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Miami, Florida – a land of sunshine, white-sand beaches, and cultural delights, was also home to Understanding Recruitment’s highest performers earlier this month when we took 20 of the team on holiday to say thank you for their hard work! Find out how they qualified, and all the highlights of their trip below. One of the perks of life working in recruitment is the once-in-a-lifetime trips we can take those individuals that have gone above and beyond to exceed expectations on. This May, after years of waiting we could finally take 20 UR team members from our UK and US-based teams – ranging from our Business Operations team to Principal Recruitment Consultants – to Miami, to celebrate them surpassing their full-year target (we combined the 2019, 2020, and 2021 winners after the trip’s original date was thwarted by COVID). Taking a well-deserved break from sourcing and placing tech candidates, learning and development, HR and accounts, our team enjoyed excursions in alligator territory, delicious food, and more, over five days in the sunshine state, as well as some down-time for relaxing, shopping, and the city’s famous beaches! Here’s what some of our exceptional performers had to say about the trip:   Sitting on that plane to Miami felt like…   “When I finally found out the destination of Miami I was incredibly happy as I had never been to the US before, and it was great to be able to experience it alongside such a great group of people! As I had waited so long for this trip (hitting it for the first time in 2019) I think it only properly sunk in when we landed in Miami!” said Anna Lynch, Principal Account Manager in our DevOps team. “I qualified for the first trip in my first and second year at Understanding Recruitment, and both times have felt unbelievable. Trips like this are a completely different kind of experience. I’ve been able to visit places as a grad after a year that I definitely couldn’t afford and it’s great to take time off and relax, without actually taking time off. I really felt like I was being rewarded for all my hard work beyond my salary,” she added. Monique Hunt, our Management Accountant from our Finance team, commented, “Due to Covid, Miami has been a long time coming for me. I won ‘Business Operations Person of the Year’ back in December 2019. Miami 2022 was definitely worth the two-year wait though! I put so much care and attention into my work and it was nice that this was recognised by the directors when I won the award and got to go on this trip!” “After working here for three years, hitting the trip incentive twice during the COVID years and not being able to go made going on this trip ever so much sweeter! It was a massive draw for me to get into recruitment to go on trips around the world I wouldn’t usually get to go on,” added Cedric Sellmann, Principal Account Manager, from our Java recruitment team. “Sitting on that plane (there was a lot of standing up and cheers-ing though to be fair!) made all my accomplishments feel so much better. It definitely motivated me to not miss another one in the future!” My lasting Winner’s Trip memory is…   “It is hard to pinpoint a couple of highlights as the whole trip was full of amazing activities and memories, but going on the speed boat around Miami Marina and the Everglades tour were certainly standouts,” said Harry Sansom, Principal Account Manager for Tech & Data in our Charity & NFP team. “However, just being able to spend time with the team away from work having a laugh and relax was priceless. It was great to finally meet up with some of the US team as it has been a long time coming having only spoken to them via Teams previously. For me, it just reinforced the great culture we have that everyone got on so well and spent most of our time together. It is true when people say although we might be work colleagues it certainly felt like a trip away with your closest pals.” Emma Mathiesen, Head of Training & Development, added, “As a parent of two small children time on the beach to chill and properly switch off without having to worry about my little ones was amazing. Aside from the time on the beach, I loved the organised activities like going on a speedboat because they’re not things I’d ever done before. I also really enjoyed getting to know the team more than I’m able to on a day-to-day basis in the office and the group had a great dynamic which made it really fun!” Molly Boca, Recruitment Consultant from our US-based Acceler8 Talent office, said, “My biggest highlight of the whole trip was having a chance to meet my friends from the UK office. After two years behind a computer screen, it was a dream come true to be able to see everyone in person. But even beyond that, to be able to meet everyone on the US offices’ first full-year trip was an experience that I will never forget. Whether it was boating through the Everglades or just sitting on the beach with a cocktail the company was my favourite part of Miami!”   The secret to making the next Winner’s Trip is…   “I think quality over quantity and steadily working towards micro-goals is the best mindset for hitting a trip!” says Molly, when it comes to advice for making the next trip. Cedric adds, “We’ll train you up and give you all the tools you need to be successful here, not just to get on the trip but to hit your goals in life. You put in the effort, work closely with your team, and surround yourself with like-minded successful people and I can promise you’ll get on the next trip. The more the merrier!” Another year, another Winner’s trip! Will you be on it? “It was great to see the collaboration and cohesiveness between everyone. It was absolutely superb to be with everyone on one of the best trips we’ve ever done, and we can’t wait to do the next one and see who qualifies!” concluded Chris Jackson, Founding Director at Understanding Recruitment. A big well done to all the winner’s trip qualifiers, including James Potton, Emma Mathiesen, Josh Smith, Tom Rankin, Harry Sansom, Charlotte Young, Dan Nightingale, Anna Lynch, Tom Parker, Leo Sparkes, Cedric Sellmann, Monique Hunt, Lisa Booth, and Brad Howell from our UK Understanding Recruitment team, who were joined by Mat Ferdenzi and Molly Boca, from our Acceler8 Talent Boston recruitment team. Did you know we also take new graduate or trainee starters on a trip to our office on the other side of the point if they make their target on joining?   Read about our 'Road to Olympia' incentive trip our recent grads and trainees took earlier this year!

