NAME: Sue Di Chio
JOB TITLE: Director, Who in the Zoo
WHERE DID YOU START YOUR
CAREER?
I studied Fine Arts and began my career in Marketing and Communications
before falling into recruitment 10 years ago. I started Who in the Zoo, my own
agency, in 2007. The agency grew very quickly and we now have a team of 6
dedicated recruiters.
WHAT DO YOU LOVE
ABOUT YOUR JOB?
The excitement of meeting new people, the challenges of working on a new
position, the satisfaction and sense of achievement felt when we find a
candidate their dream job or a client their ideal employee. I also love the
relationships I have built with people over the years and love seeing design
assistants that I met 8 years ago running their own successful brands today.
TELL US ABOUT
YOUR AVERAGE DAY, WHAT DO YOU DO?
Starts with my trainer at 6 am. By 8:30 am I'm in the office holding
morning meetings with the team, brainstorming different possibilities for all
of our positions and candidates. We spend a lot of our time investigating
new labels, talking to clients about what is happening within their businesses
and what their future vision might be, so that we can introduce the right
people to get them there sooner! I interview candidates, go on client visits,
squeeze in lunch at my desk and try not to leave too late most nights!
IS THERE
ANYTHING YOU DREAD DOING?
It is always hard to tell a candidate that they have missed out on a job
they are really excited about.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU OFFER SOMEONE WANTING A
CAREER IN FASHION?
It pays to
be passionate about fashion, as it's not the easiest of vocations. Your
motivation to be part of the industry has to be about a genuine and enduring
love for it, rather than a fleeting notion of the glamour you think it may
bring.
IS IT WHAT YOU KNOW OR WHO
YOU KNOW?
Often in the beginning it can be a case of "who
you know" but if your objective is to build
a sound reputation in the industry, who you know will only take you so far. It
is undoubtedly your professionalism, expertise and "what
you know" that will see you rise through the
ranks.
WHAT INSPIRES YOU?
Talented people are always inspirational and
we enjoy the privilege of meeting people who have incredible ability every day. It's
not just creative talent either, I admire business people, who have the
tenacity and endurance to build a brand and business in what can be a tough
industry.
Print Version
Send Article to Friend