Women Who Sell With Abigail Tittley

‘Women Who Sell’ is all about showcasing women who sell, and are thriving and challenging stereotypes. We feature real perspectives of what it’s like, the barriers and the breakthroughs.

Here, Abigail Tittley, Senior Recruitment Consultant at Sanderson Recruitment, shares her take.

What is your job title?

Senior Recruitment Consultant at Sanderson Recruitment.

How did you get into sales and what makes it the career of your choice?

The stereotype of “I fell into it” rings true for many who enter recruitment, and that’s certainly been my experience as well. I initially studied Clinical Psychology at the University of Worcester, graduating with a first-class degree, with plans to pursue a career supporting individuals with mental health challenges. At this time, I wanted a break from academia and decided to focus on building experience across the mental health sector. Over the next three years, I worked in a variety of settings, supporting individuals aged 8 to 80 through community work, specialised homes, and hospitals. The work was incredibly rewarding—I loved my role and the people I supported—but the sector itself was incredibly under-resourced in more ways than financial.

Eventually, I reached a point of mental health burnout, something I had seen colleagues go through as well. I was giving so much to my clients but lacked the right support from my team and management, which made it increasingly difficult to carry on. I ultimately made the difficult decision to step away from care work. Around this time, a close colleague suggested recruitment as a potential career path, feeling that my skills would lend themselves well to the industry. After some research, I realised recruitment could allow me to continue helping people find meaningful roles, build strong interpersonal relationships, and learn new skills that would challenge me, which sounded like the perfect next step.

The process of interviewing for recruitment roles was one of the most unusual experiences I’ve ever had. Many of the companies I engaged with were heavily focused on how “money-motivated” I was—to the extent that I often found myself challenging hiring managers on why this should be their primary focus. I was determined to keep applying until I found a company whose values aligned with my own, centred on people rather than just profit. That determination paid off when I interviewed with Sanderson. The interviews were refreshing, focusing on my soft skills and cultural fit, and every manager I spoke with—along with the CEO—shared my belief in the importance of building meaningful relationships.

Since joining Sanderson Recruitment, I’ve been supported with the flexibility and coaching I need to work in a way that suits me, enabling me to build strong, lasting relationships with both candidates and clients. It’s been incredibly rewarding to use my platform to help individuals find new opportunities, advise clients on navigating the market, and develop my passion project supporting Women in Business and Women in Tech. It’s grown to be more than just a “next step”, and developed to become something

Are there any barriers you have faced as a woman working in sales, and how have you overcome them?

As a female recruiter, I’ve faced challenges that have shaped both my perspective and my approach. One notable challenge has been addressing the stereotypical belief held by some that women in recruitment succeed by utilising their appearance or femininity. It’s disappointing—and frankly shocking—to encounter individuals who assume women in sales “flirt” with clients or dress suggestively to achieve results. This outdated and harmful mindset has no place in today’s society.

Unfortunately, such stereotypes have also impacted how I approach safety in my role. I’ve had to follow lone-working procedures, similar to those I used during my time in care, to ensure my safety meeting clients or candidates alone. This is reinforced by instances where male candidates have misconstrued professional interactions as personal, such as assuming meetings are “dates” or making inappropriate comments like asking me to refer to them as “tall, dark, and handsome” to keep a conversation going.

Despite these experiences, I feel fortunate that this has been the extent of my personal challenges. Conversations I’ve had with female recruiters across the country highlight far more concerning issues, such as harassment from colleagues, dismissal for calling out a lack of women in management, and generally reporting a feeling of needing to fight harder to keep their position within the company or be seen. These stories have only strengthened my resolve to advocate for Women in Business and push for meaningful changes in workplace culture.

For women entering sales roles, my biggest piece of advice is to stay tenacious and focused. When interviewing with companies, take the time to understand their culture and values to ensure they align with your own. Choosing an organisation that values your skills and contributions—as a professional, not just as a woman—can make all the difference in building a fulfilling and supportive career.

What do you like the most about being a woman in sales?

For me, recruitment has been a career I’ve truly fallen in love with, thanks to having a supportive team around me, flexibility in my role, and the amazing candidates I’ve had the privilege to work with.

From the very beginning, the teams I’ve worked with have been incredibly supportive. My colleagues quickly recognised how I work best and actively encouraged a working style that suited me, whilst always been approachable and ready to offer help without judgment. Coming from a care background, this was a stark contrast and exactly what I needed to adapt to a new career. While we all have our bad days, there’s always someone in the team promoting positivity, keeping spirits high, and ensuring we celebrate each other’s wins. At one point, a colleague even introduced “Gratitude Day” every Friday, where the team would share who they were grateful for that week and talk about their weekend plans, whilst another colleague got us involved in a team Bake-Off every Monday to kick start the week off right.

The flexibility in this role has also been important for me. Shortly after joining Sanderson Recruitment, I was offered the chance to start counselling—a much-needed step after experiencing burnout previously. When I spoke to my manager about it, they immediately helped carve out time in my schedule to attend sessions without hesitation; they regularly checked in to see if I needed extra support or adjustments, making it so easy to prioritise my well-being without feeling guilty or stressed about work. Now, in my role within the technology team, I have even greater freedom to structure my week. Whether it’s meeting candidates and clients, attending events, or simply organising my time to deliver the best results, the focus is always on flexibility that works for me, not pushing for me to be flexible for the company.

Finally, the candidates I work with have been a huge source of joy. Building strong relationships with them and seeing their lives progress—both professionally and personally—has been incredibly rewarding. I’ve had clients call to share milestones like pregnancies, the arrival of their baby, promotions and candidates telling me about the holidays they can now afford thanks to a pay rise. Knowing I’ve played even a small part in helping someone achieve those moments is what keeps me passionate about what I do. For me, it’s always about the people, and the buzz of contributing to their success is unmatched.

What advice do you have for a woman wanting to get into sales and those wanting to advance?

Don’t feel that you need to be “money motivated” to go into sales. Sales is about so much more than a financial outcome, it can be about relationship building, supporting others, challenging yourself or any other reason you feel is motivational to you. Whatever your motivation is, embracing it and ensuring it’s part of your daily work will not only make the role more enjoyable buy will also lead to success naturally. People buy from people, and respect authenticity – when you stay true to yourself, it resonate with clients and colleagues alike.  

Equally important is ensuring that the company you join aligns with your values and motivations. During interviews, don’t shy away from asking questions to understand their culture, their investment in employees, and whether their approach matches what you’re looking for. A supportive environment that values your unique strengths can make all the difference. Don’t force yourself to fit into a mould that doesn’t suit you, find an organisation where your skills and individuality are celebrated.

Finally, never underestimate the power of raising your voice – this is the biggest message of every Women in Business campaign. Challenging stereotypes, sharing your story, and advocating for change are essential steps toward progress. It’s through speaking up that we can break down barriers, inspire others, and pave the way for a more inclusive future. Your voice matters, and by using it, you’re not only helping yourself, but also contributing to a collective movement for equality and empowerment.

If you would like to get involved with the blog series and share your story as a woman in the sales industry, we’d LOVE to hear from you. And head over to Women Who Sell’s LinkedIn for more content.