Recruitment is all about people: what you put in, working together with your team, and the ability to change the course of people’s lives by getting them that game-changing role they’d been dreaming of. We know there are perhaps some misconceptions (or lack of information) about what working in the sector is like, so we wanted to share some of the benefits of taking a recruitment consultant job or trainee recruitment job, and celebrate all the great things a career in recruitment can bring. Here are 8 things we think are pretty worth shouting about when it comes to what life can be like working as a recruiter:   1. Career Progression can be huge Working in recruitment is all about motivation and enjoying the rewards of your hard work, and that’s why we have clear progression routes outlined from the start with your manager. Hard work being rewarded is at the core of the best recruitment companies, so show you’re picking things up and soon enough you could be promoted from the Researcher role you will most likely start off in! For example, Java superstar recruiter Charlotte Young since joining as a Researcher in July 2018 went on to be promoted to Recruitment Executive and later Senior Recruitment Consultant, and most recently Managing Recruitment Consultant at the start of May 2022, and will be hiring for her own team soon. There’s also Josh Smith, who is now leading our growing Python tech recruitment team following a promotion at the start of January 2022, after joining as a Researcher only in July 2019! We’re delighted that 90% of our managers initially joined us at a junior level and worked their way up either our client delivery or business development route!   2. You can travel the world Many recruiters offer half-year and full-year trips, and we’re delighted that we just took 20 high performers on a Miami trip that’s been three years in the planning (due to COVID), but usually offer half and full-year holidays for our target-smashing high performers. We also just have a trip for new starters to visit our Acceler8 Talent recruitment office in Boston, Massachusetts after hitting the ‘Road to Olympia’ target for trainee and graduate new starters.   3. You don’t need experience Individuals from hospitality, retail, and estate agent backgrounds, have all walked through a recruitment consultancy like ours’ doors and shone – but also from some environments you may not expect, like banking and insurance! What’s most essential to thrive in a recruitment job is being a people person, as well as having a clear drive towards achieving goals and your ability to work as a team, over whether you have a University degree and what exactly you studied. Learning and development are huge for us, so from Day 1, we’ll cater a tailor-made learning plan around your experience to give you everything you need to succeed as a recruiter. 4. Your take-home pay can quickly increase (and isn’t dependent on time served) As a junior member of staff/trainee recruiter, your salary will start at around the £22,000 mark but can rapidly grow beyond that with competitive commission (we offer up to 40%) on placing candidates. Joining us at a more senior level as a recruitment consultant or account manager and your salary can range from around £30,000-70,000 depending on your experience, and whether you’re a Recruitment Consultant or Account Manager.   5. It’s all about teamwork There’s sometimes perhaps a perception that being a recruiter is all on you, but in the best type of recruitment companies you’ll find it’s not a solo, ‘every person for themselves’ type of role. Our teams are carefully formed, based on who we think will fit well where to ensure they bounce off each other’s energy and support each other. Every company runs differently, but we’re a big fan of catch-ups throughout the day as a team (virtually if working remotely thanks to Microsoft Teams) to make sure everyone has the support they need to hit their goals.   6. You’d be joining one of the ‘fastest-growing job sectors’ (and most exciting sector to be in, in our books!) In 2022, we’re proud to have many million-pound months as the tech industry bounces back with force and companies throughout the UK looking to bolster and expand their teams. According to ZD Net, technology was one of the fastest sectors for growth in jobs in the UK last year. The resilience of the industry in part down to the quick adoption of more remote and flexible working, which has continued into 2022. We’ve embraced flexible working too, with our introduction of two days a week work from home (after passing probation) on offer for all of our team. Working in tech recruitment, you’ll get to know one field extremely well and build long-lasting relationships in the sector (whether a household name like MasterCard or easyJet, or a start-up!), and about the tech talent that drives their success. ​7. Wellbeing is always a priority The pandemic had many companies thinking a lot about ways to ramp up our focus on wellbeing, and we’re one of them. It’s imperative for us to take into account that there are a lot of highs (like when a candidate accepts an offer!) but also some lows (e.g. when a candidate narrowly misses out or changes their mind) in recruitment, and the lows are often out of your control as a recruiter. During the pandemic, we set up a Wellbeing Committee including Mental Health First Aiders to look out for anyone that may be struggling with their mental health, in addition to our free gym and Calm membership, encouraging team members to take 2-hour lunches when needed, among other offerings. Some companies also offer unlimited holiday after a certain period (for us, it’s after two years), and we feel this is essential to allow our team to recharge and enjoy some time off from all their hard work.   8. You’ll be changing people’s lives every day Last, but perhaps most importantly, working as a tech recruiter (and other sectors) can change the course of someone’s life. Whether helping someone secure a role in London after years of wanting to move there, supporting someone get out of a job they’re really unhappy at, or getting someone a salary that will allow them to put a deposit down for a house or do something else they’ve always dreamed of, working in this role means you could be changing people’s lives every week… now, how does that sound?     Upload Your CV Ready to join the team?  We're always interested in finding the right people to join our team. We’re rapidly growing and doing amazing things in the world of tech recruitment from our UK and US offices, and are on the lookout for driven and ambitious individuals to join us on our journey!    Form ID:3677  

