Recruitment Consultant Review

This work placement gave me real responsibility as it has given me the opportunity to run my own desk and work as a full time Hays employee. I really enjoyed this placement as there was a real work hard play hard culture to the office. I enjoyed this work placement and will be returning after graduation.

My colleagues included me in all of their meetings and emphasised the importance of my performance on the teams overall results. I felt extremely valued as I was treated as if I was a permanent member of staff. My colleagues also took time to praise me in my performance and I was given the opportunity to go on a shooting day as I had hit my targets.

At Hays you are initially put on the 12 week training programme for associates which is an in depth training programme which gives you everything you need to successfully run a desk. I was given so much hands on support by everyone in the office and was assigned to a mentor who had over 20 years experience within the recruitment industry.

I was extremely busy on a daily basis and no two days were the same. I had a number of duties to carry out on my desk such as; writing job advertisements, prescreening candidates, interviewing candidates, helping candidates prepare for interview, meeting clients, dealing with daily queries from my temporary workers and other general queries regarding roles I had on.

I was given the responsibility that a full time associate would be given I ran my own recruitment desk, went on my own client meetings, held my own candidate interviews. I was fully responsible for all of my activity on my desk which demonstrates this responsibility which I think very few placements offer.

The skills and training I have developed within this role will help me with my degree in a number of areas such as; the work ethos I will return to university with, in recruitment you need to learn not to put off the tasks you don't want to do and have to do them straight away which I will take back to university with me. Additionally, I developed my course specific knowledge based on labour markets.

The general atmosphere in the office was definitely a work hard, play hard culture. The general atmosphere was a hardworking atmosphere but successes were celebrated. The office atmosphere was extremely positive as there was a constant buzz of people celebrating successes which in turn lead to a hardworking environment.

The placement was extremely well organised as every intern is put on the associate training programme. This training programme is the training given to every permanent Hays employee. This training programme includes a 12 week training programme which covers all areas on how to become a recruiting expert, 1 week of the training you are sent on an intensive training week in either London or Birmingham. Additionally, you are given targets and KPIs to hit which gives the internship a lot of structure.

There was an enormous amount of personal training and development. We were put on a 12 week training programme which covers all areas on how to become a recruiting expert, 1 week of the training you are sent on an intensive training week in either London or Birmingham. Additionally, you are given targets and KPIs to hit which gives the internship a lot of structure.

Hays is extremely appealing as they have a number of promotion opportunities within the organisation. They are also internationally based and give you the opportunity to work in any of the overseas branches after you have worked for them for 2 years which is extremely appealing as you are effectively paid to travel.

There was a good social scene within the role as my colleagues and I would go out for end of the month dinners and nights out. Additionally, every 6 months the organisation would plan Christmas parties and summer parties for all of the Hays employees to attend which broadens the social scene as you are able to meet other colleagues who work locally.

I worked across 3 offices and the cost of living varied within each office. In Luton the cost of living was very cheap as was the nightlife making it very affordable and there was a local university which made the cost of socialising cheaper. Milton Keynes and Watford were slightly more expensive but still affordable to go out.

The nightlife in Milton Keynes was great as there were a number of bars and nightclubs that had recently opened in the local area. Luton had quite a limited nightlife and very few restaurants in the local area. Watford had a number of bars and a few clubs which my colleagues and I went to so the nightlife was okay in Watford too.

Milton Keynes had a number of activities in the local area outside of work. As Milton Keynes is an up and coming city there were numerous opportunities for people will all kinds of interests. Whilst I was on placement I found a number of opportunities for me to take part in after work within the local area.