Work for us

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.

Danielle joined our team after graduating from Nottingham Trent University in 2020 with a first-class honours degree in Business Management & Marketing. She joined our .NET recruitment team as a Researcher, finding the best .NET tech talent with the right technical skills for our client’s job vacancies. Danielle speaks to candidates on a daily basis and finds out what they want from their next career move and how we can help them get there. We caught up with her to see how she’s found the world of recruitment and what it was like starting her career during a pandemic! What attracted you to Understanding Recruitment? What initially attracted me to Understanding Recruitment, was the company culture and environment that they promote here. The people I work with are not just my colleagues, but also great friends. There's a great team relationship here, and I felt welcomed from day one. With a great commission structure and earning potential, I see the future of my career here and I can't wait to progress! "There have been some amazing incentives such as our wellbeing challenge! This helped to keep us all active, engaged, connected, and helped us through some tough times." How well did you feel UR looked after you during the pandemic? I feel that Understanding Recruitment has been fantastic throughout the pandemic, by offering flexible working and remote training. There's always someone you can go to, to ask for help or guidance. There have been some amazing incentives too, such as our wellbeing challenge! This helped to keep us all active, engaged, connected, and helped us through some tough times. "There's a great team relationship here and I felt welcomed from day one." What has been the best thing about starting your career in tech recruitment? The best thing about starting my career in Tech Recruitment is the amazing training and scope that we have here. I'm continuously learning and developing my skillset, speaking to amazing people daily, whether that be clients or candidates, and I've learned so much about different industry sectors, too. ​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.

After graduating from the University of Birmingham in 2019 with a BA in Politics and Philosophy, Henry joined Understanding Recruitment as a Researcher in our Machine Learning & AI recruitment team. Finding the best candidates with the right technical skills for our client’s job vacancies, speaking to candidates, and mapping out markets are all part of his role. We caught up with Henry to find out why he chose to join the U’s and what the experience was like starting his career in recruitment during a global pandemic! What attracted you to Understanding Recruitment? I was initially drawn to Understanding Recruitment when speaking to people throughout the interview process. Everyone seemed to speak so passionately about the company and seemed so welcoming! They also offer a great training program at the start, which enabled me to learn as much as possible about tech recruitment. This gave me the confidence I needed when first speaking with professionals looking for jobs and our clients! "We have a Wellbeing Committee that come up with some great wellbeing incentives, check up on you, and make sure everyone's coping well mentally, especially whilst working from home." How well did you feel UR looked after you during the pandemic? Understanding Recruitment has been really supportive throughout the pandemic. When I first started, I was working in the office, but I've since been working remotely and will slowly be returning to the office as restrictions are lifted. We're continuously having meetings with our managers and within our teams, to make sure everyone's coping well mentally. Here at Understanding Recruitment, we have a Wellbeing Committee that come up with some great wellbeing incentives, check up on you, and make sure everyone's coping well mentally, especially whilst working from home. "We're continuously having meetings with our managers and within our teams, to make sure everyone's coping well mentally." What has been the best thing about starting your career in tech recruitment? The best thing about starting a career in tech recruitment is definitely the opportunity to learn about the tech industry! I work in the Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning department of Understanding Recruitment, and it's great to be able to speak to people daily who are so passionate about the work they're doing. It's also given me an amazing opportunity to learn about AI and how it's used in the world today. ​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 Emily Kitamura on LinkedIn, email us your CV or call 01727 228 255 to have chat about the ​opportunities we have for you.

