VICTORIA GOODIER is Commercial Director and has been with Core Talent for nine years
“I was very lucky in the way the firm kept in touch with me during my maternity leave – the owners took the time to come to me and meet me for coffee, food, whatever I wanted. So I really felt valued.
They didn’t pressure me on working patterns but trusted me to make my diary work and there was a lovely warm welcome when I came back. Settling back in was easy – I really did feel like I’d never been away.
The firm has continued to be very supportive to me. I was promoted to Commercial Director soon after returning from maternity leave.
All babies in nursery are sent home sick regularly but Core never questioned me having to make a mad dash to pick up my boy when he was running a temperature.
Ask me what’s the most difficult thing about managing work and family life and I’d have to say ‘How long have you got?!’
Most difficult is being able to switch from being the boss in work to being present with my son. It’s taken a lot of self-awareness and work to crack this and it still isn’t perfect.
But the best thing about being able to manage my role at Core Talent with my family is that I like having my own identity in work. Being a mum is the best job in the world (and the hardest) but working at Core keeps me grounded in the ‘old me’.
I would always say to any experienced recruiter with a family thinking about coming back to work – just do it!
Don’t think you can do it all, all of the time. There will be times when you wonder ‘how the hell can I manage this?’ But remember that most business owners and senior leaders have been there themselves.
They understand what having a little one is like and, ultimately, they will respect you for always putting family first.”
