“Lloyds Register recognised my experience. They saw my potential and value and they welcomed me”
Based: Houston, Texas
Role: Senior Recruiter, Americas
Tenure at LR: 4 years in December
Attracted to LR’s focus on safety and culture, as well as a diverse workforce, Paula joined LR in 2018, bringing her experience, and good reputation with her. She says, “I was worried about getting a new job after my 25-year career in healthcare ended; Being in my late 50s, I can be classed as a diverse candidate. But Lloyds Register recognised my experience. They saw my potential and value and they welcomed me”.
Moving from healthcare to the marine sector was a challenge. Paula had to learn a whole new business, along with all the varied roles within it, but with support from management and colleagues alike, she was soon thriving. Paula also raves about the culture within LR, attributing part of it to the knowledge that everyone is willing to share with each other, and says, “there is always someone willing to help you”.
Moving from healthcare to the marine sector was a challenge. Paula had to learn a whole new business, along with all the varied roles within it, but with support from management and colleagues alike, she was soon thriving. Paula also raves about the culture within LR, attributing part of it to the knowledge that everyone is willing to share with each other, and says, “there is always someone willing to help you”.
Expanding on the support that is offered at LR, she says, “Early on in 2020 with Covid, all recruitment activities with LR, as with many companies globally, came to a slow-down. LR not only retained the Recruiting team, but they also allowed us to work, to support our HR colleagues, by training us in the use of records management, assistance with seeking government resources for colleagues and other tasks. This went on for well over a year, thus allowing recruiters to expand their knowledge within the HR space, as well as fully supporting LR, and contributing to the company’s growth. I will always be grateful to LR for this”.
Complimenting this, is the genuine closeness of each team, as well as on a wider scale throughout LR. Paula is a people person, and “believes that people at work become like family…before Covid struck, we’d have 400 people in the office here – we’d have hotdog lunches, BBQs on the patio, crawfish boils, there was real hustle and bustle”. And although the landscape does look slightly different these days, Paula believes that a more flexible working structure creates a more balanced work/life environment. She shares, “Associates are asked to go into the office for one “team” day and one “all company” day in the Americas. Having two days in the office brings people together to collaborate, participate in group activities and come up with innovative ideas. I believe it generates more energy and enthusiasm amongst teams and allows for swifter problem solving. Working from home gives associate’s flexibility to deal with personal obligations, makes it more convenient to connect with global teams, and reduces one’s environmental footprint”.
Paula was recently nominated for one of our internal company ‘Power of Us Awards’, for successfully recruiting some hard to fill roles for our Maritime Performance Services Business. She shares, “Recruiters at LR are trained to consider every candidate with an open mind and undergo training on topics such as unconscious bias, monitor reporting on diversity hiring and working with an outside consultant on improving the diversity of our candidate pipelines”. With this in mind, after screening candidates, Paula was able to present these options to the Business and move them forward in the hiring process, and the LR department was able to fill the needed openings with the best talent. This is something she is very proud of. She says, “It’s lovely that my efforts are recognised, especially as it was one of my managers who did so. Achievements are always celebrated at LR, it’s all part of the great culture”.