A day in the life of…
Mark Adams! Who is our Regional Manager for the Middle East. Let’s see what Mark gets up to on a day to day basis.
How does it feel moving to Dubai from Edinburgh?
The biggest change for me was certainly the weather. Spending my whole life in Scotland I was accustomed to four seasons in one day, and shorts and t-shirt weather when temperatures soared above 10 degrees. Now, I am in long trousers and a jumper for anything under 22! It has been a huge transition for myself but having a company like AGR supporting me through the process and trusting in me has made the transition as smooth as I could have ever imagined. Working in JLT’s Gold Tower is fantastic and the views out of the 26th floor are incredible. Dubai truly is an inspiring and motivational place to be.
What does a typical day look like for you?
A typical working day will consist of waking up around 6:15 and having breakfast on the balcony with Marina views all around. I will be in the office for 7:30am, working until 6pm due to our global presence. Throughout the day I am in and out of meetings, online and meeting clients in Dubai. To unwind at the end of the day I will usually head to the gym or to the beach for a run at sunset.
The weekend is a very different story. From brunching, yacht parties or pool days with friends the social side of Dubai is unbeatable. Better yet, hit the beach and there is plenty of activities to choose from; paddle boarding, kayaking, wakeboarding and jet skiing to name a few. Dubai even has an indoor ski slope (not something I imagined I would be doing in the desert!). After a long week it is great to have so many possibilities to do!
How did you start off in this industry?
I came into AGR as a Trainee Personnel Coordinator this entailed sourcing candidates, completing contracts, doing certificate verifications/refences among a few other things. Just under a year later I moved into a 360-client consultant role were my main job was to build relationships and bring in new requirements along with continuing to source personnel, this was fantastic as I got to travel around Europe meeting clients in their offices and to attend conferences / exhibitions. Another year later I am now the Regional Manger of our Middle East office in Dubai and heavily engaged with clients in and around the region showcasing AGR’s global presence.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
The best thing about working at AGR is the variety and how fast paced the work is. No day is the same due to our global footprint. I speak with so many different people from around the world, building relationships and creating long lasting partnerships. As all contract recruitment is, we must work fast and at all times of days which really keeps me on my toes. I aim to think one step ahead – one of my favourite sayings I learnt from AGR is to be proactive rather than reactive and I work to that every day.
What made you decide to pursue a career in this industry?
I wanted to start a career that was diverse, with great development opportunities and career progression. I was introduced to our CEO Stuart Hunter, and after hearing about AGR and their story I was keen to become part of the team. Recruitment was a career option I had not considered before, but the possibilities were endless. Stuart and Cameron have created a company where they really support and encourage their team to succeed. AGR seemed like the perfect opportunity for me.
What advice would you give to anyone looking to start off in this industry?
Reach out and show your interest to learn and develop. I came into the industry with no experience at all. Through constant questions, research, and guidance it has helped me to become more confident within my role and what I can achieve.