Saagar’s Leap into Revenue Management Recruitment

From Finance to Forecasting: Saagar’s Leap into Revenue Management Recruitment

Starting a new role is always a learning curve. But switching industry focus completely? That’s a whole new challenge!

When Saagar joined MRK Associates recently, he stepped out of finance and FMCG-focused recruitment careers and straight into the fast-paced, specialist world of revenue management recruitment. With just days to get up to speed, he attended an industry conference in his first week, and has since been diving into a whole new language, set of tools, candidate landscape, and client base.

He’s covering for our colleague who is currently on maternity leave, and we couldn’t be happier to have him on board.

Why the Change?

So, what made Saagar choose MRK and take the leap into a brand new industry?

“The vision, ambitions, and values of MRK are what immediately drew my attention. Also knowing I’d always have the support of a very experienced team and support staff made the decision an easy one.”

And revenue management itself?

“I was immediately engaged with the opportunities and challenges the industry has to offer. As someone who’s very mission-oriented, I was keen to ensure I uphold and build on the footprint MRK has already created in the world of Revenue Management.”

First Impressions of Revenue Management

Coming from a finance recruitment background, some differences stood out straight away, particularly the role revenue teams play within a business and how that’s perceived externally.

“Not many people even realise the massive impact that revenue management teams have and just how important they are to a core team structure. This is reflected in how humble, welcoming, and inclusive both candidates and clients are in the sectors we operate in.”

That visibility gap surprised him.

“I was surprised by the lack of recognition revenue management teams get in the wider working world. They’re often assumed to be part of finance, but that’s not the case at all.”

Like any new industry, there’s a fair bit of technical language to get your head around. But, according to Saagar:

“Learning the terminology took me a while, but there’s actually a lot less jargon in revenue than there is in finance! I’ve now got a solid understanding of how teams are structured and what they’re responsible for.”

Thrown in at the Deep End (In the best way!)

In his first week, Saagar attended the Revenue Management and Pricing International Ltd conference in London. Some great topics around regulation, booking curve creation, panel discussions around the jump from education into revenue management work and interactive group discussions around key topics in the industry.

“It was a very insightful and informative event. I gained a deep understanding of what revenue management really is in industries like hotels and railways.”

What stood out most wasn’t just the content, but the people.

“The brainstorming sessions gave me a real insight into the challenges revenue managers face, the value they bring to other teams, and how essential they are to keeping things running. And honestly? The openness and inclusivity of the attendees really made me feel like I’d been in the sector for years.”

Tackling the Learning Curve

Starting in a new specialist recruitment market can be daunting, but Saagar says MRK’s support structure made all the difference.

“I’ve had a great handover and support from the team, who’ve really invested time into making sure I’m ready to hit the ground running. The training programme is detailed and gives you everything you need, from basic knowledge to more complex, high-level information.”

But how do you speak with credibility to candidates when you’re still learning the language yourself?

“With honesty and integrity. I know I’m not the finished article, so I make sure I ask the right questions and keep candidates engaged. I genuinely want to help them with their careers, and that brings me a lot of joy.”

Thinking About Switching Industries? Here’s Saagar’s Advice

Career changes are never easy but they can be rewarding if approached with the right mindset.

“If you’re switching sectors in recruitment, the fundamentals will stay the same, but you need to adapt to new market conditions, trends, and behaviours. You need to be receptive, willing to learn, and open to changing your ways of working.”

And when it comes to learning something new?

“Ask questions no matter how silly they might feel. It’s the only way you’ll learn and change your thought process. That’s something I didn’t do enough in previous roles, but now I know how important it is.”

What’s Next?

For Saagar, it’s all about building relationships, learning fast, and delivering value to the sector.

“I’m continuing to build my network, grow relationships, and ensure I uphold MRK’s values. I want to add my own unique value to the business and become a subject matter expert in the process.”

We’re excited to have him as part of the team and we can’t wait to see how he shapes his journey in revenue management recruitment.