Java team member Charlotte Young is a shining example of career progression at Understanding Recruitment, and since joining as a Researcher in 2018, has gone from achievement to achievement to work as Senior Recruitment Consultant. We meet her to find out her advice for those at the start of their recruitment career, the Java developer recruitment market, and what she enjoys about #LifeAtUR. What was your career journey before joining the world of recruitment? I studied Geography at Cardiff University and working at Understanding Recruitment was my first ever full-time job.   What appealed to you about working in recruitment? I was exploring various lines of employment-related to my field of study. When I realised how competitive it was, I reached out to someone I knew in recruitment to find out a little more as I heard he was progressing very quickly in his role and earning great money too! He passed my CV onto UR and after several interview rounds, I secured a position by Christmas of my final year of university!   "UR was a team of about 40 when I joined and now there are 75+ people! The company created values that are adhered to throughout interviewing new prospective recruiters and also has a collaborative working culture."   What do you enjoy about working here (e.g. people, skills, culture, what you’re learning)? Everyone at UR is hugely supportive of each other. We celebrate successes as a team and we show compassion and support others when things don’t always work out the way we would like. We have a mentor/mentee system at UR where we, as recruiters, constantly learn from one another as well at AURA (our learning hub). I’m always learning from my manager who takes the time to listen to my questions and coaches me to the right outcome. Overall, UR places a huge emphasis on its values and it’s great to see an organisation that is an advocate for collaboration and setting high expectations with a strong reputation.   How has Understanding Recruitment evolved since you joined? The first noticeable change is size! UR was a team of about 40 when I joined and now there are 75+ people! The company created values that are adhered to throughout interviewing new prospective recruiters and also has a collaborative working culture on the sales floor. UR also hired in-house trainers who have now put together an extensive training programme for new recruits which has been great and joiners are getting off the mark very quickly! What excites you about being part of the Java industry right now? There is no better time to be a Java Developer than right now, as our 2022 Java Talent & Salary Report demonstrates – the job markets we work on have been very candidate-driven, with salaries higher than ever for tech professionals, and overall job packages increasingly including the likes of equity options nowadays. It’s great to see new industries emerging (e.g. FinTechs, MedTech, Sustainability, Artificial Intelligence) with really exciting opportunities in Java. It’s interesting to see the industry adapt to the increased demand for more flexibility around working hours and working from home too.   What significant changes have you seen in the job market and hiring in the past couple of years? In addition to becoming more and more candidate-led and demand for hybrid or fully remote working sky-rocketing, some sectors have been expanding at an extremely quick pace (e.g. MedTech, cybersecurity). I also see that counteroffers are on the rise in the market, as organisations really do not want to lose staff – projects become business-critical, and it costs them more to re-hire someone else.   What’s a standout memory or highlight from your 3.5 years at the company? My first deal was definitely a standout memory – I was actually abroad on holiday when I found out! My promotions were the most important milestones for me personally, especially my first ever promotion. There was a lot of build-up and it was proof to me that I could really do 360 recruitment. One of my clients is also the company’s biggest client which is also a highlight for me looking back on how far I’ve come. What’s your advice to someone considering a career in recruitment? I’d say good things take time and it’s all about not giving up – ride the wave and good things always come. It’s cliché, but I’d also say to remember that diamonds are made under pressure! It can be very stressful at times working as a recruiter, but the reward is absolutely worth it! Additionally, make sure the organisation you join really invests in your training. It’s important to ensure it has a comprehensive training and onboarding programme, as well as continuous bits of training throughout the year to make sure you are constantly improving in your role and using the latest tools to support you.   What are you most excited about looking to the future working at Understanding Recruitment and in the Java sector? I’m most excited about growing out my own team and starting management – I have even already secured my first hire for the summer! I’m also really excited to continue helping my current clients and scale out my client base with some more exciting tech companies that are evolving quickly.   Thank you to Charlotte for giving a glimpse into Tech Recruiter Life and look out for more spotlights on other members of the UR team on our blog soon!   Does a career in tech recruitment sound appealing? Find out more below!​

As we celebrate International Women’s Day 2022, I’m not only reminded of the talented women we’re lucky to have within Understanding Recruitment but also the positive progress we’ve made over the years to ‘break the bias’ (this year’s theme) and encourage both technology and recruitment as a career path for everyone, regardless of gender. Thankfully, times are changing, and we’re seeing more women being encouraged to drive technological innovation across the world. That said, despite the positive shift, the statistics we’re seeing are still shocking, with several sectors having as much as 85% male-identifying people versus 15% female-identifying individuals within their teams. So, how can hiring companies tackle bias in their recruitment processes and overall lead the way for more gender diversity in the workplace? A TOP-DOWN APPROACH In my opinion, it’s the job of everyone involved in the hiring process, from the top down to be mindful of diversity every step of the way. And to help with this, it’s really important to have different people with multiple perspectives involved to help eradicate unconscious bias of any individual during the process. Here at Understanding Recruitment, we’ve introduced unconscious bias training and support around inclusive hiring so that everyone is aware of their unconscious biases and how this can impact the recruitment process. Across the business, we regularly review our internal interview and recruitment process to help eradicate any bias as well as promote and encourage new ways of working, including part-time working which sadly can be all too often overlooked within our industry. We’re also members of Women in Recruitment, within which there are mentoring opportunities to help encourage more women to have a seat at the table and elevate their careers.  Additionally, we have an internal mentoring scheme so that all our team members can reach their fullest potential. We recognise from a range of research carried out that people involved in the hiring process are often encouraged to look for a certain profile or behaviour. However, we know that this negatively impacts business performance and in turn, companies are losing out on talent without knowing it. THE VALUE OF DIVERSITY Companies that embrace diversity are proven to be much better positioned for innovation and perform better. It also creates more diversity of thought and approaches in the workplace which research proves makes for a far more productive and successful business. In my experience, companies that are growing quickly sometimes haven’t been deliberate enough about their hiring process and end up allowing unconscious biases to creep into their decision making. Although a lot of companies are already aware of this issue and claim they are trying to make their hiring processes less biased, it is easy to fall into the trap. In many cases, people don’t even realise they’re doing it.  “In my experience, companies that are growing quickly sometimes haven’t been deliberate enough about their hiring process and end up allowing unconscious biases to creep into their decision making.” We advise our clients to work with standardised competency-based questions, making sure questions don’t vary between people so they are interviewed objectively. Letting interviewers pick their own questions means that their experience of the candidate can vary. While some people might just have a friendly chat based on common interests, others interrogate the candidate. This means that people often end up being recommended for the role based on a personal connection rather than their ability to do the job, a fact often supported by the company’s staff retention rate, a statistic often ignored. The good news though, is that the easiest place to remove unconscious bias is in recruitment. Taking the time to make biases visible will help companies address them and improve the diversity of their teams. And whilst we’ll be fully celebrating International Women’s Day here at Understanding Recruitment, it’s the work we’ll be carrying out throughout the year around breaking the bias that really matters. DISCOVER OUR 'DIVERSITY IN AI' SERIES: Catherine Oxley, PolyAI: https://www.understandingrecruitment.co.uk/blog/2021/08/annas-diversity-in-ai-series-catherine-oxley Priscilla Boyd, iTech Media: https://www.understandingrecruitment.co.uk/blog/2021/09/annas-diversity-in-ai-series-priscilla-boyd Ye Tian, Wluper: https://www.understandingrecruitment.co.uk/blog/2021/10/research-scientist-ye-tian-on-working-on-amazon-alexa-and-the-value-of-nlp Yue Wang, Samsung: https://www.understandingrecruitment.co.uk/blog/2022/02/diversity-in-ai-series-samsungs-yue-wang-on-propelling-the-ai-industry-forward

One perk of joining the Understanding Recruitment team as a trainee or graduate recruiter, is that if you meet a certain target you qualify to go on a trip to our office in Boston! This is what three of our high performers got to do this month, as they jetted off to Massachusetts to meet our Acceler8 Talent recruitment team and have a taste of life in the U.S. as a reward for their efforts and surpassing their targets in the early stages of their Understanding Recruitment career. One of the most significant recent expansions within the Understanding Recruitment Group has been the addition of our Boston recruitment team. Acceler8 Talent (formerly Understanding Recruitment US), is going from strength to strength when it comes to recruiting in specialist areas including AI & machine learning, hardware acceleration, quantum computing, photonics, and biotech. Its team has grown to over 10 team members since COO Mat Ferdenzi took his success growing our UK Machine Learning team stateside in 2019.   @understandingrecruitment Our 'Road to Olympia' Winners recently enjoyed a trip to Boston! #LifeAtUR #Recruitment #Travel #WorkTrip #TechRecruitment ♬ Forever - Labrinth   After being postponed due to the pandemic, in February three of our qualifying team based in our St. Albans office headed to Boston to meet the expanding Acceler8 team and have the U.S. office experience. The temperature may have been minus degree centigrade when the manager of our Python recruitment team, Josh Smith, Java specialist Ollie Brown, and Front End (JavaScript) team member Brad Howell arrived in Boston, but that didn’t stop them having a trip to remember with their American counterparts.   MEET THE ‘ROAD TO OLYMPIA’ TEAM       “A ‘ONCE IN A LIFETIME’ EXPERIENCE” Here’s what the team said about their trip to Boston and advice for anyone hoping to hit their target in style, and reap the reward of all their hard work with an incentive!     Q. How did it feel to find out you made ‘Road to Olympia’? Ollie: It was awesome, and felt like a genuine reward for months of hard work. The satisfaction of securing talent for roles is great, but nothing really beats the feeling of hitting incentives; especially this one because of the nature of it. RTO is designed to be a challenge for new starters to hit, so to have done it and secured my seat on the plane was fantastic. It was made even better in knowing I’d hit it with Josh and Brad too – knowing we had all hit it at roughly the same time, achieved something special together, and were going to have a great experience together was priceless.   “It was the best feeling to know I was part of a select few who had hit the incentive was brilliant. It was also the point where I really started to believe I could do the job and do it well!” Brad: It was the best feeling to know I was part of a select few who had hit the incentive was brilliant. It was also the point where I really started to believe I could do the job and do it well!   Q. What do you feel you learned from working in the Boston office alongside the US team? Josh: The US is very different in terms of the way they work to the UK. It was good to see that the culture over there is exactly the same as in Understanding Recruitment’s UK office and we all got on so well. I learnt a lot from the way they write their LinkedIn InMails to candidates which is something I've already started to incorporate into my messages since I’ve been back. Ollie: The Boston team do quite a lot differently from us, which I found interesting. There’s a lot of crossover, but they are really unique and have put their mark on a lot of processes. We had a load of knowledge-sharing sessions around things like database usage for sourcing candidates, how they write job adverts and messages, and how they communicate with candidates and clients; and I’d say they learned a similar amount from us as we did from them, which was pretty cool.     Q. What was the professional highlight of your trip? Brad: Meeting the whole team and celebrating when one of the US team did a placement – to be a part of that happening with a different team was great! Josh: I really enjoyed sitting next to Mat from Acceler8 for the second half of the week, listening to him on the phone to clients and seeing him help his team out was something that I'm aspiring to be like in a few years’ time.   Q. What was your non-work-related favourite part of the trip? Brad: Seeing and getting involved with all that Boston has to offer – Acceler8’s office is right opposite the basketball and hockey stadium, so we went to both games. The hockey was great to watch, and it was actually the first time we had all seen ice hockey live.   Q. What would be your advice for those trying to hit a special meal/trip or milestone with their performance early on in their recruitment career? Ollie: Set your plan out early, as with all incentives. It is so vital to focus on that if you want to do X, you need to do Y every month in order to get there. This is something that I didn’t do well enough early on in my journey at UR, but I think planning is the difference between success and ‘lack-of’ in this career. This works on both a micro and a macro scale – So if you want to bill X in a month, you need to get Y CVs out in that month, so Z CVs out each week. The more structured you make it, the easier it’ll be to see if you’re on track or not to hit the bigger incentives!   “...my learning curve was significantly shortened just because I went the extra mile. Now I'm managing a team of four, having only joined the company 2.5 years ago.” Josh: Work your absolute socks off and you'll see the successes, nothing comes easy in recruitment but if you have the drive and intensity you'll reap the rewards that come with it. I stayed late almost every day for the first two to three months of being with UR and my learning curve was significantly shortened just because I went the extra mile. Now I'm managing a team of four, as the Python market continues to rapidly grow, having only joined the company 2.5 years ago. Brad: It really was a once in a lifetime experience, so I would put 100% effort into everything you do to hit the trip and it will also put you in good stead to smash the rest of your first year!   #URLife sound pretty good? We’re always on the lookout for enthusiastic trainees and graduates, who are interested in a career in recruitment!

