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One of the many benefits of working at Understanding Recruitment is that you’re entitled to a three-month sabbatical after you’ve been with us for five years. Our Delivery Manager Nicola and her husband Tom who is our Head of DevOps and Cloud went on Sabbatical before tying the knot in 2018, as our first Understanding Recruitment love story. We caught up with them to reminisce about their three months of exotic travels… Why did you decide to go travelling? We both love visiting new countries and experiencing new cultures, and the sabbatical offered us the opportunity to do this for an extended period. We could comfortably afford to travel how we wanted to during this time with the added security and benefit that our jobs would be there for us to return to. Which countries did you visit on your sabbatical and why did you choose them? We travelled to Japan, Australia, Bali, Singapore, Philippines, Vietnam, and Dubai. We had been to Thailand several times before and were really keen to further explore South East Asia. I have family in Australia on the East Coast, so it was a great excuse to visit them. Tokyo has always been an area of interest and we thought it was a great opportunity to go there too whilst being in that part of the world. Dubai was a stop off on the return to the UK so thought it made sense to stay there for a few days too! How did you go about planning your sabbatical? We used specialist travel agents to help us plan most effectively and to advise us on our route. We also contacted family in Australia for advice and did several months of internet-based research, booking most flights and hotels before we went. We also made some bookings whilst we were out there so that we didn’t have to stick to a rigid structure. How did you fund your travel? We worked out an average budget per day and then saved our commission earnt at work to build up to it! What was the most useful thing you packed? We had smaller bags designed to keep all clothes as one within the backpack making them a lot easier to find each day (i.e. one bag for shorts, another for swimwear)! Which place was totally different to how you imagined? Dubai was totally different to what we expected. On the day we arrived there was a storm and the city flooded to the point that we couldn’t get off the plane for an hour when we arrived because it was stuck in a puddle! It is also very cosmopolitan compared to the more rural vibe of Asia where we had just come from. Have you had any bad experiences whilst travelling? Small amounts of money were stolen from our backpacks and rooms where a safe wasn’t available, but this didn’t happen often. What was your favourite moment? It’s a tough call between staying with a wider group on a catamaran for three days whilst sailing around the Whitsundays in Australia; which included snorkelling in the Great Barrier Reef, swimming with giant sea turtles and going to Whitehaven Beach, and seeing the light and water show at the Gardens by the Bay in Singapore. What has been the best food you have eaten and where was it? We went on a Vietnamese street food tour in Hanoi which was amazing. Did you make friends along the way? Yes, we met lots of people in most places, particularly Oz and South East Asia. What, if anything, would you do differently? We would potentially go to less places and spend more time at each by doing so. What destination would you recommend to people? Hands down it would be El Nido in the Philippines – Las Cabanas Beach! Where will you go next? So far, we’ve got Egypt and New York planned for this year.

