Nurturing MAYDAY’s People & Growth

Meet Kat, HR Director at MAYDAY Recruitment Group.

At MAYDAY, “Recruitment with Care” is a lived daily practice, not just a slogan. And no one brings that philosophy to life more than Kat, Co-Founder and HR Director.

From mentoring future leaders to shaping the programs that support our team’s wellbeing and progression, Kat plays a pivotal role in building the people-first culture we’re so proud of.

We sat down with her to talk about what care looks like behind the scenes, how we support long-term growth and the little moments that make it all worthwhile.

What does “recruitment with care” actually mean for you day-to-day?

It means treating people like people. Picking up the phone, being honest, keeping promises and remembering that every candidate is a real human with a real life. 

Care is in the micro-moments - the follow-ups, the empathy, the effort to really listen.

How do you support career growth at MAYDAY?

By actually listening. We talk openly about goals, strengths, ambitions and the parts someone might want to develop. From there, we build a pathway that feels achievable and personal.

Our approach includes:



• Clear expectations and structured progression plans
• Regular check-ins 
• Access to senior mentors across the business
• A robust internal training calendar designed around real needs. 

We want every team member to see a future here and feel supported getting there.

What initiatives are you most proud of implementing?

For me, it would be creating and implementing our people focused initiatives - the ones that genuinely make a difference in someone’s day, not just look good on paper.

Things like:

• Stay interviews that help us understand what keeps people at MAYDAY
• Our return-to-work support framework
• The wellness program built around Move, Money, Munch and Mind
• Our mentoring and internal training programs
• The clarity of our progression plan.



These are foundations, not add-ons. We’re in a constant pursuit of creating an environment where people feel supported, valued and set up for success.

Leading a growing team can’t be easy. What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned?

Communicate everything, even the small stuff.

Transparency builds trust, and trust builds teams.

And be kind - to yourself and to the people around you. Leadership isn’t about having all the answers; it’s about showing up consistently with empathy and clarity.

What gets you out of bed in the morning (besides coffee and 4 children)?

Usually my one-year-old… or my husband returning from the gym!

But professionally, it’s watching people grow.

I love bringing new people into the business and seeing them settle, succeed and surprise themselves. Watching existing team members step into new challenges or progress their careers is the most rewarding part of my job.

Can you spill the secret sauce that makes MAYDAY such a great place to work?

Our people. We hire genuinely great humans, trust them, support them and keep the ego out of the room. We genuinely want the best for every person.

Want to learn more about Life at MAYDAY?

Inspired to learn more about Life at MAYDAY? Connect with Kat for a chat or head to our Careers page to see where your next step could take you.

Kat Docherty, Co-Founder & HR Director

kat@maydayrecruitment.com

0416 381 502

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