Dan joined Navartis in November 2017 and passed his probation within a year. He is now working alongside a sub-team of four within the wider Overseas team, and is aiming for Senior Consultant, with a long-term of goal of Managing Consultant.
What does your typical day consist of?
Life in the Overseas team is very candidate focussed so my days are dependent on what works for them. My day is heavily split between phone calls and LinkedIn.
Working around candidates means I might have a batch of calls scheduled for the space of two hours at the end of the day. So it’s vital that I organise my time to deliver the best candidate service. If I don’t have any calls scheduled until 4pm, what can I do before then? I can generate new business for myself and Navartis by talking to new clients, telling them about my candidates. I can also reach out to new candidates and sell myself and my expertise to them. It’s important to stay proactive so that you’ve always got new opportunities in the pipeline.
When I’m not calling candidates, I’ll tailor my work style to the clients I’m working with. It’s a little different to the UK market as there are subtle variances to the recruitment process. No two companies are the same. I’ll talk to a client, pick up a job, and then discuss how the process is going to work. Some clients want my full involvement and like to be updated at every stage. Others prefer us to take a step back. It’s my job to mediate between client and candidate so that everyone is happy.
What is the most rewarding pard of the job?
I enjoy the progression. I started as a Trainee and I know where I’m heading. I’d like to be a Managing Consultant in the future, lead a team, nurture their growth and really have an impact.
In Overseas, the process to place a candidate in a role is a little longer. Not only because I deal with permanent positions, but because the European markets work differently. Notice periods can be a longer than we’re used to in the UK. Again, I need to be positive and proactive. I don’t just sit back and relax and wait for the process to play itself out. There’s always something I can do to keep things moving. I enjoy taking control of the situation and being proactive.
I spend a long time working with candidates, so I really get to know them and their motivations. Why are they looking for a new role? Their motivations vary from needing an increase in salary and seniority, to wanting to move closer to family.
The most rewarding part of my job is when a candidate of mine starts in a brand-new role. After getting to know them for so long I’m genuinely invested in their story. I can see how happy they are and it’s a shared celebration when they find their dream job.
What are some of the challenges faced on the job?
Honestly, I was nervous going into the Overseas team. I thought the language and culture barriers would make life a lot harder, but that’s simply not the case. We’re fortunate in that most of our candidates speak English. I don’t take that for granted, but it helps.
I think like all recruiters I’ve got a lot of resilience. Because the process is usually longer than we’re used to in the UK, you have to be very aware of your role. What can you do to keep things airtight. That said, the process doesn’t have to be any harder than you make it. Yes, it can be long.
But there are so many things you can do. It’s about being proactive and taking that time to strengthen relationships with clients and candidates.
I feel like I’m good at putting myself in the shoes of my candidates. What you need to remember is that these are huge decisions for our candidates. If you can show them that you’re proactive and on the ball, then you’ll be able to build those beneficial business relationships.
How do you feel you suit Overseas?
Again, I thought the language and culture differences would slow me down. They don’t. I’m resilient so I don’t let the long process and setbacks get the better of me. I couldn’t be happier in the Overseas team and I wouldn’t swap with anyone. There’s a great team mentality so even at the busiest times I don’t feel too overwhelmed.
Teamwork probably plays a bigger factor over here than it does in the other teams. I think it’s rare for a whole team to get along but here we are.
There’s a perception that recruitment is cut-throat. That everyone is only out for themselves. Not true. We’re a great team and we all want to help each other.
What qualities does someone need to excel in Overseas recruitment?
It’s a cliché, but resilience is key. You can’t be fazed by the long process of Permanent recruitment. In Overseas you need to stay proactive. You need to actively search for new candidates who have the skills your client needs, put out job adverts, email and call people, and really build your network.
Teamwork is the number one skill. Like I said, we’re a close group and work together closely. I wouldn’t be successful here if I wasn’t a team player. Every time a new team member joins, we welcome them in and do our best to show them the ropes.
Are you interested in a career in recruitment?
If you read this article and feel like recruitment is a sector that you would like to be a part of, or you are currently working in recruitment and you would like to work for a business that offers exciting career progression opportunities, then check out our join us page to find out more about life at Navartis.