We all know how important branding is for companies but what about us personally? A personal brand exists whether or not you create it for yourself. Not purposefully building it just means you don’t have control over it. The concept of cultivating a personal brand can seem daunting to most of us. But it doesn’t have to be complex or time intensive and can really help people remember you. Two of our consultants experienced this first hand after recently enrolling in The Recruitment Network Trailblazers programme that aims to develop the next generation of recruitment leaders and runs for a year. As part of the programme’s series of regular London based meetups Hannah and Ben enjoyed a workshop that was all about the importance of personal branding for recruiters. We caught up with Hishem Azzouz from the inbound marketing and creative agency, Hoxo Media, who presented the keynote on the day and shared some of his key takeaways with us: “You can only reach a certain amount of people by calling and meeting them. The amazing part about creating content is that you can reach thousands of people with one post. Recruiters historically just share their new jobs everywhere online, but we all know this isn't successful and quite frankly doesn't work. Recruiters are in a really unique position. They listen to candidates’ challenges and aspirations within their industry along with the businesses in that industry. If you have the courage to start sharing your opinion on candidates/clients’ challenges/aspirations then you can work yourself into an amazing position as a recruiter where you won't just be perceived as someone who helps people get new jobs, but someone who is an expert within their industry. Start sharing your opinion online as a recruiter and take a step closer to becoming a thought leader within your space, which in turn will make you stand out amongst your competitors.” Personal branding isn’t just important for recruiters though. No matter what role or industry you’re in; the more successful you want to be, the more important your personal brand becomes. Whether you just want to improve engagement with your network or you’re aiming for personal branding to open doors to public speaking gigs, you decide how far you take it. As a rule of thumb, the more you put into it the more you’ll get out of it. How to get started Your personality is probably the most unique thing about yourself and being your authentic self is the basis of building your personal brand. Don’t be afraid to let your personality and opinions show in the way you communicate online and the types of stories you tell. It’s all about communicating and creating emotional connections with your audience. Being honest about what you know and don’t know will also help you build credibility in your industry. Ever Googled yourself? We suggest you do! Google automatically gives priority to your social channels and will list the channel you’re most active on above the others. Know what search results are attached to your name by auditing them and get rid of anything that doesn’t fit your vision for your personal brand and could even damage your reputation. Next up, take some time to determine your personality traits and amplify them to make your personal brand stronger. Here are some questions to ask yourself: What makes you unique? What do you stand for? What are your values and beliefs? What are you passionate about? What do you want to be known for? Who are you? What makes you unique? What is your vision for your personal brand? What is your goal with personal branding? What are your professional goals? Who is your audience? Who can you help? How can you help them? What makes you different? Including images in your updates is best practice but make sure they are copyright free. There are multiple sites that offer free images without copyright such as unsplash.com, pixabay.com and pexels.com. You’re now ready to start sharing your personal brand with the world! Start by posting regularly, experiment with short videos and write content online and offline. Ben and Hannah’s top 10 personal branding takeaways: Do a little, often. Don’t bite off more than you can chew. Have an opinion and share it online. Connect with relevant people and follow influencers for inspiration. Engage regularly with other people’s content and posts. Pick your channels and post regularly instead of posting sporadically on lots of channels. Include relevant hashtags. LinkedIn is increasingly becoming the tool to search and find high calibre candidates, it has never been more important to have your own personal LinkedIn brand. It’s key you build your influence within your sector by posting articles on your niche, having an opinion on topics related to that industry and asking peoples’ thoughts on current developments. A new feature to LinkedIn that is predicted to take off more and more, is the production of video content. When producing content and engaging with your audience it’s crucial to persist. Initially traction will be slow, but as you continue posting regularly your following and audience will grow and reach more people. Finally, be patient and don’t expect overnight success. Everyone expects a flurry of engagement but how often do you engage with other people’s posts? Simply posting an update is not enough, so make sure to respond to comments and questions from your audience and engage with other people’s post too. As you see, it doesn’t have to as complex as building a whole personal branding strategy and your own website. With tools like LinkedIn publishing at your fingertips, writing short blogs and sharing your take on a topic in your industry has never been easier. Why not challenge yourself to make a start today?

What was your first job? Working in a clothes shop as a Retail Assistant at 16. How did you get into recruitment? After dancing professionally around the world, I transitioned into dance teaching, but I knew it wasn’t as sustainable as I originally thought (especially with back injuries). I knew I needed to start a new career, somewhere where I could grow. I interviewed for many jobs within sales, customer service and recruitment. As soon as I came into Understanding Recruitment’s offices I knew it was a place where I could see myself working long-term. ​ What do you love most about your job? How busy it can be, the harder you work the more rewarding this job can be. What’s your top job to fill? That’s a tricky question as I work on every single contract role that comes into the business. One minute it’s a QA tester, the next a Senior Architect, the next Programme Manager and interim CTO positions! Who’s your role model – in life or in recruitment? My Dad. He started his first ever job as an Admin Clerk in a major oil organisation the Monday after his O ’levels and worked his way up to the top, travelled the world, relocated with his family to America for his job, and made himself extremely successful. All down to hard-work and determination. What’s your favourite meal? Love a bit of Sushi, Mexican and I have a major sweet tooth so loads of chocolate! What’s been your most memorable experience with a candidate? I placed a Java Developer into a Global Publishing Organisation at the beginning of the year, he is French and went home over Christmas before he started his new contract in January. There was a parcel delivered to me at work with a hand-written note about how happy he was to find this role and he was really complimentary of the whole experience working with me and Understanding Recruitment. Alongside the note were 3 boxes of truffles he bought back with him from France. What would be your theme tune? Beyoncé – Who Run the world What is your top tip for candidates? Be as honest and open with recruiters as possible, it is hard as contractors get contacted by us all the time, but it helps us do our job a lot better if we know your current work status/commitments and avoids surprises along the way!

