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A career as a Recruitment Consultant is a very tough job with extremely long working hours. Being a Recruiter involves: building lasting relationships with clients, sourcing candidates and getting to know their skills set and how they would fit in at a company, a host of other responsibilities, and of course most importantly – keeping those billings coming in. Recruitment is also a very diverse, interesting, and rewarding job so in this article, we’re going to help you make the most of being a Recruiter and let you know how you can succeed in one of the toughest but most lucrative jobs around.   Expect to work harder than ever before, even from the beginning We’ve already mentioned how being a Recruitment Consultant is a highly stressful job with many pressing responsibilities and long working hours. This is true even from the beginning as you really need to make sure you hit the ground running. So, what do we mean by this? Start by engaging with training sessions (i.e. online courses, webinars, etc.) for any systems you are unfamiliar with – this way you can hone your skills on these systems during your initial training phase, so you are ready to get working on deals as soon as possible. Furthermore, liaising with clients from the very beginning is essential. It takes time to build a strong repour with your customer base, so why not get started with this right away?   Focus on developing relationships with clients Building positive, long-lasting relationships with clients is paramount to becoming a successful Recruiter. It is incredibly important to fully understand your client’s needs, understand their specific candidate requirements, and align their goals with yours before you begin consulting with prospects. In addition to this, ensure you maintain excellent, open lines of communication with clients. Consistency is key, even if it’s a quick 5-10-minute consultation to keep them posted or just to touch base, as it were. A business relationship requires constant maintenance and care.   Familiarise yourself with your recruitment tools There are many tools at a Recruiter’s disposal, but there’s four in particular that exist at almost every recruitment firm that need to be mastered. First, and perhaps most important are job boards. Each job board operates differently to the last and most recruitment firms utilise multiple job boards. Make sure you attend any available training sessions/webinars on these to familiarise yourself with them. Second, liaising with your fellow employees for recommendations on sourcing or interviewing candidates can be of great use. Remember, some of your colleagues have been in recruitment for years, even decades! So, their knowledge and expertise may well be unrivalled and therefore, invaluable. Third, make use of your company website. Hosting jobs on your website exerts a positive image of the brand and prompts prospects to view the rest of your website, meaning that they gain a much better understand of yourself and who you work for before you even pick up the phone. Fourth and finally, begin to familiarise yourself with your firm’s candidate database as soon as possible. Some of these databases can be alien to a new Recruitment Consultant but are of great value, so learning how to utilise it is highly important. One measure you can take is contacting your database Account Manager and building a positive relationship with them and their Tech Support team.      Get to know your market Whatever your industry of focus, we can guarantee it will be complex, unique, competitive, and demanding. Gaining an understanding of the industry in which you are hiring in is essential when it comes to sourcing the right type of candidate and better understanding your client’s needs as many of their needs will be reactive to the market. So, how can you get to know your industry? Well, there are a number of avenues to achieving this. These include: networking events, talking to and socialising with colleagues, consultations with both clients and candidates operating within the industry, and by researching the marketplace yourself, whether that be through keeping up-to-date with the latest news stories and trends via respected publications.   Learn to allocate your time efficiently As mentioned, there are many different responsibilities involved with being a Recruitment Consultant and learning to manage them efficiently can not only help you stick to deadlines and bill, but also break your day down nicely. A great tip to avoid repetition, manage expectations, and perform consistently is to break up your day into timely segments, if possible. For example, spending a few hours at a time: liaising with clients, on sales calls, sourcing candidates, and writing job descriptions.   We hope you found this article useful – why not take what you have learned and join one of the fastest growing specialist recruitment companies in the world? If you’re interested in a career with us, then contact info@hamlynwilliams.com or call 0203 675 2920. We look forward to hearing from you!

