I started as a Accountant and ended up in Talent Acquisition
At 20, just graduated from university, I never imagined I would become a global Talent Acquisition Partner in one of the most innovative and collaborative organizations which is Nokia.
My journey began funnily enough in a completely different space. After graduating with a degree in Accounting, my career started as an insolvency accountant continents away in Western Australia. After several years in accounting, I came to a realization - this wasn't for me. Something was missing - I yearned for a core people-facing aspect in my career and the recruitment path intrigued me.
The thought of making such a drastic change worried me - could I make such a huge shift in my career after years as an accountant? Would I fail miserably? Finally, I realized I needed to follow my intuition and took the leap. After a riveting 10 years in management consulting recruitment, I realized I wanted to seek exposure to a different industry and learn something new - because you never stop learning. Then came Nokia.
One evening, after a long day and probably my 5th cup of coffee, the job description for a Talent Acquisition role at Nokia glistened on my screen as a sign and it intrigued me. So I leaped again.
I clicked on the apply button not expecting anything would come of it because I didn't possess the industry experience. What I didn't know is that Nokia sees your true potential. After an engaging and exceptional recruitment process, I was welcomed with warmth and support into my team, totally engrossed in a completely new industry. I now have the privilege to relay that candidate experience myself as a Talent Acquisition Partner. Take my advice - your career evolution is never over unless you want it to be.
I am a Talent Acquisition Partner for Middle East & Africa
As a Talent Acquisition Partner based in the United Arab Emirates, I have the opportunity to identify talent through numerous avenues for countries within the richly diverse Middle East and Africa region. The breadth of hiring exposure in my role is across all business units and functions, including various levels of seniority. What makes this so exciting is the opportunity to interact with stakeholders from many different backgrounds and cultures!
At Nokia, I also have the opportunity to dip my hands into many pots, always having the opportunity to ever evolve my recruitment capabilities. Whether it is in employer branding, change management, diversity initiatives, mental health, and wellness, or career search presentations - I can be guaranteed it is never a boring day as a Nokian within the Talent Acquisition team.
Connecting people to their future
The success of an organization is purely dependent on its people - and that is where I have the opportunity to make a significant impact twofold. Firstly, it is truly rewarding to be able to contribute to an individual's career journey and future. Not only that, but every new Nokian also creates a new footprint for the growth and success of the organization.
Don't be afraid to take a leap – I did it!
If you are seeking a career that will be memorable and impactful, sometimes you may need to step outside of your comfort zone and take a leap into unknown waters. I took the leap twice - once when changing my role function (from accounting to recruiting), and secondly, industry-wise when joining Nokia. I did not regret either of those decisions and I feel this is where I belong. Don't be afraid to pursue your passion, with dedication and consistency your career aspirations can become a reality.
Creating an imprint on the many layers of Talent Acquisition
When thinking about my achievements, it was hard to decide on one specific moment, because as a Talent Acquisition Partner, you create so much impact in so many different ways. My great achievement was to create an imprint on the many fundamental layers of Talent Acquisition in Nokia - whether it was identifying talent, employer branding, candidate experience, change management, or career search support to name a few. Contributing to the advancement of Nokia's Talent Acquisition has been a key highlight of my career.
