Hi Jacqueline – firstly, just outline for us the areas that you recruit within at Star OUTiCO.
Primarily at the moment, I’m focusing on field-based roles in the South East and East Anglia regions, as well as looking at more senior roles within medical sales and head office. As we move into the summer, I am going to be taking over on the Executive Head Office roles within Marketing, as well, and some of the field-based roles will move to the wider team at this stage.
The last year has been tricky for some industry roles. How have you helped your candidates prepare, and adapt to clients’ evolving requirements?
I’ve found over the last year that it’s been a real mix of what we’ve needed to do with candidates, so it’s really depended on their situation. There have been a lot of redundancies, and some of those candidates have been in those roles for years, so not only is it a scary time being made redundant, but they have also been made redundant during a pandemic, and some of them haven’t interviewed for years.
With each candidate, it’s about assessing what their individual needs are, and how we can add value. It’s also about providing reassurance, mainly around how the market has been, any trends we’re seeing, et cetera. It’s important to have that level of care with candidates and look at how we can help with each area, whether that’s CV writing, interview prep, or taking a look at their LinkedIn profile to make sure that it’s up to date, and that they understand the value of using it.
Talking more about the digital side of things, which is obviously becoming more and more important, and trying to keep our candidates calm and informed of any changes within the industry is also vital.
Talking more about the digital side of things, which is obviously becoming more and more important, and trying to keep our candidates calm and informed of any changes within the industry is also vital.
What do you feel are your main strengths as a Recruiter?
I really listen to my clients and candidates. With my candidates, I take the time to find out what their main drivers and aspirations are, and with my clients I listen to understand what their needs are for the good of their business. I spend time getting to know my candidates and understanding where I can really help them throughout the process.
I’ve worked with some really strong salespeople over the years, and they’re really good at selling their products but not very good at selling themselves. So, sometimes it just comes down to finding the right way for them to sell themselves effectively, and helping them with their prep.
I think the main reason that people come back to me is that I really care. And I remember that it’s not just me trying to fill a job role, it’s that what we do have such a massive impact on people’s lives. A career change is one of the biggest things to happen in someone’s life.
I’ve worked with some really strong salespeople over the years, and they’re really good at selling their products but not very good at selling themselves. So, sometimes it just comes down to finding the right way for them to sell themselves effectively, and helping them with their prep.
What for you is the most rewarding part of your job?
The most rewarding part about what we do is when you can really turn somebody’s situation around, which has become really magnified over the past year. Some people have been in really desperate situations. Recently, I had a lady who had been made redundant – and she had had this a few times over the past five or six years – and not only did I find her a job, I found her job that she is really passionate about, the company ticks all her boxes, and the therapy area is the right progression for her.
She was shaking when we gave her the offer. It’s obviously brilliant to be able to fill the role for the client, but equally at the end of the day it’s when you’ve made a real difference to somebody’s life. With this candidate, said she really felt like things were starting to go right, and so it feels really good when you can secure somebody that dream job.
The most rewarding part about what we do is when you can really turn somebody’s situation around, which has become really magnified over the past year
What do you like to get up to when you’re not working?
Outside of work I mainly spend my time running around after two small girls, and then trying to find time to sit down. As well as that, I’m doing things with my family, I love to travel – when we’re allowed to.
My brother lives in New Zealand, and so my aim over the next couple of years is to get out there to see him. I don’t know whether that’s mental or not – taking to small children on a 32-hour flight, but that’s what I enjoy doing!
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