08/10/2026
Meet Tracy Wicks, Branch Director at our Nelspruit branch! With a passion for people, a knack for matching the right talent with the right opportunities, and plenty of experience in the recruitment world, Tracy knows that every day brings something new.
We caught up with Tracy to find out what she loves most about her role, what keeps her motivated and what makes recruitment so rewarding. 💛
Q. Mbombela is a smaller city compared to some of the major centres Staff Unlimited operates in. What is the recruitment market like in the area?
A. Recruitment in a smaller city such as Mbombela has its challenges, as we tend to have satellite branches with no big staff complement or consistent turnover. In a small area, you are constantly looking for new business. A big frustration is that a lot of companies have branches here, but recruitment is handled by their head office. Decision makers are also often not based in the area, which makes it more difficult to build relationships. Nelspruit tends to lack skilled candidates, so we need to bring them in, especially for the more specialised positions. The challenge is that, as it’s an outlying / satellite area, the salaries don’t often compete; we have to sell the lifestyle, which is not always what candidates want. They like the variety a big city brings. Not everyone adapts.
Q. What do you think makes your branch and its clients unique?
Are there particular industries, businesses or recruitment challenges that stand out in the area?
A. Farming, tourism and the timber industry are big in the area. Most farmers tend to have a DIY approach to recruitment, and there is a strong networking culture amongst them. The major player in the timber industry do their own recruitment. Our branch is unique in the diversity of clients that we service. One week we’ll be working on a position for a diesel mechanic on a remote farm and the next it might be a CA or IT specialist for a corporate company. One of the biggest things that makes this Company and branch unique is our personal touch and passion to see businesses and candidates succeed and flourish for all the right reasons. I have been servicing the community for 30 years.
Q. What do you enjoy most about being a Branch Director?
A. For me, it’s the satisfaction of seeing people thrive in their careers and knowing I’ve played a small part in that, while seeing clients benefit from having the right people in their business.
Being part of a smaller community means you often walk a long road with people. I’ve placed candidates over the years who have gone on to become loyal clients, which is incredibly rewarding.
Every day in this industry is different—different people, different businesses, different challenges—so there’s never time for boredom or complacency! And when it all comes together, there’s nothing quite like it. 😁
A candidate phoning you in tears of excitement because they’ve landed the job they’ve always wanted, or a client telling you what a positive impact someone you placed has made—that’s what makes it all worthwhile.
There are definitely challenging days, but trusting your gut, backing the right people and seeing the results makes it all worth it!
Q. What advice would you give to someone who is looking for their next career opportunity?
A. It’s all about attitude. It’s the ones who make an impression at the interview who get the job. Always do your research on the company, understand their business, competitors, etc. Find out who the interviewers are, who they would be reporting to and find their profile on LinkedIn, etc. This is an important tool when connecting with the interviewer. Always be 100% yourself; skills can be taught, but personality can’t.
Q. When you're not busy at Staff Unlimited, what do you enjoy doing in your downtime?
A. I love getting out into the mountains and game reserve. It’s one of the benefits of living in a beautiful part of the country.
My daughter recently moved to JHB. I would love to spend more time with her, but my husband. friends and cat will have to do. 🤣 I also like a bit of alone time.
Q. If you could choose ONE destination for a weekend getaway, where would you go?
A. For a weekend, probably Kruger Park, and for longer breaks, I love the beauty of the Cape and the remoteness of the Karoo.
Q. What’s one thing people might be surprised to learn about you?
A. My current hobby is 3D, quirky and cheeky royal icing cookies. I love the surprise on people’s faces. 🤣 It’s one of those things: even if it doesn’t look great, it tastes great, so it is always appreciated 😅. I line dance too – great fun!
Q. And finally… what’s something that never fails to put a smile on your face?
A. Happy people! 😁 Whether I had a hand in it or not, whether I know them or not, it’s an energy surge that makes me happy. I love a good live band, more rock and roll than jazz.
