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The Recruitment World From The Outside What Are Recruiters Really Like

Posted on
February 14, 2020

I am not a recruiter and have never worked in recruitment. However, I work for a recruitment company, which means I get to see what recruiters are really like.

This may not be very revolutionary; especially for others who work in recruitment, but these firms often obtain negative reputations, and this might just change your mind about what it’s really like to work in this industry.

Loyalty at BWD

I have been working at BWD for six months now, and I can clearly see why the staff here are so loyal and committed. The company was created in 2006 by founders Alistair Brownlee, James Walker, and Gareth Davies, the initials of their surnames forming the name; BWD. All three are still at the heart of the business.

One of the longest serving recruiters in the company is Gary Raine. He has been working at BWD for over a decade and this is what he has to say about working here:

“Employees are placed at the forefront and we are listened to. New benefits have been added, such as the High Achievers Club, 1.5hr lunches for gym goers, and leave early Friday's to name a few. We have an excellent bonus and incentive structure, so why wouldn't I want to be here for another decade?”

But Gary isn’t the only consultant who has been working at BWD for a large number of years; the core team averages seven years of service, a loyalty not often associated with recruitment, making BWD positively unique.

So why do our staff stay with us for so long?

The People

From what I can see, it’s the people. The employees at BWD are definitely what makes the business it is today. It sounds like a cliché, but I am pretty new to the corporate world, so this is my experience.

It’s never dull! Conversations on every desk, banter and jokes between all staff, at every level. There is a definitive buzz in the office, but let’s not forget, each division and individual have targets to hit and they need to perform. There must be a balance.

Of course, every person has their ‘off’ days, but with the friendly and open atmosphere at BWD, these are rare, and I can say this from personal experience. We have an open-plan office at BWD, with the three Directors scattered about the desks, always there if you need to talk to them about anything.

In my first couple of weeks at BWD, there was quite a lot of talk about the infamous sports day. This was a lot more fun than I had originally anticipated, especially for someone who isn’t particularly into sports. You also get to see the competitive nature of everyone, and it is intense.

Our Relationships

We have an outstanding reputation for our relationships with our clients, and our testimonials prove this:

“It was an absolute delight to work with the skilled experts at BWD to find my current position. Having a deep understanding of the sector, they took time to properly understand my experience and goals, thereby ensuring potential vacancies were closely matched. By working closely with the candidate, and keeping regular communication, everyone benefits. The long and short of it was, I was offered my new role in a matter of weeks. I can highly recommend you give them a call.”

“The level of service you’ve provided has been the best I’ve experienced. (1) I’ve never felt better prepared for an interview, [allowing] me to go in and perform confidently. (2) You called when you said you would, kept me updated, and been flexible in your channels of communication to allow me to get on with my day job. (3) You’ve been pleasant to deal with all the way through the process.”

If 80% of our clients have worked with us for over a decade, this must prove we are doing something right.

Growth is Good

The founders always hold the core values of the company close to them. One of our values is ‘Growth is Good’, and BWD are continually expanding, hiring people who fit the ethic to succeed.

If you are an ambitious recent graduate looking for a job in recruitment, our youngest consultant is Lee Monaghan. At 21-years-old, a recent graduate from the University of Newcastle. I’ve been told a few times that “We want more people like Lee!”, so if you think we could help you start off your career in recruitment, please do get in touch today.

Recruiters at BWD are just normal, friendly, confident, incredibly hard-working people who want to find you your perfect role or find you your perfect employee. That is their job, and that is what they aim to achieve.

Get in Touch!

So, if you are looking for a change in roles, you understand the Financial Services sector and the qualities required to succeed, we want to hear from you. If you are a recent graduate, looking for a company with ambitious growth plans and a genuine career path, we want to hear from you. If you are an experienced recruiter, looking for a new challenge with a firm that rewards success, then we want to hear from you.

Please get in touch with our Internal Talent Acquisition Lead, Sam Scott, for more information on joining BWD:

0113 487 6711 | sam.scott@bwd-search.co.uk

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