In a special announcement event earlier today, Understanding Recruitment’s ranking on three of the much-coveted league tables for the 2022 ‘Best Companies to Work For’ in ‘Small’, ‘Recruitment’ and ‘East of England’ company categories, was revealed. Best Companies is a leading UK-based employee engagement specialist, delivering data and insights to help positive change within workplaces. Today, Best Companies revealed the 2022 Q1 ‘Best Companies to Work For’ regional, sectoral, and national league tables in a virtual event attended by representatives from the hundreds of participating companies, as well as holding a series of discussions around the current state of the workplace. Hosted by TV and sports presenter, Dan Walker, the event announced the Q1 ranking highlighting companies scoring high for employee engagement (across categories including leadership, personal growth, wellbeing, and more), as voted anonymously by staff. Feedback is then used to propel organisation’s forward and ensure they unlock their full potential. Understanding Recruitment ranked on all three Best Companies league tables the company qualified for, with the following positions (for Q1): Best Small Companies to Work For In The UK – #6  Best Recruitment Companies to Work For – #7 Best Companies to Work for - East of England – #6 The company also earned an overall 3-star accreditation, representing the highest standard workplace engagement (awarded to organisations with a BCI score of 738 or higher) and ‘world-class’ levels of workplace engagement. "Ranking in all three categories is testament to the industry-leading workplace and practices we are working towards building every day here." Speaking on the news, Chris Jackson, Founding Director of Understanding Recruitment, commented: “An engaged team is something to be celebrated, and we are thrilled to see Understanding Recruitment further establish itself as a leader in tech recruitment and an employer of choice with this announcement. Ranking in all three categories is testament to the industry-leading workplace and practices we are working towards building every day here. ​ Over the past two years, I’ve seen outstanding resilience and commitment to truly being the best we can be and living up to our company values despite challenging circumstances, which has resulted in earning a ‘world-class’ accreditation and these fantastic rankings. The future looks incredibly bright for us and our tech partners, and I know we’re only going to step things up in the year ahead as we expand even more. Well done everyone – we couldn’t have done this without you.” We’re hiring! Find out more about joining #LifeAtUR below! ​

As office life gradually returns, we’ve been reflecting a lot on wellbeing at work following the past two years of adjusting to a new way of life during the pandemic. We’re on a mission to do all we can to support our tech recruitment team, whether with flexible working, team days, or clear career progression, and lead the way on wellness like the tech partners we work with. With the tech recruitment business bouncing back hugely and significant internal growth taking place, it’s been an ideal time to check-in on and hone what we have in place to support everyone, whether their job title states recruiter, marketer, accounts, or director, so they can live a fulfilling life inside and outside work. There are of course the huge rewards of working in recruitment when it comes to financial incentives, skill development and career progression, and supporting someone in finding their dream role. Work stress can affect us all at some point, however, even if we are supported by great colleagues and meeting our targets. How is recruiter work wellbeing? One pre-pandemic report stated that in 2019 nearly three-quarters of surveyed recruiters had had some form of mental wellbeing issue to deal with that year, with over half stating they’d been affected by anxiety. Another study from Every Mind at Work found 38% of recruiters stated their mood as ‘up and down’ (with 25.7% reporting their general mood as ‘happy’ and 11.8% as ‘average’), with over 60% saying they notice sudden changes to their mood. Our team spend most of their time at work, if they are struggling it’s vital to do our part to help them feel their best again (more about this below) and having things in place in our work environment and support available so the occasional low points are as manageable as possible. We don’t want wellbeing at work just to be a tick box exercise, but what we have in place to make a real-life impact on how staff feel in the long-term. Empowering employees to talk about mental wellbeing Of course, one of the most important facets of wellbeing at work is not being afraid to have an open dialogue about mental health in the first place. The earlier CSG study mentioned above stated just over half of surveyed recruiters were comfortable talking about mental health challenges with their manager. These figures indicate recruiters may struggle to discuss mental health in the workplace, so it’s integral to everything else we have put in place to foster a positive, supportive work environment – from the top down. Our journey to supporting every employee’s wellbeing at work is ongoing, like everyone else’s, but we have the following in place for our employees and are always on the lookout for new ways to bolster our wellbeing, so the team feels supported as possible and crucially, enjoys working here! How we work to support wellbeing at work: 1. A welcoming work environment We moved into newly refurbished headquarters in 2019 and the feedback has been great. We have six breakaway rooms from our main office space, as we recognise sometimes staff may need a break from their desk or bustling office, or need to have a one-on-one chat, and a pool table and seating area in the kitchen for lunchtime. Our kitchen is stocked with fruit, drinks, snacks, and coffee if anyone needs a boost. Staff are welcome to take a two-hour lunch to fully recharge their batteries and we finish early on Fridays. We also have a casual dress code so everyone feels as comfortable as possible at work. 2. Clear communication and career progression We recognise and see every day as tech recruiters that often the reason people leave jobs is feeling stagnant and not valued by their employer anymore. This is why, as well as regular team catch-ups, reviews and one-on-ones with line managers on everyday progress, we also check-in with our staff’s personal goals so we can work collectively towards great things. We’re well aware that achieving goals releases ‘feel good’ chemicals dopamine into the brain and is really important for our ambitious team. Listening, furthermore, is one of the most important ways we can support staff, whether it’s about something new a team member wants to do, an extra piece of training or their ambitions. "We have clear pathways and education along the way from sourcing to making business development calls, so no one feels unprepared for the next step in their career" Training is a huge part of what we do, that’s why our growing Training & Development team and other staff run useful training on all areas of tech recruitment from a starter’s induction (and work wellbeing) and beyond. We have clear pathways and internal and external-led education along the way from sourcing to making business development calls, so no one feels overwhelmed or unprepared for the next step in their career as a recruiter. It’s also important for us to recognise people’s talent and growth when they’ve been achieving fantastic things not just when there’s an empty desk when it comes to job promotion. We’re certainly never opposed to really shouting about when someone has done fantastic work on our Microsoft Teams chat, too! 3. Work from home flexibility We are proud to say that working from home isn’t just a benefit we’re going to offer due to the pandemic, but as we return to the office too. We recognise our recruiters have a life outside of Understanding Recruitment, and the more stress-free it is, the happier they are going to be as employees. That’s why we offer hybrid working and two days a week at home for those who want to for easier childcare, dog care… whatever is going on in life! Working from home wellbeing is hugely important too, so we’re often hopping on Teams chats to check-in and share work, just like when we’re in the office. 