Case study: financial recruitment consultant
After completing his degree in Politics at the University of Sussex, Michael John Willman started work as a financial recruitment consultant with the sf Group.
I found the position through the Prospects website, and I also attended various job fairs, browsed internet sites and looked up newspaper adverts. As I was new to the world of work, I had no personal contacts to fall back on so websites such as Prospects were a real help.
Day-to-day my main responsibilities include talking to financial recruiters about the size, structure and needs of their departments. A lot of this is done over the phone, but best done face-to-face. We also meet and register a lot of candidates looking for work in finance/accounts, which means that no two days are ever the same.
I also contribute to being part of a highly motivated team to drive the office forward in revenue. As the work can often be tough, it’s great to have a strong team supporting you. SF Group put a real emphasis on team ethic and culture, and it’s nice to be working with people who you genuinely consider to be friends, as well as colleagues.
The first job I ever filled was the best placement I have made so far. It was a young lady, new to the country and with a young family. Within a week of her registering with me, I sent her for interview with a global IT consultancy and she was offered the position and started the following Monday. She is still there eight months on and doing really well!
During my time with the sf Group I’ve learnt the ins and outs of a competitive and profitable industry, and I am now also helping new consultants to the office, in a ‘Management Consultant’ role. The office culture and the unlimited potential to progress are the best things about my job. The money is also a real advantage!
The hours can be tough, and having to win over your competitors in every job you’re working on is hard. To be a financial recruitment consultant you need to have excellent interpersonal skills, be thick-skinned, quick-thinking and have self-belief. You need to win the client’s respect through your credibility, which comes through knowing the industry and terminology. You need to have real confidence, not only in yourself but also the candidate you’re trying to find work for.
If you are interested in working in financial recruitment you need to be prepared to work the hours, do your research on the market, and make sure you have a tip-top CV. This means not showing off, but selling yourself confidently and effectively. Financial recruitment is like a rollercoaster – you’ve just got to ride it! This means through the tough times, but also the good times!
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