​ It’s Thanksgiving today over in the US; the perfect time to recharge your batteries, relax with the family post-Thanksgiving dinner and share what you’re thankful for over the past year. Even if you are not in the US or don’t celebrate Thanksgiving, this is well worth a read. If you’re from the US or work with someone from the US, you’ll know that Thanksgiving is one of the most important holidays of the year, it’s about friends and family coming together. Whilst many job seekers slowdown in their search during Thanksgiving through until the end of the year, this is actually the time to increase your job search efforts, so see what’s on the market before the New Year’s rush. Plenty of great companies are looking to hire for the New Year and that includes a number of our prestigious clients. Getting in touch with us at this time of year can set you up in that dream job you have been waiting for. To find out more about how to stay ahead of the game, read our previous blog article on how to job hunt effortlessly, by clicking here. The recruitment process can differ in length depending on the type of job you are looking for. More often than not the process lasts well over a month when you take into consideration: consultations, interviews, consideration and deliberation periods, etc. That’s why getting in touch with us at Hamlyn Williams over this holiday period can mean that you’re hired ready for the New Year, giving you time off over Christmas and New Year before you kick off the next chapter in your career. Companies look to volunteer this time of year, which helps you give back to your local community. Helping the less fortunate at this time of year makes a hugely positive impact to these people, particularly if they are struggling for a hot meal, with the temperature dropping, and if they do not have any close friends or family to share the time of year with. Not to mention, showing that you can take the initiative to undertake volunteer work, with no financial incentive is excellent to showcase on your CV. Whilst it's tempting during the festive period to step back and wait for the New Year to start your job hunt, it's a great time to test the waters and see what's out there. You can remain active by getting in touch with us via email or LinkedIn, and networking with your peers to gauge a better idea of what the next step in your career looks like. If you’re looking for a new challenge, then why not check out what jobs we are currently recruiting for at https://www.hamlynwilliams.com/job-search or get in touch by emailing info@hamlynwilliams.com. Oh… and Happy Thanksgiving!

Are you a graduate? Are you looking to work in a fast-paced growing industry? Looking to be part of a team that supports you through your career and gets involved in out-of-hours socialising? If you answered yes to all three of these questions, then a career in recruitment may be just what you need. The former COO of General Electric, Lawrence Bossidy once said: “Nothing is more important than hiring and developing people.” This rings true for your career at Hamlyn Williams as you will build up your own portfolio of clients and candidates, learn fast, and grow within your role as you progress through the business. Are you looking for a job that offers you one of the following?   1.    Meritocracy You can see great financial rewards from the hard work that you put in. You will already be incentivised enough to adhere to the needs of your customers. Moreover, you receive a commission for each candidate placed as a bonus for your efforts and service to your customers. One of our Recruiters in our London office placed four candidates in the space of a week, earning a healthy commission on each. Imagine seeing that pay check in your bank account at the end of the month – what a reward for all your hard work.   2.    International Opportunity You will be provided with the unique opportunity to work in any one of our global offices, including: London, Cardiff, New York, Dallas, and Hong Kong. One of our Recruiters in the US had the dream of setting up an office in Hong Kong, so our CEO listened and let them take the lead on it. Thanks to the desire of our team, you now have the opportunity to work in Hong Kong or one of our other global offices.   3.    You’ll be G.R.E.A.T. You will be expected to: -      Go the extra mile – you will go the extra mile to adhere to your customer’s needs -      Resilient – you will be resilient in how hard you work for your customers -      Expectations – you will be determined to exceed the expectations of your customers -      Assertiveness – you will be assertive by communicating effectively -      Transparent – you will be transparent through honesty and integrity   4.    Culture & Rewards You will be part of a fun, friendly, and fast-paced working environment where your colleagues will help and advise you throughout your recruitment journey. Our monthly sales days give you the chance to engage in some healthy competition with teams from our global offices to win prizes. Our teams are often socialising with one another outside of business hours so once you become part of the Hamlyn Williams family, you won’t want to leave! Check out our Instagram page for posts around Halloween time where we hosted our latest sales day - https://www.instagram.com/hamlynwilliamsrecruitment/.   5.    Your Personal Development You will have all the tools you need to build your own successful recruitment portfolio. Our career-long training programme will give you all the guidance and support you need. The programme will develop your skills from your first day of recruiting, all the way through to managing your own team. One of our Recruiters in the US joined the firm a few years ago in an entry-level role - now they are responsible for the entire Contracts division. This could be you in a few years if you join us and continuously display this level of desire and ingenuity.   6.    Entrepreneurial by Nature At Hamlyn Williams, you are encouraged to be entrepreneurial by creating opportunities for your customers as well as yourself. We want you to always be alive to opportunity, that’s why you have the option to work in any number of our global offices. One Recruiter in Hong Kong bagged themselves four promotions in a single year. This came from their entrepreneurial nature in which they identified and then seized the opportunity of recruiting in a new space. Your ideas are always welcome and can lead to some great business being done, with your career moving along at an unbelievable pace.   7.    Become a Market Expert You will become a market expert through the relationships you build and the conversations you have with your clients. These clients will be some of the biggest players in their respective industries. You will be encouraged to interact with them regularly, divulging information for future reference and to pass on to your candidates to assist them through the recruitment process.   8.    Being a Recruiter is an Interactive Job You won’t just be stuck to your desk the entire time, you will be responsible for liaising with both clients and candidates in the form of face-to-face meetings to accommodate for them, understand their needs, and continue to build proactive relationships.   We are constantly looking to recruit for entry-level roles such as Associate Consultant which provides you with the best opportunity to step onto the career ladder. Also, to work in a fantastic and fast-paced industry, grow your reputation as a Recruiter, earn promotions for your hard work, and not to mention reap the financial rewards along the way. If you would like to be considered for a role or for further information, please either contact info@hamlynwilliams.com or see our latest job vacancies at https://www.hamlynwilliams.com/job-search.

