Women’s Day Feature: From Stay-at-Home Mom to Top Biller, Achieving Ambition with Gentleness

Is there a one-size-fits-all approach to ambition? In the corporate world, people often equate ambition with being “aggressive”. However, today’s spotlight is on Melanie, who shows us a completely different angle – that ambition and gentleness can go hand in hand.

Melanie, KOS International’s Top Biller (top performer in sales) in 2024, heads up talent acquisition for the financial services division of KOS Hong Kong SAR. From bank branch manager to stay-at-home mom, and now a standout professional in the headhunting industry. Melanie’s career path has been marked by challenges and breakthroughs. This Women’s Day, let’s dive into Melanie’s world of headhunting and see how she skillfully blends ambition with a nurturing approach to both work and family, embracing the philosophy of “Love is like tending a garden”.

I. A Stay-at-Home Mom Returns to the Workforce
“She doesn’t like a typical top biller at all. She’s soft-spoken but has this unique magnetism,” says Louisa, CEO of KOS Group.

Five years ago, Melanie was at home looking after her two young kids. After a six-year career break, she seemed content on the surface, running a small side hustle, but deep down, she was itching to get back into the corporate game.

“It’s such a waste for you to stay at home,” a close friend bluntly told her. “Your banking experience, know-how, and connections would be perfect for headhunting.”

This reality check was like a bolt from the blue, reigniting Melanie’s long-dormant career drive. She started questioning herself: Does having kids mean saying goodbye to your career goals? Fueled by this discontent, Melanie decided to take the plunge. Armed with her solid banking background and polished people skills, she joined KOS.

II. Navigating the Hurdles of a Career Pivot
Breaking into the headhunting world wasn’t a walk in the park. Surrounded by younger colleagues, Melanie often second-guessed herself: Was she too old for a career switch? Would the learning curve be too steep? How long would it take to find her footing in this new field?

Looking back on those nerve-wracking early days, Melanie is incredibly grateful for the trust and understanding shown by the company and her leader. She recalls, “KOS gave me tons of encouragement and patience. I was still juggling family and work, but they didn’t pile on the pressure. Instead, they kept cheering me on and sharing their own experiences to guide me. About a month in, I landed my first placement.”

With the company’s backing and her own banking street cred, Melanie tapped into her network and communication prowess, gradually carving out her own unique approach to the job.

“I’ve got this work formula: as a headhunter, ‘Jobs + Candidates = Placements.’ I use this simple equation as a constant reminder. When the job market’s slow, I need to hustle harder to find more top-notch candidates to keep my placement numbers up, and vice versa. I also focus on both ‘depth’ and ‘breadth’ in my business, nurturing existing client and candidate relationships while always keeping an eye out for new opportunities. I guess you could say that’s where my ambition comes in.”

III. The Strength in Gentleness: Nurturing Relations Like Flowers
Melanie aims to be the headhunter that clients and candidates remember, trust, and see as a cut above the rest. For her, headhunting isn’t just a job; it’s about empowering others, using her experience to help candidates map out their careers and encouraging them to chase their dreams. Melanie shares that she spends most of her day chatting with candidates, getting to know their needs and current work situations, offering career advice based on her own experiences, and cluing them in on hot new opportunities in the market. Over time, she’s won their trust and admiration.

“I treat each candidate like a delicate seedling, nurturing them carefully. I believe that with the right care, they’ll all bloom and thrive.”