4. Health & fitness benefits For those of the team who enjoy a gym session, we’ve got it covered. We happily offer gym membership for our team members, so they can enjoy a workout and lower their cortisol levels (the stress hormone) to be in the best headspace possible. It’s important to keep the mind fit too, so everyone can access a paid-for subscription to the Calm app and practice meditation, listen to soundtracks and sleep stories. We’re big fans of the app and it’s been known to reduce stress and improve mindfulness and self-compassion in short-term contexts. We also offer a Cycle to Work Scheme for anyone who wants to come into our St. Albans office via bike. Our Employee Assistance Programme is also available for anything affecting a team member’s health and wellbeing in the longer term, with an online health portal, 24/7 help phoneline and in-person support available if needed. 5. Recharge time We offer unlimited holiday for Understanding Recruitment staff who have been with us two years, so they can enjoy their travels or a well-earned relaxation break and come back recharged. A 5 and 10-year sabbatical is also available –  read what our long-term employees Tom and Nicola got up to on their adventure-filled sabbatical. Our top performers also are treated to breaks internationally (though locally, more recently due to the pandemic) every 6 months and year, as well as a trip to swap our St. Albans headquarters for our Acceler8 Talent office in Boston, Massachusetts. 6. Wellbeing Committee We’re proud to have a Wellbeing Committee, comprised of different employees across teams, who work to improve and promote all things wellness across the company. We believe it’s hugely important to have these Mental Health First Aiders to spot the signs someone may not be feeling their best and help them with advice or point them in direction of support. "We believe it’s hugely important to have these Mental Health First Aiders to spot the signs someone may not be feeling their best." 7. Team spirit! We have regular check-ins across our UK and US offices to celebrate the wins of the week and the great achievements some of the team have made. Every department also has a wellbeing day and budget to take the team out and enjoy an activity (crazy golf is a very popular choice!) and some food and drinks, as well as an end of year celebration. We also have a Social Committee in charge of organising events throughout the year and we’re passionate about there always something going on for the team to get to know better at and unwind after all their hard work. We’re still learning and introducing new elements of workplace wellbeing, and this is where our journey has taken us so far. We’ll continue to foster an environment where conversations about wellbeing are the norm, because we’re only at our best when everyone is feeling their brightest. If our wellbeing offering sounds like it would be a good fit for what you look for in a company, then do check out our internal vacancies! Mental Wellbeing resources: https://www.mentalhealthatwork.org.uk/ https://www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/if-youre-having-difficult-time/signs-you-may-be-struggling-cope/practical-ways-help-yourself-cope/ https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/tips-for-everyday-living/ https://mentalhealth-uk.org/

We are delighted to announce that our US consultancy Understanding Recruitment Inc has rebranded as Acceler8 Talent following the consultancy’s rapid growth in the machine learning and emerging technology markets. ​ After launching in Boston as Understanding Recruitment Inc in 2019, as part of the award-winning UK-based technology, software, and digital staffing group Understanding Recruitment, we’re proud to have gone from strength-to-strength sourcing exceptional tech talent and scaling up teams around the USA. ​ Leading the way in tech recruitment Five additional team members, a bigger office space, and many targets being surpassed later, we’re thrilled to reposition ourselves in the market as Acceler8 Talent to best represent the ground-breaking work our partners are doing in next-generation tech and our ambitions for our future. With our rebrand, we’re excited to reinforce our position as the leading specialist consultancy to place tech talent in roles in AI and machine learning, hardware acceleration, quantum computing, silicon photonics, and related technologies, and look forward to forming new partnerships with startups and large companies as Acceler8 Talent. Our mission remains the same: to connect companies to the best talent in tech to help them fulfill their potential, every day.    New branding, same high performing team In addition to a new company name in Acceler8 Talent, our visual identity has been revamped too, with our new logo and website launching today representing the dynamism we endeavor to bring to everything we do as staffing experts working in the most exciting industries in the world.  Acceler8 Talent’s specialist recruitment team of consultants and researchers remain based out of its Portland Street office in Boston, led by Matthew Ferdenzi, and in close collaboration with the wider Understanding Recruitment group. Matthew Ferdenzi, COO of Acceler8 Talent, commented on the rebrand: “Two years after launching, we are now in a unique situation where we are still a small, but rapidly-growing outfit in the USA – if we were to ever rebrand, now is the time to do so. We wanted to find a name and brand that really represented who we are and what we are passionate about recruiting for." He added: “As Acceler8 Talent, we would like to continue to be recruitment leaders within the space of highly advanced computation, and we feel our rebrand reflects our mission and how the market has shifted over the years, where lightning-fast computation and systems and devices are conducting the way that the world operates.” “Coming here and starting from nothing has certainly been a challenge and my team and I worked hard, laughed, and cried our way through the recruitment roller-coaster. I couldn’t be prouder of my team and what we have achieved so far, and this is just the beginning.”  Understanding Recruitment would like to thank everyone involved across branding, marketing, website development, and our six in-house specialists who embody everything Acceler8 Talent is about, for their contribution to the rebrand and our continued growth. To find out more about how partnering with Acceler8 Talent could transform your business, contact the team to discuss how we could help make your vision for your product a reality and support you to hit your targets.   

