60 Second Interview - Hazel Mitchell

What was your first ever job?

I had quite a few jobs when I was younger. At one stage I was juggling selling blazers and baby clothes in a child's clothes shop, whilst selling programmes at my Dads football ground and flipping burgers in Burger King.

What's the best place to go if you really want to find out what's going on in the office?

When I worked at ITN the best place to find out what was going on at work was to have a bacon butty with the cameramen or a fly cigarette outside with the newsroom teams...
Alternatively - get to know the PA-s very well...

How did you get into recruitment/HR?

When I left University I got my first job as Assistant Hotel Manager responsible for HR in a hotel on Princes Street, Edinburgh. Because I had previous hotel experience I think that's what got me through the door. Once through the door it was 14-hours of daily slog... with nothing much to do with HR.

What do you do at weekends?

I spend most of my weekends with my partner Robert and his children... we cycle, do lunch, cook, paint and generally have fun. I am a mean curry chef so most Saturday nights are spent in the kitchen making tasty stuff. I also like to spend time with my best friend Sharon and my god children Sofia and Louie.

What is your favourite restaurant?

I love JSheeky in Covent Garden for their wonderful service and great fish and the Wolseley for their wicked Croque Monsieur.

If you weren't in HR what would you have been?

I would loved to have been a dancer or a chef.

What is your favourite film?

Goodfellas or The Negotiator.

What was the first record you bought?

Paul Young - Where ever I lay my hat that's my home. I was in love with him big time!

What is the best thing about your job?

Working with some of the most creative brains in the UK - its fab and working in a television and content business beats working somewhere ordinary any day. I had breakfast with Status Quo who happened to be in the Canteen last week - how fab is that! I think they caused more of a stir than Lady Gaga did when she was in the week before.

What is the toughest thing about your job?

Telling someone that they don't have a job any more is tough... anyone who says it gets easier the more times you do it is just mad!

What was your biggest work/career mistake and what did you learn from it?

I've had a few crackers in my time but I always thing it's the mistakes that make you better not the good stuff! When we were closing a TV channel as an HR team we had to give out all the letters to staff affected by the closure. It was all very hurried because the channel was shutting down that day. As we were stuffing the envelopes the complete redundancy list of details was accidently attached to one of the letters to staff. Thankfully the employee came forward very quickly and returned the information. As a team we learned so much about planning, tidiness, double checking etc. It shook the team and I had to break it to the CEO who had only been in post 5 days! - not a great start!

What book are you currently reading?

I am reading three books at the moment.
Shares made Simple by Rodney Hobson.
The Compensation handbook - Berger.
The Rachel Papers - Martin Amis

What is your favourite children's book?

Any of the Pippa Longstocking books by Astrid Lindgren.

If you were stranded on a desert island, what two luxury items would you take with you?

Life time supply of M&S macaroni cheese and my I-pad.

Who would you least like to sit next door to at a dinner party?

My Ex Husband or Katie Price.

Interviewed in June 2011 by Darren Wentworth, Partner, Frazer Jones London Office
E: darrenwentworth@frazerjones.com
T: +44 (0)20 7415 2815