Recruitment is fast-paced, relationship-driven and can be demanding. So why do we automatically assume it has to be five days a week?

I joined Ascent Professional Services, a boutique headhunting company in London, at the end of 2022. I already knew Matt, the owner, from 10–15 years earlier, when I’d briefly worked for a sister company.

Fast forward a few years and I was working in student careers advice. A worthwhile job, but I was missing something. I missed the targets, the pace, the buzz and, in a slightly questionable admission, the emotional roller coaster that is recruitment.

There’s nothing quite like going from thinking you’ve found the perfect candidate and are about to change everyone’s lives, to being ghosted, rejected or told they’ve just accepted another job. And then, out of nowhere, a deal comes together and you get that lovely little dopamine hit that keeps you coming back for more. Perhaps I need a hobby.

I also love working in an industry where the harder you work, the more you can potentially get out of it. You have targets, you have goals and, to a large extent, you’re in charge of your own success. I find that motivating.

There was, however, one slight logistical issue. At the end of 2022, my three children were two, five and six. I live on the south coast, and Ascent is in London. Add a full-time commute to the mix and something was going to have to give. Probably me.

So, we found a solution. I work three days a week, mainly remotely.

And honestly? It works brilliantly.

Being a mum of three means there’s always something going on. School drop-offs, assemblies, sports days, forgotten PE kits, endless admin and the general chaos of trying to get three small people out of the house on time. Life can feel like one long to-do list. Working three days a week gives me a bit more room to manage it all without feeling like I’m permanently on a treadmill.

But this isn’t just about fitting work around the school run. I wanted to get back into an industry I enjoy, do something challenging and target-driven, and still have a life outside work. Turns out, you don’t necessarily have to choose one or the other.

A big part of why it works is Ascent’s attitude to working. There’s trust. If you’re doing a good job, working hard and delivering results, nobody is counting how many hours you’re sat at your desk. You’re trusted to get on with it and manage your time.

Of course, recruitment doesn’t always respect your diary. Candidates don’t suddenly stop having questions because it’s Wednesday and I’m not officially working. I’ll often reply to a message or email on my days off because, well, sometimes it’s easier to deal with something than leave it hanging. Relationships matter, and timing can make all the difference.

I’m not suggesting I’ve cracked the perfect work-life balance. I’m still a recruiter, still a mum and still occasionally wondering how there are so many things on the school calendar. But having some control over my time makes a huge difference.

Professionally, I think working three days actually makes me pretty focused. When you’re not working five days, you know those three days need to count. You prioritise, get on with it and make the most of the time you’ve got.

It also got me thinking about recruitment businesses more generally. If you need a researcher or resourcer, why does that automatically have to be a full-time role?

There are plenty of experienced people out there who might not want, or be able to commit to, five days a week but have a huge amount to offer. People who are organised, accountable, know how to manage their time, take ownership and get things done.

Of course, graduates can bring brilliant energy and potential, too. But there can be real value in someone experienced who can hit the ground running and make a difference in fewer days.

Part-time doesn’t mean part-committed. And flexibility doesn’t mean you’re any less ambitious. I still enjoy the targets, the wins, the challenges and yes, even the occasional recruitment-induced emotional wobble. It’s all part of the fun, apparently.

I’ve found a way to do a job I love, work hard, earn money and be around for my family. And I don’t think I should have to apologise for doing that in three days rather than five.

Maybe it’s time we stopped asking whether someone can work five days a week and started asking what they can actually achieve.

Because surely results matter more than hours spent at a desk?

And if someone can do a great job in three days, maybe the question isn’t why they don’t work five. Maybe it’s why we assume they should?

By Lorna McCabe

#Recruitment #Headhunting #FlexibleWorking #Resourcing #ModernWorking