Tell us about your work at Insync Recruitment Group.
I do recruitment within the international logistics and supply chain industry. That covers importing, exporting, customs, trade, shipping and freight. I have the joy of assisting people finding work, and also assisting employers finding staff.
As the co-founder of Insync, how and why did you start this business?
I worked in recruitment on the generalist side for many years. After I went off and had children, my friend was working for an industry recruitment agency and said to me, “Come on over and recruit for freight forwarding.” But I didn’t know what freight forwarding was, I thought it was like a swear word. So I fell into it because of my friend, casually working a few days a week, juggling the mum life and whatever else. That was many years ago now, and I haven’t looked back.
What’s something that you love about your job?
I like it because I genuinely enjoy being a part of the supply chain for this country. It is huge. People think I’m a bit of a nerd when I get excited about it. I’ve never worked in the industry; I’ve only ever done it from a recruitment perspective. Maybe that’s why I like it – I’ve never actually done it.
When I have an entry level student, a uni graduate or a school leaver, I like to tell them about the industry they can get into. I explain that this is global and, if you get in with the right business, you can do transfers in other countries. Their role is way bigger than just sitting at a desk. I still get excited about that.
Were there any challenges coming into this industry?
It was a lot to learn – the industry is just so big. There are so many pieces of the puzzle to get the freight in and out of the country, and so many people are part of the process.
How about coming into your recruitment role?
Working for a recruitment agency, my commodity is not a containership, it’s a person. We’ve got to try and understand where the person will end up and what they want and represent both parties. We professionally and ethically hope they match up and stay together for a very long time. It’s like matchmaking in the business world. And it’s a tough market – it’s hard to get good, strong, industry experienced candidates, and then getting employers that are of the same mindset as the candidate. It’s not easy, but when it works, it’s exciting.
What are some recruitment challenges from your perspective?
Our industry isn’t known. My frustration for years has been that the industry needs to be promoted. No one goes to school and completes their HSC and says, “I want to be a customs broker.” If you do, please call me. I don’t have enough contacts and resources to have every single school in New South Wales and around the country promoting these careers as options for when you complete your HSC.
What do you suggest industry do to help grow the workforce?
From our side, we’re picking from a small pool that have experience in the industry, but we’re not really getting any fresh blood. I would advise every employer in this industry to have a recruitment quota for entry level opportunities. I know everyone is busy, but they can’t be so busy that they can’t have a little buddy system within the business that at least gives a new person some exposure to different departments. I would hope that you’re then going to gain more loyalty because of the opportunity you’ve given that person. We have to continuously feed from the bottom up to make sure that we’re going to always have great people in great companies.
Where are you based and what do your weekends look like?
I’m born and bred in Sydney. I’m married with two children – I have a 19-yearold son and a 14-year-old daughter and a beautiful chocolate Labrador. On the weekends, I’ll probably go out and spend too much money and eat too much chocolate.
What kind of student were you in school?
This won’t shock anyone – I was the participant that was on the student council. I was always organising things. And I was very athletic – I did a lot of gymnastics when I was young. But I was always hanging out and laughing with my friends. I enjoy people. That’s why I work in recruitment.
What’s on your playlist?
All the dance music from the 90s. I’ve got an old school 90s radio station going on in my car. I love most music – anything you can get up and have a bit of a dance and a sing to and think you’re Shania Twain and you’re not, and that’s okay.
This article appeared in the November 2023 edition of DCN Magazine