Daniel Nightingale joined the Understanding Recruitment team in early 2016 as a Trainee Recruitment Consultant. Since then, he has gone on to achieve promotion after promotion and now heads up the Digital specialist team within our Not-For-Profit Division. Having started a family a couple of years ago, Dan made the move to working from home long before the global pandemic made it a necessity.  We caught up with him about how he's found the last five years in recruitment and how UR helped him balance work and home life!   What was your career journey before joining UR? I came into recruitment quite late. After getting my degree in Sports Therapy, I went out into the world ready to cure the world of hamstring strains and tight calves! However, I found it was too much of a slow burner and became more of a side hobby. I still have clients I work with now and I work with a Semi-Professional Football club. I moved into the crazy world of eco-friendly app-based taxi services and worked my way up to Assistant Manager. Soon enough, I got a call from Understanding Recruitment and have never looked back!   Why did you choose a career in Recruitment? I feel like recruitment utilises the best parts of my personality and skillset. I love talking with people and taking an interest in their lives, but I can also identify an opportunity when it presents itself. There is nothing better than the satisfaction you get when you find a candidate their perfect role.   What do you like best about working for Understanding Recruitment? It sounds cliché, I have learnt from friends and co-workers that have worked in other recruitment companies, that UR is not your average agency. While we have KPI’s and targets like other agencies, the most important thing is us as the consultants. You have the ability to plan your career and almost build your own business within the business… this really drew me in.   How would you describe the culture at Understanding Recruitment? In a word, excellent. They are constantly looking for ways to improve, either from a social perspective or from a work satisfaction point of view. For example, consultants mooted the potential of having more holiday and after some research and planning from the directors, we now enjoy unlimited holidays!   What would your advice be to your younger self? For me personally, it would be “don’t worry about getting it right the first time”. This is true for me as a daily reminder, but also in relation to my career. Although I moved into recruitment ‘late’, it is genuinely the perfect role for me. So, although I didn’t get my career right the first time – I’m loving life now!   What have you been able to do by working from home that you couldn’t have working in the office? In 2019, we welcomed a little baby boy into the world! Working from home has enabled me to be part of such important parts of his life that I would have missed had I been in the office. Crawling, first words, first steps – I was there for them all. It has also ignited a passion for getting out and exercising. It is so important to get away from your desk and it’s something I didn’t appreciate enough before.   Do you feel like Understanding Recruitment enables you to balance work with home life? Absolutely. I was working from home for a long time before it was cool! My circumstances changed considerably in 2018 when I moved about 90 minutes away from the office. The directors were amazing and asked me what I would need to be able to continue working with UR and accommodated me effortlessly.   What advice would you give to people looking to move into recruitment? Do your homework into the organisation – there are some real horror stories out there and agencies will try and tempt you with £100000000’s. That sort of money is certainly achievable and I have experienced first-hand how getting recruitment right can change your life financially, but I have only been able to do this because of the nurturing I’ve received from Understanding Recruitment (I promise they didn’t pay me to say that!).   Curious about #LifeAtUR?  We'd love to hear from you! 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.

As Michelle Obama said: "There is no limit to what we, as women, can accomplish." At Understanding Recruitment we're proud to be an equal opportunities employer and fully support APSCo's Women in Recruitment initiative.  Just in time for International Women's Day, we asked our ambitious, driven and wonderfully talented women here at Understanding Recruitment, who #ChooseToChallenge every day, what advice they would give their younger selves.    Nicola Parker, Delivery Manager "Know that there will always be unforeseen hurdles in life, but worrying about what hasn’t happened yet, or might happen in the future is a waste of energy and can stop you from enjoying the now – you cannot control what happens in your future but you can control how you live in the present.  Trust that you are always where you are meant to be, whether it feels that way or not at the time – things always work themselves out in the end."    Alex Martuccio, Contract Account Manager "If you have a passion or a dream, follow it and make a reality. It will be hard and you will get lots of setbacks and people telling you it’s not possible, but if you really want it, you will do anything to make it happen."    Danielle Blake, .NET Researcher "Failure is the first step in success and is just as important as success."    Jana Timm, Head of Marketing  "You will get to where you want to be but it will take time. Learn as much as you can from the people around you and don’t be afraid to ask questions. You don’t know what you don’t know."    Charlotte Young, Java Recruitment Executive "Consistency and determination to achieve will get you far."    Cassie Holdsworth, Management Accountant "Don’t focus too much on the destination but enjoy the journey too. I’ve always been one to focus too much on achieving the bigger things, such as; the job, the wedding, the car, the house etc., and you can easily get distracted from enjoying the small things too."    Molly Boca, Hardware Acceleration & ML Recruitment Consultant "Worry less about what others think about you and learn to love yourself through your own eyes not someone else’s. The easiest way to be the best version of yourself is to be free from the judgement of others' perspectives."    Emma Matthiesen, Training & Development Manager  "Work hard - the better you do, the more options you’ll have."    Suzy Bolton, Finance Director "Believe in yourself more and it’s true that the harder you work, the better you do!"    Monique Hunt, Accounts Assistants "Have confidence in your ability/self and don’t always assume the worst."    Laura Trimmer, Talent Acquisition Consultant "Trust your instincts, everything really does happen for a reason."    Rhiannon Mehta, Senior Recruitment Consultant - High Value Fundraising "Trust yourself and don’t listen to other people’s judgement on what you can achieve!"    Maggie Mulshine, Hardware Acceleration, Photonics & ML Researcher "Don't focus so hard on what people will think, and instead focus on what you really want to do and what makes you happy."    Emily Kitamura, Head of Global Talent Acquisition "You're doing great! Everything will work itself out, just believe in yourself and keep doing you!"    Anna Heneghan, Head of Machine Learning & AI UK "Worry less about what other people think about you and think about what you are doing instead. Focus more on yourself. Think about how you can develop and increase your happiness."     Emma Wilson, Delivery Consultant "Don't be afraid to try new things! Push yourself out of your comfort zone more often... what's the worst that could happen?!"    Lisa Booth, HR Manager "Don’t let the expectations and opinions of others limit your ambitions. Only you know what you can achieve."    Mollie Redmond, Marketing Executive "You don't have to have everything figured out and it’s okay if things aren’t quite going to plan. Learn as much as you can and remain positive – things will work out in the end."    Curious about #LifeAtUR?  We'd love to hear from you! DM Emily Kitamura on LinkedIn, email your CV to emily@understandingrecruitment.co.uk   or call 01727 228 255 to have chat about the ​ opportunities we have for you.

