I’m back!
I’m thrilled to announce that I’m back with Axal Leine as a full time Senior Recruitment Consultant!
Having left the Finance Industry in August 2021, I joined Axal Leine. It took me 8 years, a few career moves and experiencing the service provided by Axal Leine first hand to realise that a move into recruitment was exactly what I was after. Having worked for the firm for over a year, in March 2023, I decided I wanted a break from the island (where I was born and had lived my whole life) to experience life elsewhere.
I decided to follow my heart and move to Northern Portugal. I took the heartbreaking decision to leave Axal Leine at the time and made the move to Portugal with my ginger kitten (Leo) at the time (he is now huge). Being Portuguese, although my parents are Madeiran, I felt I was somewhat returning to my roots in Northern Portugal and it really felt like home. I always used to say I would never leave Jersey, so it took somewhere special to make me take the plunge.
I spent summer of 2023 working as a Host / Manager at a Surf and Yoga lodge in a small beach town called Furadouro (about 40 minutes south from Porto), where I had been a guest myself the previous summer. It was an amazing Summer, meeting and hosting hundreds of people from all over the world. I was surrounded by many languages, different cultures and personalities, learning how to manage and interact with people on a whole new level. When the season was over, I didn’t feel ready to return to Jersey (although secretly I knew I would end up here again someday), but I really wanted to work back at Axal Leine. I started working remotely for Axal Leine at the end of 2023 until the end of 2024.
I believe these experiences have been invaluable to my career as a Senior Recruitment Consultant and developed me as an individual in many ways that would have not been possible had I stayed in Jersey. It wasn’t always easy, building a life in a foreign country, and I certainly had some tough times which have made me more resilient than ever, but I don’t regret it, not one bit.
I truly believe you can do anything you put your mind to and It’s not about how many times you fall; it’s about how many times you get back up.
I made the most of my time in Portugal and travelled the country in my van, visiting the most incredible places. I had never had the opportunity to surf and skate so much in my life, live amongst nature, the mountains, rivers, sea, sand and sun! I joined sports and yoga groups and a female surfing group in Porto. I attended several retreats including a Yoga and Astrology retreat in nearby Galicia, Spain. I met so many incredible people from all walks of life in so many different circumstances which opened more doors and opportunities, and each of these shaped me in various ways for the better. Forever thankful, always grateful, truly blessed.
I made the heart-breaking decision to leave Portugal and come home as I felt my time in Portugal was coming to an end, at least for now. I have missed home, my friends, family and connections. I miss my road cycling, boxing and hockey. Things I didn’t get to do much of whilst there as I focused on other sports and activities, that I didn’t do as much of back home. Moving away does make you appreciate the beauty of our little island life. I wish I could merge the two places together. I am going to miss the copious amount of sunshine, the slowness of life and the vibe in Portugal. I can only describe it as a feeling. It is truly a beautiful country with so much to offer.
I left Jersey with only one cat… but I have come back with 3! Leo, Milo and Kiko! Kiko will be mums’ kitten as I truly would be a crazy cat lady with all 3! I found little Milo, he appeared close to where I was living and I decided to keep him. Kiko was also found roaming the streets. I feel so fortunate to have been able to bring them back to Jersey.
So here I am, a qualified Trust and Estate Practitioner with 8 years’ experience in Trust Administration at local leading firms, and over 3 years of Finance Industry Recruitment experience. More eager than ever to help individuals find jobs that fulfil them and use my experience and life lessons to help in any way I can. I want to be a consultant to all my candidates, but also a friend.
