“I Never Thought I’d Be in Recruitment” – Yasmine Penn’s Career Journey

2nd July 2026

Career journeys rarely follow the path we expect.

Many people assume that recruitment is something you decide to do from the beginning of your career. In reality, some of the most successful recruiters come from completely different industries, bringing with them valuable experience, transferable skills, and a fresh perspective.

For Yasmine Penn, Commercial Appointments Consultant at Green Life Science Recruitment, that journey started far away from the world of life sciences recruitment.

Before joining Green Life Science, Yasmine worked within equestrian and farming environments. Recruitment wasn’t something she had originally planned to pursue.

As she puts it:

“I never thought I’d be in recruitment.”

Today, she specialises in commercial appointments across the global Contract Research Organisation (CRO) market, partnering with organisations throughout Europe and the United States to identify the commercial professionals helping drive growth across the life sciences industry.

Her journey is a reminder that successful careers are often built through opportunity rather than expectation.

From Equestrian and Farming to Life Sciences Recruitment

Coming from an equestrian and farming background, Yasmine developed qualities that continue to shape her approach today.

Working in those environments requires commitment, resilience, organisation, and the ability to build trust with people from all walks of life.

While the industries are very different, those same qualities are fundamental to becoming a successful recruitment consultant.

Recruitment is built on relationships.

It’s about understanding people, solving problems, communicating effectively, and helping both candidates and businesses make important long-term decisions.

Many of the skills developed outside recruitment become some of the most valuable once you enter the profession.

Looking for a Career That Offered Growth

Like many people considering a career change, Yasmine wanted more than simply another job.

She wanted a career where she could continue learning, develop professionally, and challenge herself every day.

Recruitment offered exactly that.

Every conversation is different.

Every client has different objectives.

Every candidate has their own career ambitions.

No two days are ever the same.

That constant variety is one of the reasons recruitment continues to attract ambitious people from a wide range of professional backgrounds.

Building Relationships That Make a Difference

One of the aspects Yasmine enjoys most is the opportunity to build genuine relationships.

Successful recruitment isn’t about sending CVs.

It’s about understanding businesses, understanding careers, and helping people make decisions that create long-term value.

Within life sciences, those relationships become even more meaningful.

Every placement supports organisations developing medicines, advancing clinical research, improving healthcare technologies, and ultimately helping patients around the world.

Knowing that your work contributes to an industry making such a significant impact makes recruitment both commercially rewarding and personally fulfilling.

A Career Where Every Day Is Different

When asked about recruitment, one theme comes up repeatedly.

It’s fast-paced.

It’s rewarding.

And every day brings something new.

Whether it’s partnering with a growing CRO, speaking with senior commercial leaders, or helping a candidate secure their next opportunity, no two weeks look exactly alike.

That continual learning is one of the reasons many people build long-term careers within specialist recruitment.

Why Recruitment Isn’t About Having the “Perfect” Background

One of the biggest misconceptions surrounding recruitment is that you need previous recruitment experience to succeed.

The reality is very different.

Successful recruiters come from a wide variety of industries because what matters most are qualities such as:

• Communication.
• Curiosity.
• Resilience.
• Commercial awareness.
• Relationship building.
• A willingness to learn.

Technical recruitment skills can be developed.

The right attitude and work ethic are far harder to teach.

Yasmine’s journey demonstrates that careers don’t always need to follow a traditional route to become successful.

Thinking About a Career in Recruitment?

If you’ve ever dismissed recruitment because you don’t have previous experience, Yasmine’s story is worth considering.

Careers are rarely built by following a perfectly planned path.

More often, they’re built by recognising opportunities, developing new skills, and being willing to challenge yourself.

At Green Life Science Recruitment, we believe great recruiters come from a diverse range of backgrounds. What unites them is their ambition, commitment to learning, and desire to make a genuine impact within one of the world’s most innovative industries.

Whether you’re starting your career, considering a career change, or simply curious about specialist recruitment, there may be more opportunities available than you realise.

Watch the Full Conversation

Want to hear more about Yasmine’s journey?

Watch the full interview below as she shares how she transitioned from an equestrian and farming background into specialist life sciences recruitment, what surprised her most about the industry, and why she believes recruitment has given her a career full of challenge, growth, and opportunity.