Aflak Rehman called the recruiter directly seeking a job opportunity in financial services despite lacking typical sales experience. The recruiter spoke with Rehman for 30 minutes, learning that he was struggling to find stable work to support his family despite obtaining relevant qualifications. Seeing Rehman's intelligence, politeness and dedication to his family, the recruiter looked past his deficiencies and referred him to managers nationwide. Rehman interviewed well and expressed deep gratitude to the recruiter for giving him a chance, saying he owed the recruiter "a man hug." Since then, the recruiter and Rehman have developed a friendship, speaking regularly about career and family matters.
1. A Man Hug of Gratitude
If you builda connectionwith someone,andreallygo the extra mile to helpthem, thenthe results
can be life changing.
Whenyou’re inthe industryof recruitment,youhave the pleasure of meetingavast amountof
people from all overthe country.FromInsurance Brokers,toEstate Agents,toPersonal Bankers,and
SalesPeople –the varietyisendless.IrecruitforMortgage Consultantsasa memberof the
RecruitmentTeaminMiltonKeynesHeadOffice,andthe above experience is usuallythe sortof
people we lookfor.However,there isanexceptiontoeveryrule,andAflakRehmanwasthe
exception.
In Novemberof 2015, I receivedacall from Aflaktomy directnumber.Thisisn’tunusual,butit’snot
too commoneither– mostof the time youwouldfindthatpeople applybythe internetasopposed
to callingindirectly. He wasa well spokenman,andverypolite.Hisopeningsentenceof “Iapologise
for callingyoudirectlyandtakingupyourtime...”reallystruckachord withme. We spoke aboutthe
role,hisexperience,hismotivations,amongstaselectionof otherthings.Whatshouldbe a10
minute conversationturnedintoahalf hour,and he and I became acquaintancesinone shortphone
call.
He toldme that he had struggledto findworkinFinancial Servicesdue tohisworkexperience.He
self fundedhisCeMAPqualification(aqualificationtoprovide mortgage advice),butdidn’thave the
salesexperiencethatmostwouldlookfor – he wascurrentlyworkingasan IntelligenceOfficerfor
the Police Service.He mentionedthatnoone wouldgive himachance, andreiteratedthatthisisall
he wants todo. He spoke of hiswife andchildren,andhow he wantedtofindworkthat wouldbe
suitable totheirneeds.Ihadheardenough.Ilookedpastthe lackof salesandFinancial Services
experience, andsawanintelligent,polite,andgenuinely kindfamilyman whowassimplylookingfor
someone togive hima chance.
The weeksfollowing,IsenthisdetailstodifferentManagersthroughout the UK.He has since hadan
interview,andhasjustifiedmythoughtsbydoingverywell! “Ireallycan’texpresshow grateful I
am!” saidAflakonhisexperiencewithCountrywide sofar.“Knowingwhat’sonofferwith
Countrywide,Iwantthis opportunityevenmore.Iowe youaman hug of gratitude!”
Since our firstconversation,we have spokenalmosteveryweek.He hascalledme aboutadvice with
hisfamily,aboutadvice ona Financial ServicesopportunityinItalyhe wasoffered,andevensentme
a mug and a card (decoratedbya hand drawnpicture of Christmasinthe Rehmanhouseholdbyhis