The resilience of everyone at Understanding Recruitment over the last 18 months has shown really what we’re made of as a tech recruiter, and I couldn’t be prouder. It’s been more than the outstanding figures and records broken and an example of how we’ve come together as a team to help support each other, finding new, creative ways to communicate as a team and to our audience, and setting ourselves up for an exciting future. Here are my 6 takeaways as Director of Understanding Recruitment: I’m writing this in August 2021 – which still feels a little odd, the year has flown by and our third lockdown feels like a lifetime ago, let alone where we were in March last year. We, as a tech recruiter, whilst still having huge ambitions for the future, also had sensible expectations for the year ahead as we continue to tread uncharted territory of having team members at home and in the office, people that caught COVID and thankfully recovered well, and being in the great position to expand the UR team and look towards a bright future. From a company perspective, it’s been an absolutely incredible year for Understanding Recruitment. To look back on what we have achieved against the backdrop of a really challenging time is astonishing. This is down to many things, but fundamentally, the whole team going above and beyond in several ways to support each other and become even better at what we do. 2020 was a big lesson in what we needed to do to come out stronger, as a recruitment consultancy and as human beings, and wow, has that hard work paid off so far in 2021. 1.Tech recruitment is booming: A record-breaking year Coming into January 2021, obviously, we didn’t know exactly what to expect for the year ahead, however, I’m delighted to say that the markets picked up considerably and our performance has gone through the roof. This has resulted in seven consecutive months of record-breaking results and each month since January being better than the last, more records being broken, more individuals securing promotions and so on.  It really has been incredible. Last month, we superseded our first million-pound month in our 13-year history of doing this, which was a huge milestone for the business (and I’m sure there’s plenty more to come!).  There have been some incredible individual and team performances, and collectively we have come together to achieve fantastic results. 2. Internal hiring is propelling us forward We have all seen how badly the job market has been hit by the pandemic, however, I’m delighted that we have been in the position to grow our brilliant team and warmly welcome back the few people who were on furlough. When we went into the country’s first lockdown last year, we still wanted to look to the future knowing at some point, we would come out the other side. We wanted to take the opportunity to not just come out of it but come out stronger and we made this commitment clear to the entire business from the outset.  So, we hired fresh talent, both at entry-level and for experienced roles as well, knowing that that future investment would pay off and launched many new initiatives to take to market and help add even more value to our clients and candidates alike. "We hired fresh talent, both at entry-level and for experienced roles as well, knowing that that future investment would pay off."​ Already this year, we’ve seen new talent coming through at graduate level and senior level. What’s even more encouraging is seeing the internal development of new management, allowing us to scale up and create even more opportunities for people to join us at Understanding Recruitment. We’re now looking to double our headcount in the next couple of years across our UK and US operations, and we’re investing more in training and development than we ever have done to get us ready for the future. 3. Adapting and innovating is essential as a recruiter in 2021 One of the things we learned last year was how to be better in every department. One key area we’ve really developed in is how we use social media, have strong personal brands and wide company brands, as well as utilise our technology to explore new ways of working and identifying talent. Whether it be through the UR team doing podcast interviews, our Head of Machine Learning & AI Anna’s Diversity in AI series, our salary surveys, and other market reports, we’ve got creative when it comes to how we provide a better client and candidate experience. It’s paid off as the client feedback has been fantastic, and it’s elevated our position from much more than being a transactional recruitment business to one of true partnership. And it’s only going to carry on in this direction as we move forward. What this all comes down to is hiring individuals with a growth mindset – our team is forward-thinking and come to us with ideas. We always want to listen to and explore new ways of working, and not be doing the same thing as a couple of years ago. 4. Improving our client experience remains at our core When we entered the remoted working world, which was an unusual situation for lots of us, we maintained that we still wanted to use the opportunity to broaden our solutions. We wanted to give our clients more options and solutions to their problems growing their employee base. That’s why we’ve created a whole series of talent solutions and launched our Understanding Solutions, specifically focusing on delivering project-driven support. The feedback to date has been fantastic and we’re thrilled to be partnering with clients in this way to help solve their challenges. I’ll add that we’ve won some incredible clients this year, but whether it’s the likes of TikTok or a brand-new start-up every project is treated as its own project with specific requirements. Although there’s been a massive upsurge this year, we look less at the number of opportunities we’ve taken on board, but the fill rates. We ensure whatever project or assignment we take on from our clients, that we fulfil it and not just that, but go above and beyond – every opportunity matters to us. 5. The future is very bright for the US tech recruitment market We’ve been active within the US market for nearly two years under the brilliant leadership of Mat Ferdenzi who has grown the Boston-based UR team to six with further expansion on the cards. The camaraderie they have epitomises our entire culture, and it’s been brilliant to see the difference they are making in their market in such a short time and a testament to how well they work as a team. "...it’s been brilliant to see the difference they are making in their market in such a short time and a testament to how well they work as a team" We’ve been able to engage with some fantastic clients, such as Google, on some hugely exciting opportunities. The team is leading the way in their specialist fields of machine learning and AI, hardware acceleration, quantum computing and silicon photonics, with lots of business coming through recommendation referral. Our presence in the US market is only going to get bigger, and it’s incredibly exciting for all of us as it only creates further opportunities for everyone. 