‘I would quite like an off switch! I find it so hard to stop thinking about work’

By Tony Sanchez 14th January 2021

Boxtree Recruitment are an independent headhunting and recruitment consultancy, specialising in the UK lending and insurance markets.

The FS team is headed up by Jodie Murray who has recruited into the specialist lending sector since 2004.

We speak to Associate Director, Jodie Murray:

What is the best thing about being in the bridging finance business?

The feeling of being a part of something that is constantly evolving – watching it be born out of the credit crunch was nothing short of exciting.

It feels like there is always a new entrant or a business with a new round of funding looking to expand.

What keeps you focused?

Wanting to do well for my family, my candidates and my clients.

There is no better feeling than placing someone exactly where they should be in the market and watching them take off or seeing one of your clients hit their growth target because of someone you have placed.

What qualities do you look for in your employees or colleagues?

We regard our culture at Boxtree very highly.

I would say the most important things are a positive attitude, a strong work ethic, kindness, and honesty.

Are you an optimist or a pessimist?

Definitely an optimist!

I always try to look at the positives and potential of every situation, the credit crunch definitely installed that into me and I was grateful to have that experience in my locker for what we have all just been through.

What did you want to be as a child?

I always wanted to be a teacher.

I went to University to be just that but chickened out of the responsibility at 21 years of age.

I always planned to return to the profession but I fell in love with recruitment.

Even now though, I jump at the chance to train or mentor people, I absolutely love seeing my colleagues excel and I have even enjoyed home schooling.

What will be the greatest challenge facing the bridging finance industry in the coming months?

For the industry, the knock on effect of mass unemployment and the impact that will have on repayments or indeed appetite for additional borrowing.

From a recruitment perspective, onboarding new staff during a period of uncertainty, we will have to dig really deep and use the weight of our experience and reputation to onboard new talent.

Who or what makes you laugh?

Both of my kids but my 4 year old in particular, they broke the mould when they made him.

He has us all in fits of laughter.

Both of them pranked us in lockdown and hid inside an amazon box, rang the doorbell and let me answer the door, mid candidate call, before they jumped out and scared the life out of me!

They have been a blessing during 2020.

Do you dread Monday mornings?

I love a fresh week!

We have a fun sales meeting on a Monday morning which we use to shape our week where we all catch up and laugh about what we’ve been up to – its sets us all up for the week and day ahead, it really helps when you get on so well with your colleagues.

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

I would quite like an off switch!

I find it so hard to stop thinking about work and I do things like wake up, write down an idea for where I can send a CV or a client I can approach and then go back to sleep again!

With whom would you most like to have dinner?

This is a tough one, Elton John was the first person that came to mind!

I would want to ask so many questions about all the amazing people he has met, the places he has been, the inspiration for his music, his childhood – so many things!

I would probably full on interview him.