After recently celebrating his eight year anniversary at Understanding Recruitment, Sam McBroom was promoted to Director in recognition of all his hard work and commitment. We caught up with Sam, who also heads up the Java team, about how he got into recruitment, his career progression and Oasis. What was your first job? Working at a sports park as a ‘Recreation Assistant’ – setting up sports equipment and getting involved in the general day to day running of the park. How did you get into recruitment? I was working in the public sector but grew frustrated about the lack of personal and career progression available in the area that I was in. So I looked for a career offering a meritocratic environment with plenty of opportunities to take on more responsibility dependent on performance and recruitment seemed ideal. What do you love most about your job? Two things mainly. The people here are fantastic to work with and everyone gets on really well, regularly socialising together. When you have a tough day everyone is there for you. Secondly, the opportunity and progression available. Working here truly gives you an opportunity to build a team in a specialist area in a rapidly expanding market! What’s your top job to fill? Ironically we’re recruiting a Senior Java Developer to work specifically for another recruitment company! They don’t have the reach or specialist knowledge so we’re happy to help recruit a Developer for them to re-architect their internal CRM system with AWS & Microservices. Who’s your role model – in life or in recruitment? My grandad was a Lancaster pilot in WW2. Once the war finished, he was liberated from a POW camp and worked in the cutlery business in Sheffield. He ended up employing over 150 people and became a well-liked and respected figure in the city. What’s your favourite meal? Tuna, or Steak. Or Tuna Steak. What’s been your most memorable experience with a candidate? I placed a Graduate Developer with a startup company 6 years ago. They’ve since moved into a Senior / Team Lead position and we now help them recruit for the original position we placed them in! It’s a pleasure to be able to work with this person for an extended period of time and build a great personal and professional relationship with them. What would be your theme tune? Oasis – Live Forever What is your top tip for candidates? Work closely with one specialist recruiter in your area. They’ll have a wide range of suitable opportunities for you, so will work with you to find you the position that is truly what you’re looking for.

What was your first job? I worked on a farm when I was about 15 during the summers to earn some extra pocket money. The hard work mindset is well founded there! How did you get into recruitment? A friend of mine worked at Understanding Recruitment back in 2016 and I mentioned to him that I was bored at work. He put me on the phone to Jacko (also known as Founder Chris Jackson) and the rest is history! What do you love most about your job? The freedom to be in control of my own success. Understanding Recruitment put everything in place, but it’s down to you how far you go. What’s your top job to fill? I'm always working on exciting roles for Java Developers within the FinTech space so get in touch with me if you’d like to know more. Who’s your role model – in life or in recruitment? Both my parents. My dad pushed me to be the best I can be in all I do, whilst my mum is a constant inspiration. She’s just become an on-call Firefighter in her mid-40s! What’s your favourite meal? You can’t beat a medium rare Chateaubriand steak with peppercorn sauce. What’s been your most memorable experience with a candidate? I took a candidate out for lunch (it was the record deal at the time) and it’s fair to say when I arrived home at 1am I was worse for wear. Did I mention we went for lunch?! What would be your theme tune? Life is a Rollercoaster – Ronan Keating What is your top tip for candidates? Always ask questions, we’re consultants and are always happy to help. If I don’t know, someone here will…