With over 10 years’ experience working within the Digital, Tech and IT Industry, John Petrella joined Understanding Recruitment's Contracts team in August 2020 as a Recruitment Consultant. John, who started his working career as a Branch Manager for an insurance company, worked his way to becoming an IT Operations Team Leader and eventually found his true calling within IT and Digital Recruitment. We spoke with John to see how he's been getting on and what it was like starting a new job remotely during the Covid-19 pandemic.   What was your career journey before joining Understanding Recruitment?  I had been working in the recruitment industry for the past 12 years.   Why did you choose a career in Recruitment?  I’m sure you've heard this a million times! But truthfully, I fell into recruitment. I was working within the insurance sector and started looking at sales positions – the rest is history!   How did you find joining a new company during a pandemic?   It was definitely a different experience, but surprisingly seamless. Everyone was very welcoming. I was lucky enough to spend my first month within our offices in St. Albans and was able to meet the majority of the team in person before we moved back to working remotely.     What do you like best about working at UR?  Everyone has been so welcoming from the start and is very supportive of your journey.   What would your advice be to recruiters thinking about moving to a different company/different industry?  Make sure you are moving for the right reasons and your vision is aligned with what career/journey you have set out for yourself.   How would you describe our culture?  Everyone is super friendly and welcoming at UR and always happy to help in any way they can when needed. People genuinely want you to succeed and will offer you as much support as you need to get there.   What would your advice be to your younger self?   Learn to code and get into IT/Development!   What have you been able to do by working from home that you couldn’t have working in the office? I’ve been able to enjoy a good work-life balance – exercising more and spending more time with my family!   Curious about #LifeAtUR?  We'd love to hear from you! DM Emily Kitamura on LinkedIn, email us your CV or call 01727 228 255 to have chat about the ​ opportunities we have for you.

Rhiannon joined the U's in Summer 2020 right in the middle of the global COVID-19 pandemic.  With over three years' experience in recruiting for the not-for-profit sector, she came on board as our Head of Fundraising Recruitment, within our specialist Charity Division. We caught up with her to see how she's been getting on over the last months and what it was like starting a new job in such a tumultuous time.  What was your career journey before joining Understanding Recruitment? I started off working in the hospitality industry before getting into recruitment. Before joining UR, I was working for a recruitment agency based in central London where I supported the market research industry before moving into fundraising recruitment within the not-for-profit sector. Having supported charities and higher education organisations for the last three years, I was looking for the next step in my career that would give me more autonomy. I was also planning to relocate to St. Albans, Hertfordshire and that's when I came across Understanding Recruitment who were looking for someone to head up their fundraising team. I applied, had some virtual interviews with the internal recruiter, hiring manager and the directors. Then the stars just aligned and I got the job! Why did you choose a career in recruitment? I've always loved forming relationships and listening to others, offering help where I can. Recruitment offered me the chance to do this, whilst having the variety to support a range of people and work on different projects each day. How did you find joining a new company during a pandemic? It was definitely a different experience, but surprisingly seamless! Everyone was very welcoming, and I was lucky enough to spend my first few weeks working in the office and meeting people in person while the Government was advising people to go back to the office.  When we went back into lockdown we all worked from home and kept in touch virtually.  What do you like best about working for Understanding Recruitment? Everyone is very supportive, and you get given the freedom to develop your desk as much as you want. They also provide the key resources needed to do this and always provide constructive advice when wanted. What would your advice be to recruiters thinking about moving to a different company/different industry? Make sure you do your due diligence. Always research the market or company first to ensure they match your own ambitions and will support you with these. How would you describe the culture? Everyone is really friendly at UR and always happy to help in any way they can when needed. There is a real feel of everyone wanting to see you succeed and supporting you to do so. There's also a great open-door policy and I always feel I can speak to anyone when I need to.   What would your advice be to your younger self?  Find a job that you enjoy where you get to work with people you like and who will continue to teach you new things! Curious about #LifeAtUR?  We'd love to hear from you!  DM Emily Kitamura on LinkedIn, email us your CV or call 01727 228 255 to have chat about the ​opportunities we have for you.