A Day in the Life of a Recruiter - Dale Barnett

Ever wonder what a recruiter gets up to on a typical day? We asked Dale Barnett, senior consultant at Redline Group, to run us through his day and what he enjoys most about working in recruitment.

My alarm goes off at…

7am every morning I get showered, dressed and head downstairs for some breakfast and a coffee, this gives me some time to check emails and plan my day.

I’m responsible for…

Working closely with my R&D and technology-bias clients to understand their recruitment needs and challenges. Making sure I am providing them with the highest quality and most relevant applicants.

I got the job…

I was introduced to the job three years ago when I was looking for a position working with technology and engineering but could be in control of the outcome of my work, and also the earnings potential.

My typical day…

My day always starts by catching up with my clients, conversations with hiring managers at the beginning of the day are important as they could affect my daily plan. I then continue the morning by identifying and sourcing candidates. Over lunchtime (when candidates are more available), I arrange interviews, then take time out for some lunch with colleagues in our kitchen/break-out area. This is normally followed by a brisk walk around the business park to burn off some unwanted calories and clear the mind!

My most memorable work moment…

Was skiing this year at Redline’s Sales Conference in Morzine, France. Spending time in an amazing part of the world with friends, enjoying good food, drink and laughs was incredible, it cannot be beaten. It has helped to continue to push for the incentive trips that Redline offers.

The worst part of my job…

Is giving candidates bad news. No one likes to be the bearer of bad news, but having been a candidate myself, I know that the way we handle this part of the job is one of the most appreciated by candidates.

The best part of my job…

Is the working environment. We work in an open plan office where consultants, managers and directors all work together. The energy and buzz is instantly noticeable as soon as you walk through the office door!

My most challenging placement…

My client was located in a very difficult area of the country in West Yorkshire. It was difficult to get to and just a little too far away from the major technology hubs like Manchester or Leeds. This, combined with the technical skills required and the level of role, meant this was going to be a challenge. After a week of sourcing via a range of methodologies, I found the ‘diamond in the rough’. At the time, the candidate was only looking for contract work in the UK as he had his own limited business. The candidate was based in London and could relocate anywhere and after a week I arranged a call with my client and candidate, the call went well and he was invited for a face to face interview. At the end of a very positive interview the role was offered, however the candidate decided not to relocate and asked if working from home would be an option. Surprisingly, my client agreed to put this into place, however due to legal complications the applicant would have to be employed as a contractor. Organising this took over three months, therefore managing a candidate who was actively on the market proved to be difficult. The successful candidate is still working for my client today and has been asked to become a permanent employee.

My biggest candidate success story…

My client had recently changed their recruitment model which meant no manager contact was permitted. This made understanding the role and requirements very difficult. A role had been available for over two months before it was allocated to me. The success started as soon as talent acquisition agreed to let me talk to the hiring manager, which gave me a chance to really understand their requirements. After a discussion with the hiring manager, I knew exactly where to start my searches, what skills were going to be required, and I could accurately provide data to candidates to makes sure it was they job they wanted. At the time, a direct competitor were going through redundancies. I identified a legacy copy of the candidate’s CV on our database. After having a long conversation with the candidate he agreed to look at the information for the position. To make sure I could continue to present the company, I organised a late evening call with my candidate to go through all the information he required. After two stages of the interview, the position was offered to the candidate. Unfortunately the offered salary came in lower than the candidate’s ideal requirement, which meant selling the positives of joining the business again. After two days of discussions with his partner and supporting my candidate through a counter offer, he accepted the role and started four weeks later. I managed to fill a position that the internal recruitment team were struggling with for over two months in just three weeks.

After work…

I would normally leave work just after 18:30 and drive to my local gym for a workout. After this, I venture home to have a huge dinner! This always sets me up for the next day.

My Plan B:

I have always been interested in technology and how things are put together, however I honestly can’t think of any other role where I can talk about the sector and learn so much more on a daily basis.

Find out more about a career in recruitment and what is can offer you.

Remember to share this blog on your social channels. Follow the IRP on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook. If you'd like to feature on the I Love Recruitment blog, please email us.