What was your first job? When I was 16 I worked at the local golf club and hotel as a waiter during Christmas parties and I managed to buy myself an iPod touch. How did you get into recruitment? When I left college, I wanted to get a job instead of going to Uni. I never really liked education that much but wasn’t looking at recruitment before I found an apprentice recruiter job here in St. Albans. When I first started I didn’t have a clue what recruitment was! What do you love most about your job? The best thing about recruitment is the opportunity it gave me at such a young age to make a life changing amount of money and manage a team. What’s your top job to fill? One of my long-term clients, who are one of the biggest charities in the UK, are looking for a new Director of Change to build a brand new 5-year strategy. Who’s your role model – in life or in recruitment? I don’t really have a role model as such. I look up to my dad because he did well for himself. I also work closely with Dale, one of the founders of Understanding Recruitment, so he’s someone I look up to and he’s taught me everything I know about recruitment now. What’s your favourite meal? It has to be when my mum makes chicken fajitas. It’s a bit too much washing up to do when I’m by myself! What’s been your most memorable experience with a candidate? Because I work in a specialist market, I sometimes work with candidates for years. One of them kept narrowly missing out on roles for about 2 years. Just when he thought he wouldn’t get a new role, he got the job and he was probably one of the happiest people to ever get a job. I was really happy for him because we had a really good relationship and it was a step up in his career. What would be your theme tune? Guns N’ Roses – Sweet child of mine What is your top tip for candidates? If you think you’re a good fit for the job, follow up with the recruiter with a phone call and make sure to mention the right type of stuff on your CV. Tailoring your CV to each position is really important.

What was your first job? I worked in Watford Market when I was 15 as a “washer upper” on the weekends and after school. I loved it and it was great to start earning my own money! How did you get into recruitment? I was working in a sales role at a jeweller and that’s when I realised I loved to sell and work to targets. I was looking to move away from retail and a friend suggested I should look into recruitment, so I did and here I am 5 years later! What do you love most about your job? I really enjoy interviewing people and finding out all about them and what makes them who they are. It’s also great to see the people I have helped recruit come into the company and become successful recruiters. What’s your top job to fill? We have so many at the moment, so it’s hard to say! All our teams are expanding and with our international expansion it’s a very busy time for me. I’m really keen to get some more graduates on board to join all our other new graduate recruits! Who’s your role model – in life or in recruitment? It would have to be my Mum. To see how hard she’s worked and the position she’s worked up to, considering she only started her career at 30 as a part time Admin Assistant, I just think is incredible. She has really instilled in me that hard work pays off. What’s your favourite meal? I really enjoy a brunch with lots of bubbles but if that’s not available you can’t beat a lamb roast with all the trimmings! What’s been your most memorable experience with a candidate? I once had to apologise and stop an interview because the girl had a spider in her hair and it was crawling down onto her face. When she shook her hair to try and get it out, it wouldn’t, so I had to help her (I also hate spiders) but we got it out and managed to finish the interview, so it was fine in the end! What would be your theme tune? Destiny’s Child – independent woman… no explanation needed What is your top tip for candidates? Make sure you research the business, turn up on time and dress appropriately!

The Job Search Begins By the time most of us finish university we've already had some experience in the world of work with many working part time over weekends, evenings and holidays during their studies. After all the hard work and study that's been put in over the university years then comes the job search, with most having the expectation that they will go into the field they've been studying towards with Grad Touch stating that 29% of graduates take on roles that they didn't expect to at the point that they graduated. The real numbers... The reality is however that not everyone ends up in the career they expected with a lengthy job search. Just last year Grad Touch reported that on average it takes 108 days to find a job once they've graduated; with a slightly shocking 20% of grads stating that they didn't feel at optimistic about their career prospects and 45% saying they were 'really worried' about their future career. It's certainly not all doom and gloom out there though as as there are some fantastic companies offering well constructed graduate programmes that strive to support their new recruits and see them progress in their careers. What are the options? The options for graduates searching for their first full time role are many, however it's worth pinpointing a few of the most viable options to increase the chance of securing a successful position. 44% of grads told Grad Touch that they secured their graduate role via an online job board, however in addition to taking to the internet to search for your perfect role, we highly recommend speaking with a Recruiter (of course we do!). Ideally a specialist company that works within the sector that interests you most, but that doesn't mean you should rule out areas you hadn't considered. Our other recommendation would be to apply for a graduate scheme. Why choose a grad scheme? Graduate schemes are specifically designed for those leaving University and entering full time employment. A good grad scheme, much like those offered by Understanding Recruitment will take into consideration that this may be your first time working in that kind of environment and offer an appropriate mentor or mentors to help you find your way and achieve success within the company. Most companies offering grad schemes will be looking to develop the grads they take on and help them to grow their skills and experience. They will usually provide a structured approach to your career development so you know what to expect from your time there from the first week onwards. An investment from both sides It's a big investment when a company takes on a graduate, both in terms of their time and the financial implications. There's a commitment from them to make the early months work for the person they take into the organisation, to help them to settle into their new role and to be provided with training that will equip them for the tasks expected of them. Many will have a thorough interview process - we tend to take the view that it's a two way street and needs to work for both the company and the employee. The bottom line is that a good grad scheme will provide you with the knowledge and training needed. It will support you as you progress, providing opportunities along the way and provide a firm basis on which your future career can build upon.

