What did you read at University?I read BSc Social Psychology at Loughborough University.
What were you looking for in your career? When I entered my final year at University I started to have a serious think about what I was looking to do moving forward. I thoroughly enjoyed my degree and was looking for an opportunity to apply some of the knowledge I had gained, but in a way to apply it with more of a business focus. I have always thrived from being kept busy and challenged and wanted a career to incorporate these aspects. It was important for me to enter into a career where there was vast potential to develop and progress and one which would give me personal satisfaction as well as financial success.
Why did you choose Digby Morgan?There are several reasons why I chose to enter into a career at Digby Morgan. During my 3rd year at university I undertook work experience in the HR departments in two different companies, and here I started to become familiar with the name of Digby Morgan and heard nothing but positive information. After conducting more research into the company and speaking with a current employee, I again heard positive feedback regarding the working environment and the potential opportunities. I then decided it was something I was keen to enter into, and luckily Digby Morgan were keen to interview me as well!
After coming along to interview here, I realised just how accurate my research had been. The people I met seemed genuinely interested in me, and what I could offer, and I left feeling very valued. There was a great team atmosphere in the office, and I could tell everyone thoroughly enjoyed their job. I could see how important the Associate programme was to the company and felt like it would give me the opportunity to develop in a structured programme, whilst also having the chance to get involved and further my knowledge in other areas.
Which division do you work in?
I sit in the interims team in Digby Morgan, having joined in the July 2007 Associate programme. There are currently 13 of us in the interims team.
Please describe a typical day
It is difficult to describe a typical day working at Digby Morgan. Although there are certain activities I will do on a regular basis, in the interim team things can change very quickly and different tasks can often arise.
I try to structure my day into sections so in order to be most productive. Initially I will check my emails and voice mails, and respond to any urgent duties. I will then go through any applications I have had over night to my web adverts. I then call any potential candidates and arrange a time for them to come in to our office for an interview with myself.
A major part of my day will be speaking with clients; this can be either to maintain our ongoing relations with them, or also discussing any new positions they may have and how we can assist them with the recruitment. I will then begin to source candidates for the positions, and send any suitable CVs over to the client. If the client would then like to meet with the candidate, I will coordinate the interview process, and if successful, I will assist with the offer stage and hopefully it will result in making a placement!
The days in the interim team are often very busy and being able to multitask and prioritise activities is a must!
What has your role at Digby Morgan given you from a self-development perspective?Since I started at Digby Morgan I feel I have been constantly developing. At the beginning of the programme you receive more structured training; however there are then plenty of opportunities to take control of your own desk and manage your responsibilities. Therefore although you are still in the learning process, it made me feel I was able to contribute to the company and was working as well.
My commercial awareness has greatly improved since I began working here, and now feel I have a good understanding of the different industry sectors and how they work.
In recruitment a lot of time is spent talking with a variety of people, and I feel my networking skills have strengthened since I began working here. I now feel confident dealing with people at all levels.
Starting work after education can often be a big step, but here at Digby Morgan there is a fantastic approach that introduces you into the working environment and supports you along the way.
What advice would you give to candidates thinking of applying to the Associate programme?The advice I would give to candidates considering the Associate programme at Digby Morgan is just to do lots of research! It is important you have a good think about what you are looking for in a career, and what motivates you. Hopefully after reading these job profiles you have a good understanding of how it works at Digby Morgan, so if it matches up with what you are looking for then definitely apply.
Have a look at the Digby Morgan website, and I recommend you do some research into HR as well, as knowledge of that will help a lot at the beginning.
Finally I would just advise candidates to ask lots of questions. Everyone in the office would be delighted to assist you in the process and the best (and most honest) advice can come from the current employees!