6. Investment in staff wellbeing is more important than ever Certainly, in the darkest moments of lockdown where there was complete isolation and we were all at home, it was so important for us to communicate with each other and check in through Teams and Zoom. We also have introduced a Wellbeing Committee, which is a hugely important aspect part of our business culturally, especially in these times. We’ve got to look out for each other and give everyone the support they need. Our committee involves all team members of all levels and it’s seeing some very positive benefits, whether that be small activities during the week, monthly events, open conversations, and breakout conversations, just to make sure no one is feeling isolated. We also offer a subscription to the mindfulness app Calm to all the UR team. One of our values is ‘together stronger’ and the last year and a half have shown how relevant it is, as we all look after each other. It’s not just about business, it’s about people, and really making sure they’re okay and checking in because you genuinely care about them.  We’ve always had an extremely collaborative team however the last year has brought us even closer together and in my opinion, will only set us up for even better years ahead.  2021 and beyond! Looking back on 2021 so far, it’s already been an outstanding year for our company’s growth. This has been the collective effort of everyone in the business over the last couple of years. Every single bit of activity, every bit of energy invested in Understanding Recruitment has counted and got us where we are today. "The tech market is absolutely booming. We're evolving our services constantly. We're getting better at our job all the time. And we're going to do it together." By focusing on the successes of the year, I, of course, do not want to take away from what a difficult time facing this pandemic – I have seen so much resilience from everyone and every day and supporting each other’s wellbeing amazingly. Hopefully, we’ll never see the likes of this experience again, but knowing we’ve got through this so well and come out stronger fills me with immense pride and huge amounts of excitement about the future and where we’re going. The tech market is absolutely booming. We're evolving our services constantly. We're getting better at our job all the time. And we're going to do it together. The future is incredibly bright for Understanding Recruitment. Find out more about joining us below! ​

Nick joined our specialist Machine Learning & AI recruitment team as a Researcher after graduating from Nottingham Trent University in 2020 with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management & Marketing. As a Researcher, Nick finds the best candidates with the right technical skills for our client’s job vacancies, speaking to candidates on a daily basis, and mapping out markets. We caught up with him to see why UR was his first choice and to find out what it’s been like working within tech recruitment! What attracted you to Understanding Recruitment? Several things attracted me to Understanding Recruitment. After graduating from university, there were two things that I was looking for from an opportunity. Firstly, a great team environment. And secondly, clear progression. These were really emphasized throughout my time interviewing with Understanding Recruitment. The team environment is amazing! Everyone is very supportive and that's been evident even throughout the pandemic. I was made to feel a part of the team and they've been happy to support me in everything that I've been doing. I was also impressed by the progression routes and the company vision itself. There are clear career progression routes and structures in place to reach your goals. They are incredibly supportive and offer the right training to help you achieve above and beyond, which I find really beneficial and will continue to find beneficial in the future. "Starting a new role mid-pandemic after graduating from university was something that I was initially very apprehensive about. However, after speaking with the team, I was instantly put at ease." How well did you feel UR looked after you during the pandemic? Starting a new role mid-pandemic after graduating from university was something that I was initially very apprehensive about. However, after speaking with the team, I was instantly put at ease. When I joined in October 2020, I was able to work in the office and have since been working remotely - though we are adopting a hybrid model which means a mix of working from home and in the office. Since working remotely, the team has been really supportive. We've had continuous check-ins and training, which helped me to develop and learn as much as I can about the AI and Machine Learning market that I specialise in. From day one, it's been a really supportive environment - we have weekly team activities in the afternoon over Zoom, and this has really helped me integrate well and become part of the team. "The team environment is amazing! Everyone is very supportive and that's been evident even throughout the pandemic." What has been the best thing about starting your career in tech recruitment? For me, the best thing about starting a career in tech recruitment is the industry. It's an industry that's only been accelerated by the pandemic and is growing and is stronger than ever. To be able to be a part of that industry and have a real, significant impact within my specialism, AI and Machine Learning, is great! I have been able to learn from real experts within the field, and have been able to create an impact, which is something that I find really rewarding. ​We're on an ambitious growth journey and are hiring driven and tenacious graduates to join our team in St. Albans as Graduate Recruitment Consultants! Here's just some of what we offer you: Hybrid working: A mix of working from home & in the office We're a sociable bunch: Be it going to the pub on a Friday, team breakfasts, Director's Lunches or Holidays to exotic places, our culture is built on our values: 1. Together Stronger 2. Be The Best You 3. Reputation Is Everything 4. Exceed Expectations Always 5. Never Ever Give Up Fantastic career progression opportunities - we love to promote from within In-house training programme & mentoring scheme Want to know more about our Graduate Programme? DM Laura-Jayne Trimmer on LinkedIn, email us your CV or call 01727 809 008 to have chat about the ​opportunities we have for you.