Over the past few years we've been watching the global tech trends with interest, and with our own expansion plan in full swing, we were interested to see the Berlin tech scene developing. We are delighted to have launched our German operation in Berlin this week and are excited to see what the future brings for this new European tech hub. A Creative Community The German capital has long been known as a centre for culture and art within Europe which automatically lends itself to attracting a vibrant and creative community within the area. This is certainly a factor when it comes to the thriving tech scene that has developed in the city. Berlin is experiencing growth with more start ups within tech in the city where new ventures and ideas are being created all the time. The combination of the creative community coupled with a low cost of living makes it the ideal place. In comparison to Silicon Valley or European cities such as London the cost of living in Berlin lends itself to business start ups without the financial pressure of a high cost area. The Tech Giants are already there It's not just the start ups favouring Berlin though, tech giants such as SoundCloud call the city home with their headquarters next door to the remains of the Berlin Wall which divided East and West Germany until 1989. Another big business who have a base in the city is Amazon who run their German operation from the capital. What started out as a customer service centre for the company now encompasses development for technologies management tools and operating systems for the Amazon platforms. Our Future in Germany Our new German operation is now up and running with our Head of Java, Sam McBroom heading it up alongside Java Consultant Alex Bloisi and their growing team, all of whom are looking forward to contributing to the further growth within the Berlin tech market. For companies looking to recruit in Berlin, or candidates searching for an opportunity, please get in touch with Alex via email or by calling +44 1727 228 235. We are also recruiting internally for German speaking team members. Please contact Emily Thomas via email or by calling +44 1727 228 255.

June is a month for celebrating here at Understanding Recruitment with this month marking our tenth anniversary in business! Looking back over the last decade it's hard to believe how far the company has come since it's inception ten years ago. First formed by Founding Directors, Chris Jackson and Dale Swords Understanding Recruitment began life with just the two of them in a tiny office, but has experienced huge growth and are expecting to top 60 staff before the year is out with a strategic plan in place for both UK and International growth. The Groundwork... Having graduated from Brunel University in 1994 Chris Jackson joined a large IT recruitment organisation based in London. He worked his way up the ladder from Resourcer to Associate Director with achievements such as placing over 250 candidates within an International organisation under his belt. Similarly, after graduating Dale joined the sector with one of the UK's most successful recruitment firms. Starting out as a Graduate Trainee he gained valuable experience before establishing Understanding Recruitment with business partner, Chris. How it all began Having gained a collective 25 years experience in the field, both Chris and Dale decided to follow a long standing dream and create their own company. With a clear cut idea of the company values they wanted to achieve the two set about establishing an organisation that could really live up to it's name. What's in a name? The choice of company name 10 years ago was no accident. The title conveys exactly what they wanted future customers to know about them; that they truly understand recruitment and all that it entails for both the candidates and the companies. What makes Understanding Recruitment stand out from the sea of other recruitment firms is the attention to detail. It's been an integral part of the company ethos over the years with the founding partners, and all employees since taking the time to thoroughly understand what the needs of the companies they work, and comprehend the culture in order to successfully place the right candidate. In the same way, our recruiters strive to discover what makes their candidates tick giving them the edge when it comes to placing them in a position that will be an ideal fit not only for their skill set, but also their working style and personality. We believe that this has been absolutely key to both the success and growth we've experienced over the years with more than 90% of our business being repeat custom. Growing the team Starting from a partnership of just two, Chris and Dale soon added to their team with James Mills being the first to join them during their first year. Still with the company a decade on, James continues to help build and develop his team as Head of .NET. As time has gone by we are proud to have added a number of specialist teams and now have dedicated departments in Mobile & Web, Data & Digital, Dev Ops & Cloud Machine Learning & AI and Fintech amongst other niche areas. Specialising in this way has undoubtedly allowed us greater success with the tech industry growth picking up speed and new areas continuously. Our head count currently stands at 46 staff, including Financial Director, Suzy Bolton who joined in 2013 having previously been Head of Corporate Finance at Nuffield Health; and Non Executive Director, Miles Hunt who has over 20 years experience in International recruitment and talent management. The next few weeks will see 7 new starters taking on their new roles, and we expect to have over 60 employees before the year is out. The company is growing at such a rate that we have our own Internal Recruitment department devoted to finding like minded people who fit with the company culture and future plans. A global plan 2018 also marks our launch into Europe beginning with the German capital, Berlin. With plans on the cards for the US and a Boston based office for 2019, the wheels are in motion for our International expansion. A celebration We understand only too well the value of good staff and must give credit to the team around us for a thriving, award winning business. We took the opportunity to celebrate in style at Luton Hoo recently with activities including segway riding, clay pigeon shooting and Apache buggies and of course, the traditional champagne toasts to the future!

