What did you read at University?I read Geography BA (Hons) at University College London.
What were you looking for in your career?My ideas around what a career should offer change all the time. Above all, upon leaving university, I was looking for an opportunity that would offer variety, within an interactive and commercial environment.
During my last year of university, between time spent at the career centre, and speaking with graduate recruiters at career fairs, I became fascinated with the marketing and presentation of opportunities and decided that recruitment presented an exciting and varied career that was both interactive and highly commercial.
Why did you choose Digby Morgan?There were many reasons why I chose the opportunity that Digby Morgan presented. The company offers a structured development programme, which is tailored to your level of experience. As you progress, the company gives you every opportunity to determine the direction of your development; for example I have had the opportunity to manage a pan-European recruitment campaign and have also contributed to an executive search with colleagues in the Digby Morgan business (typically in HR Resourcing, our focus would be from entry to mid-level management). That element of variety was evident from my first meeting with the company, and remains so.
In this line of work, you quickly appreciate the significance of culture and working environment in the decision-making process for individuals deciding whether or not to accept a new job. Going through the recruitment process for this job, I had the opportunity to meet not only my future manager, but my team and the rest of the company. After the assessment day, people from all the divisions of Digby Morgan were on hand to take (and ask) questions. I felt they were genuinely interested in my background and keen to help me make the right decision. Whilst recruitment in this environment can offer a lot of challenges and individual responsibility, Digby Morgan has a very strong team ethos- which I felt was important. Across the business, everyone has been extremely supportive throughout the Associate Programme. I have had a Mentor within the senior part of the business, as well as an experienced line manager whose goal in life is to help you succeed! I think this nurturing and supportive culture, within an environment that offers scope for progression and daily variety is why I chose Digby Morgan to start my career.
Which division do you work in?I work in HR Resourcing, having joined the Associate Programme, January 2006.
Please describe a typical day Difficult one! What is a typical day in the life of a recruiter? The fact that you have so much ownership and manage your own time means that there is no such thing as a typical day. The one thing that remains constant is the interaction with people. Simply put, if you are not talking to people then you are not making money! This interaction comes about in several ways. My day would usually begin with a cup of coffee and sifting through applications that had been made over the last 24 hours for positions I had been advertising externally. Out of 10 new applications there might be 7 people I call, and 4 that I arrange to meet at the office- either for the position they applied for, or future ones. Having arranged these meetings, I would then spend a couple of hours on the phone to clients. I might be actively working with them on an assignment, in which case I could be taking a new brief, or discussing candidates I had submitted and potentially arranging interviews; otherwise I would be keeping in touch with clients that I have a good relationship with (i.e. have previously worked with), or trying to win new business. At midday I would typically have previously arranged to meet a new candidate in our offices to discuss their career, assess their potential, and talk through opportunities we are currently working on. After lunch I would be sourcing candidates for roles I am advertising- speaking to the team, ringing candidates off our database and putting together a shortlist for submission to the client. I might also have a client visit, and the chance to meet the hiring team, and assess those additional elements of culture and work environment that are so important for putting the right candidates in front of the client.
What has your role at Digby Morgan given you from a self-development perspective?One of the most significant, exciting, and sometimes pressurising, elements that this role offers is ownership. Ownership in the sense of managing your time- to ensure you are meeting your targets; your workload- to ensure you are providing the quality of service that your clients expect; your own clients and relationships- to ensure that clients come to you when facing the challenge of a new vacancy within their team.
Ultimately you are building your own business and portfolio of clients, who are buying into you as an individual just as much as they are Digby Morgan, and the brand behind you.
What advice would you give to candidates thinking of applying to the Associate programme?
In the transition from being a student into your first full time job there is always a degree of uncertainty and a certain amount of surprise. Above all, I think it is important to keep questioning and to get as many different viewpoints on the industry/company as you can. I am sure you have researched the recruitment industry by now, but have a look at Human Resources too, and try to understand how they support business- is this recruitment focus right for you?
Ultimately, come and speak to us! We look forward to answering
all your questions at the assessment day!