An Introduction to the Temporary & Contract Business

 

We have three divisions; Financial Services, Commerce and Industry and Interim/Govt Services. These divisions have teams within them, split vertically to ensure that Managers and Consultants have a clear focus, ownership and responsibility for a specific group of clients and candidates. With 600,000 businesses across London in these areas we can be sure that everyone has the opportunity to make money and develop their own management job for the future.

 

Urgency, fast-paced, entrepreneurial, speed, innovative, commerciality are all words that encapsulate the world of temp recruitment. Over the years I have learnt that while many temp recruiters understand that speed is the key, only the best ones appreciate the other key ingredient – quality. So how do we maintain quality when moving at speed of sound? Very simply it’s being proactive rather than reactive. We know who are the best immediately available candidates, in each industry, at all times. This is achieved through continually adapting and evolving our candidate strategy, not only to suit the current market place, but to anticipate what the market place will be in the future!

Training in recruitment takes two forms, structured sit down theory and on the floor training, observing, assisting and explanation of processes in real time as they occur. Along with a Manager, each team on the temp floor has a mix of Senior and Executive Consultants that share their knowledge and experience to help train and develop everyone in the team. Everyone has an important role to play, junior or senior, you add value that transmits into success.

 

Typical day

Trying to put down on paper the day in the life of a temp recruiter is like trying to attach wheels to a tomato – time consuming and ultimately pointless as no two days are the same!!

 

I will try to give an idea of the various skills that you will hone when working here. The day starts at 8:30am with our candidate meetings, this is done at the desks by team and is a review of the candidates we have spoken to and met the previous day. We discuss their skills (and weaknesses) and talk about what we will be doing to find them their next position and catch up on the numerous roles we are working. The day is filled: canvassing clients, registering and meeting candidates, speaking with candidates already registered, advertising jobs that are live, going out to meet clients, liaising with the permanent team and responding to the various situations that arise during the day. So I think we can safely say that the job is a varied and busy one! 

 

If you are lucky there might also be time for a sandwich!

All of the above builds towards the ultimate goal and that is writing names on the placement boards – which is always met by the floor with raucous clapping and noise! So what comes next, home for some sleep and cocoa? Well sometimes, but what are the rewards for all this hard work? 

 

I start with the simple one, cold hard cash! I take great pleasure in signing off the quarterly bonuses for the Temp team and by honing the skills mentioned above you will do just that. Put simply the earning potential is huge and in your hands!

 

The second is less tangible but as important… nearly. In no other industry can you guarantee that you will laugh everyday. The camaraderie, friendship and general banter that you will be both involved in, and the butt of, when working here is unrivalled!

 

Finally “work hard, play hard” is an often used but rarely experienced term. The Senior Management Team and I strongly believe that a great performance deserves great rewards and as you will see in the pictures on the walls, when it comes to “playing”, Goodman Masson are serious contenders!
 

Director