There's no doubt about it, the European job market is huge and with Understanding Recruitment rapidly expanding we are looking to Germany where the capital, Berlin has approximately 3.3 million residents and is the largest city in Germany with the second highest population in Europe after London. With tech companies flocking to the German capital, Berlin seems like the logical step for a recruitment specialist in the IT and software field. The tech giants are moving in Whilst Germany has experienced a rocky past, the economy is now recovering and there's no surer sign that the current surge of interest from tech giants who are taking up residence in the city. Household names including Google, Apple, Amazon, and Facebook all have offices in Berlin, and that makes up just part of the list of tech companies adding to the employment possibilities for those in the industry. Technology companies such as Facebook only need to look to their current audience to understand the scope of the market. The social media platform has over 29 million active monthly users in Germany, and it makes sense for them to have opened local offices to ensure they have eyes and ears on the ground there. As specialists in IT and software recruitment Berlin has been on our radar for some time and seemed a logical move when we began our search for the ideal location to launch into Europe. With our expertise in the field, and the growing number of companies searching for the ideal candidate in the region we are looking forward to our upcoming launch and a bright future in the German technology recruitment market.

Five years ago, our first apprentice walked through our office doors at the age of 18, fresh out of education and his part time job. Today, Tom has become one of our most successful recruiters. At Understanding, we offer an apprenticeship scheme which provides a real opportunity to break into the recruitment industry as well as the chance to gain an NVQ in Business Administration from Oaklands College. Since joining us back in 2012, Tom completed his training and got stuck into the world of recruitment and technology. He had a desire to work in a fast paced, sales focussed business environment following his studies and part time work. After only two years with us, Tom received a national recruitment award as the ‘Best Newcomer’ at REC’s IRP Awards 2014. Tom made it to a shortlist of 7 individuals, surpassing thousands in the process to win the award which was measured on both clients and candidates experience, customer service and overall value added to the organisation. Following on from his first taste of recognition, Tom was Highly Commended for ‘Most Inspiring Newcomer’ at ITA Awards 2015. Since then, he’s carved out his own business area which he started from scratch, focusing on the Charity and not-for-profit sector. As head of the department, he now manages two team members who are also set for a successful career in recruitment with one of them receiving our internal award for ‘Trainee of the Year’. Tom has embraced his role here with us, and regularly exceeds his targets, qualifying for director’s lunches and winner’s trips away to locations such as Monaco, Nice, Portugal, Barbados, Las Vegas, Miami, St. Lucia, Mexico and more. Tom has billed just over £1 million for the company since joining five years ago, and is current holder of our biggest billing month and biggest billing year! We asked Tom for a little insight, for those interested in following in his path: What do you enjoy the most about your role? "I enjoy lots of elements within my role. I like the challenges and problems as they’re made even better when they result in successes. Not only is it great for a sense of achievement, but it feels good to help my clients and candidates meet their needs or even sometimes going above and beyond. I’d be lying if I said the financial rewards and international winner’s trips weren’t also a big part of my job satisfaction. In recruitment, the more you put in, the more you will get out of it". What difficulties have you faced? "Initially, it takes time to learn all the technical jargon but that comes over time with experience. The training modules are really great here though and really helped set me up for a successful career. There can be some long hours sometimes, but it goes hand in hand with big financial rewards".