​ To coincide with #StressAwarenessDay, we are going to provide you with 5 ways to help combat workplace stress most effectively. 1.    Take care of your physical health A poor or unbalanced diet can be a contributing factor to your mood, making you more susceptible to stress. Sticking to a balanced, healthy diet can improve your mood and self-esteem, both in the short and long-term. Combining this with an exercise regime that slots in nicely with your daily schedule without disrupting your work-life balance too much, can make you feel invigorated and ready to take on the day, rather than dreading it. Furthermore, the gym can be a great place to set goals and achieve them, making you feel more positive about the working environment. 2.    Working from home If your employer offers flexible working hours or allows you to work from home from time-to-time, then this may be a great way to balance your time properly in and out of the workplace, reducing stress levels. However, do be sure to utilise this policy with care as contact time is still important to build relationships with colleagues and to be kept informed throughout the day. 3.    Know your limits There are a number of stress triggers that you can identify and keep a journal of in order to avoid stressful situations in the future, if at all possible. Secondly, communication is key – by making your Manager and/or colleagues aware of your workload in a subtle and polite manner can encourage them to be more understanding and give you a helping hand. Thirdly, whether it's heading to the kitchen to grab a cup of tea or taking a short walk during your lunch break, these small breaks can be beneficial to helping you balance tasks. Balancing your day is important - take time to take your mind off the task as going back with fresh eyes and resumed motivation can help get it done quicker. 4.    Internal politics If conflicts do occur between yourself and another employee, then it is of paramount importance that you keep things professional. Conflicts with other workers can cause you and the colleague a great deal of stress. The solution is never simple, and conflicts can be difficult to deal with causing upset, however hard it is remaining professional is more important and you must put aside your differences. If the issue you have with this colleague is a recurring one, it may be prudent to speak to your Manager or a member of the HR team on advice with how to deal with the issue. 5.    If your workplace offers a mental wellbeing programme, then make use of it Society as a whole is becoming more aware of mental health issues and in particular, the stress that you can come under. Modern workplaces are at the forefront of this as many now offer a mental wellbeing programme to support you. It is estimated that 1 in 4 working people will experience mental health issues at some point during their career and stress is often a common issue. Therefore, more employers are providing you with the required support. To see all our blog articles, follow the link - https://www.hamlynwilliams.com/blog.

​ Hamlyn Williams has appointed a new Finance Director – Kevin Taylor. Kevin joined Hamlyn Williams in September and is based in the Cardiff office. Kevin will be coordinating corporate finance and managing company policies at Hamlyn Williams. Kevin’s experience includes managing the finances of another recruitment firm, as he joins the business from Time 4 Recruitment after 3 years as their Finance Director. Kevin commented: “I’m really excited to join Hamlyn Williams after 3 great years at my last firm. I felt it was the right time for a change in my career and the vision and reputation of Hamlyn Williams convinced me to take on the role.” Please join in welcoming him to the business.    

Hamlyn Williams has appointed a new Chief Operating Officer – Iain O’Dair. Iain joined Hamlyn Williams on Monday 8th October and is based in the Cardiff office. Iain's role will be to ensure that as a business, Hamlyn Williams is meeting and exceeding its strong ambitions, goals and growth plans. Iain will also support the goals of the sales teams globally and continue to build upon the operational structure of the business. Fundamentally, Iain will ensure that Hamlyn Williams is achieving sustainable growth towards an ambitious 2020 vision. Iain joins the business from Opus Talent Solutions where he held the role of Group COO. He spearheaded the company’s mission to become a global leader in niche and innovative talent solutions. Iain commented: “Hamlyn Williams is a specialist, international, high-margin business. The business is still focused on high growth, even after 7 years of achieving consistency in this. I’m really excited about the new challenge, with the global nature of Hamlyn Williams opening up lots of new opportunities both internally for our staff and for the business to grow within its core disciplines.” Iain goes on to say: “In recruitment, you have to work incredibly hard, but you also need to be able to have fun. So, it’s worth engaging in the people around you so that you can enjoy your job as well as being unbelievably successful. So far, everything I’ve seen at Hamlyn Williams is geared towards that and the company makes sure that everyone has the best opportunity to have a tremendous career.” Please join in welcoming Iain to the business.