We know how important it is to start your career or new job on the right foot. That’s why our dedicated learning and development team spend hundreds of hours training our people and giving them the tools they need to become a successful recruiter.
As part of our commitment to meeting the training and development needs of our people, we offer an intensive RecruitFit Programme for new starters. Georgia Hodgson, a new member of our recruitment team, looking after Banking and Financial Services, recently took part in the training. We asked her what she thought of the experience.
Georgia Hodgson
Can you tell us a little bit about your background?
I started at SThree brand Orgtel, a specialist provider of recruitment solutions to the Banking, Finance and IT sectors in the UK, a few months ago. Before that, I studied Graphic Design at Leeds University and finished an internship in recruitment which I really enjoyed.
I knew I wanted to find out if this is the right career for me; that’s why SThree and Orgtel are a great fit and so far I’ve absolutely loved it.
You’ve recently completed the RecruitFit training. How would you describe the training?
RecruitFit helps to review the reasons why we do certain things in our job on a daily basis and the way we do them. It helps to understand how we can approach our tasks and the work of a consultant better and more thoroughly.
For me, the training also involved a market presentation on the Banking and Finance industry. This helped me increase my understanding and knowledge of the industry I operate in.
Further topics covered in the programme included: negotiation skills, how to take a comprehensive job spec and asking your customers the right questions.
I loved the training. We did some really fun activities, and everything was visual which I think helps a lot. I also met people from different parts of SThree which allowed me to build my network and better understand the business.
What did you enjoy the most?
I think the best part was the pre and post interview preparation and debriefing. That’s something that I’ve just started doing, and it’s a really important part of the process for the candidate. It’s going to be interesting to see how the training influences the way I talk to my candidates and clients. I can’t wait to put what I’ve learnt into action.
How will the training help your career move forward?
It will help me approach things in a more structured way. The training helped me to refocus my tasks and do things differently. It’s also going to ensure that I remember to gather all of the relevant information from my customers. This way I get to know all of the needs of my candidates and clients and provide them with the best possible service.
What career support do you expect from SThree?
I want to be given the opportunity to grow as a consultant and choose a career that gives me clear direction. Whether that’s towards the management side of things or towards Principle Consultant or Client Management. I expect that whatever path I choose to go down I will be provided with the support I need from my employer to reach my goals.
Any advice for someone who is about to attend the training?
Go in with an open mind, take on all of the advice and ensure you take on the right behaviours from the start. It can be frustrating when you realise that you might not have done things completely right, but it’s important to learn what’s best for our customers. After all, we’re in the relationship business. Get to know the people that you are training with, they are genuinely really nice.
What’s the culture like in your office?
It’s a really fun and supportive environment. Everyone puts in a lot of hard work and they’re truly committed to their role and customers. I also find that if I’m stuck, I can ask one of my colleagues or managers and they’re happy to help, no matter how simple the question is. I learnt that every question is a good question.
What advice would you give someone starting in your office today?
Take the time to understand everyone’s role and the parts of the job that you’re really interested in. Utilise other people’s experiences and advice to grow and progress. This will help you become the consultant you want to be.
If you can see yourself joining Georgia’s team, then browse our most recent jobs and get in touch with a member of our Talent Acquisition team.