Interview: Helen Wilson from GPRS Recruitment

Helen Wilson is a sales director at GPRS Recruitment. Helen recently shared how she got into recruitment, why it's her career of choice and her best candidate experience.

How did you get into recruitment?

I went to register with an agency and thought that it was something I wanted to do. The recruiter told me I needed sales experience so I told her to get me a job in sales. She did – Yellow Pages. My friend then went to work for a recruitment company and their temps controller left so I applied.

What’s your current role?

Sales Director.

What sector do you currently work within?

Work based learning and training specialist recruitment consultancy.

Are there any challenges facing your sector at the moment?

Lack of good candidates.

What do you love about your job?

No two days are the same and because recruitment reflects the economy, it is always changing.

As a people manager and trainer I love it when you take someone with no recruitment experience and train them so they become successful, confident and proud of themselves.

What’s the biggest challenge about working in recruitment?

It is extremely competitive.

What’s the top thing a great recruiter needs in their toolkit to succeed?

The ability to get to the crux of what the client and candidate really wants, then marry the two.

What’s the number one tip you would give someone who was thinking of joining the industry?

Look for a company that is going to offer you a comprehensive training programme to give you the skills you need to succeed.

What would you tell yourself on your very first day in recruitment?

Take extensive notes about everything you are told and revisit them frequently. Use forms to help you establish good habits that will stay with you for life. Never cut corners – do everything thoroughly. Write everything in a diary and plan, plan, plan.

What’s the best experience you’ve had with a candidate/What’s the best feedback you’ve had from a candidate?

I placed one candidate five times in a ten year period.

From walking through the door as a graduate linguist I found the candidate their first job in customer service.

Then I found them a role as a linguist in customer service for a wine exporter.

The candidate did a post grad Executive PA’s qualification, and I placed her with an international company as PA to a director.

The candidate wanted to move into a more prestigious PA role where she could use her research skills and her linguistic skills, and I found her a role working as an Executive Assistant to a Main Board Director.

The candidate got pregnant and wanted a part time job when she returned to work, which I found.

Do you want to share your recruitment story with us? Email us now to find out more.