An Interview With: Nick Sym

1. What do you do at Thor?

Recruitment is a people-focused industry, and the main asset of any recruitment company is its people. As CEO, I must ensure that any decision, whether strategic or operational, is made with the best interests of the people working at Thor in mind. Specifically, my role is to oversee all aspects of the business, ensuring that I’m involved in both setting the strategic purpose and vision, as well as diving into specific projects to positively impact certain areas of the company or department. The key measure of success is whether these actions help to create a highly profitable business that benefits many, not just a few. If we achieve that, it will be reflected in both our revenue and company culture, feeding back into our success.

Being extremely passionate about the people who work here and the company in general, I believe that I am well-placed to network with my peers in the industry, as well as help secure new and exciting talent to join our team. A recruitment company is only as good as its people, and therefore helping to recruit the best talent is crucial to our ongoing success.

2. What three skills are essential for success in your role?

The three essential skills for success in my role are maintaining perspective and not letting setbacks grind you down, having strong ambition and purpose, and demonstrating effective leadership. From my own experience, it's clear that as you progress, it's important to stay grounded - celebrating the highs without getting carried away and not letting the lows discourage you. Ambition is key, not just for achieving personal goals but for motivating and guiding others so that they can fulfil their potential. Leadership, rather than just management, plays a vital role in driving progress across all areas. I am a big believer that you should practise what you preach.

3. What’s the most valuable lesson you’ve learned / piece of advice you've received, in your career so far?

The most valuable lesson I’ve learned in my career is not to let what’s happening in the moment cloud your mindset and judgement for the long term. Take events like COVID, the oil crash, and the cost-of-living crisis - none of it was easy, and at the time, no one knew what would happen. But everything passes eventually, and keeping a long-term perspective helps you navigate through those challenges.

4. When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

When I was a child, I wanted to be a PE teacher, inspired by my mum, who is one. I’ve always loved sports, so at the time, it didn’t feel like a “real job.” I enjoyed the idea of doing something I loved and being able to watch others develop their skills and grow.

5. What’s one thing on your bucket list?

I don’t have a massive personal bucket list, but I am definitely someone who values life experiences over material goods. One thing I’d love to do is trek into the Botswanan wilderness to wild camp surrounded by nature and wildlife. The thought of experiencing nature in all its glory, unchanged for thousands of years would be an incredible experience!

6. If you could have dinner with any person, past or present, who would it be and why?

If I could have dinner with any person, it would be Roger Federer. I admire him for his calmness and elegance on and off the court. Even though he may not have won the most Grand Slams, he is widely regarded as one of the greatest tennis players of all time, managing to keep his emotions in check during high-pressure moments.

Additionally, he is a successful businessman, and I would love to learn about how he built his brand and the lessons he’s gathered along the way. As a family man, I also see a commonality there, making the conversation even more relatable and meaningful.

7. If you could instantly master one skill, what would it be?

It would be breakdancing, as it’s a challenging skill that not many people can do. I think it would be pretty flair to bust out some moves after drawing a Thor AGM to a close.

8. What’s a surprising fact about you?

A surprising fact about me is that selling and stepping outside my comfort zone didn’t always come naturally. When I was younger, I used to sell scrap metal, and it was nerve-wracking picking up the phone to sell to other businesses. Facing that fear was overwhelming at first, but I found that I enjoyed the challenge and competition - it’s similar to recruitment. You won’t succeed if you don’t try.

We hope you enjoyed this glimpse into Nick's journey as much as we did!

If you’re interested in being part of our team, head over to our ''Work for Us' page.

Join us next week for the next instalment of our series.