invaluable, and I must confess, the occasional adrenaline rush was rather enjoyable during my late teens! In my mid-20s, I transitioned into finance, working as a contractor for the Met Police. The experience exposed me to a different universe, broadening my professional landscape, while simultaneously teaching me about my earning potential. After a setback due to cutbacks, I found myself returning to the security industry. However, with gruelling hours and two young children at home, I knew I wanted more. It was this thought that led me and a friend to start an office products business as a side project. Fast forward 7 years, the challenges, the triumphs - it was all worth it, teaching me more than any university ever could. The office products business evolved, adding a new dimension in the form of social media management, which soon became my passion and eventually overgrew its predecessor - cue the birth of Social Iceberg. A decade ago, I could never have projected where I’d stand today - contributing to some of the fastest-growing businesses in the construction industry, The Gurler Mae brands are proud to play a part in this exciting field. Though our path isn't for everyone - we're aggressive when it comes to business growth and take great pride in becoming part of our clients' success stories. Looking towards the future, there's more to come from us, starting from the re-launch of The Property Cigar Club to other significant announcements slated for 2024. Thank you for being part of my journey. I'm excited about what's in store, and I hope my story resonates with those needing inspiration today! #ConstructionIndustry #GurlerMae

What's your fav thing about summer? And....what's your least fav thing about work? (working in summer?!;) If you onw your own business, work for someone else pt or ft, or have been at the same job/career "forever" and feel like.you want a change- what would that be? What would you want? What would that FEEL like? Do you even know? If so, comment below. If not, dream a little and figure out how to make it better! Happy Summer!

It's a new week 💃🏽🥂🥂 Which means new opportunities! Let's start this week off right by setting some clear goals and working hard to achieve them. . . . . #mondaymotivation #realestategoals #realestatemotivation #newweekgoals #realestatesuccess #houztohome #luxuryrealestate #realestateagent #realestateagents #lagosrealestate

🚨 PROMOTION ALERT 🚨 Let me tell you about this ambitious young man, Jeison Hernandez. Back in December, Jeison walks into one of my stores with a résumé in hand, and says he’s looking for work. I interviewed him, and immediately noticed his potential. Jeison joined my team as an entry level sales associate a few days after Christmas, 2023. Since then, not only has he upheld the company and district values consistently, but he took on additional responsibility just to prove himself. He wanted to show me that he can do the job even without a title! Any time I needed someone to help with emergency coverage, he was the first one to step to the plate. Anytime I was unavailable to support another employee, he took the initiative to help out. When his shift ended for the day, and the business was still busy, he stayed off the clock to support his peers. Granted, I still made sure to compensate him for his time! Whenever he was presented with an obstacle, the first thing Jeison thinks about is what he CAN do to fix it, not about what he CAN’T do. All of this, without ask! As a result of his unconditional efforts, he was promoted to a Team Leader (Assistant Manager) in March, 2024. Following a successful February in his store, Jeison ended the first quarter of the year with 106% to his monthly Gross Profit target! Today, he was promoted to Store Manager for his Jackson Heights, Queens store. I love sharing internal growth stories such as this one, because tenure doesn’t necessarily dictate if someone should move up the ladder of hierarchy. But rather their merit, how they uphold the values of the community, extreme ownership, integrity, unconditional efforts and being able to keep their head high when during the HIGHS & the LOWS! I am hopeful that I will be able to share more stories like this in 2024 ⚡️ #PromotionStory #CP4L #CricketWireless #InternalGrowth #InvestInTheFrontline

Check out these stories of two professionals whose first jobs, like myself, were in retail. You’ll see why your retail experience can help you land your next job. 👇 Oh, and #shoutout to @jacksonsbakery in Greece, NY 😍🧁🥖🍩🍰🎂 #CareerCompass #FidelityAssociate