Kieran Wilson - From Aviation to Recruitment

What's a typical day like for a recuiter? We love getting the lowdown from members and finding out more about your careers! We asked Kieran Wilson from Redline Group what his day is like, and how he moved from working in aviation to recruitment.

My alarm goes off...

Whenever my daughter decides it’s time to wake up – typically between 5am and 6am.

I’m responsible for…

Contract and interim recruitment within Redline’s R&D and Manufacturing team. Typically placing candidates at the forefront of technology with difficult to find skill sets,  with clients throughout the UK and Europe.

I got the job…

After leaving the aviation industry. I needed to be closer to home as I had just started a family. I found my career via Redline’s website five years ago, although much has changed and evolved since I first joined.

My typical day…

Things can change fairly quickly on the contracts desk. I always ensure I have a plan in place from the night before as to what I am looking to achieve the following day. However, things do drop in, which can take priority and means things can move very quickly. Generally, my day will consist of customer contact, which involves talking to existing and new clients, speaking with active candidates, my current contractors, booking meetings with clients and hopefully booking in candidates to start a new contract!

My most memorable work moment…

Was my first placement. Every placement is important and it makes you feel really good, but it is the first placement I will always remember. From initially submitting the candidate to feeling incredibly nervous when delivering the offer and hoping I had done enough throughout the process to close the offer. And it was a success! My first placement and a very happy candidate.

The worst part of my job…

Is giving disappointing news and/or constructive feedback. Working with people is always challenging as there are so many different personalities to engage with on a daily basis. Some take feedback constructively, however, there is always the odd occasion where somebody doesn’t take feedback well and feel they were better than the others who got the job. Handling people takes great skill and you learn more and more about people every day when you work in recruitment.

The best part of my job…

Is changing someone’s life. A person’s career is a huge part of their life. It is where they spend the majority of their time and it is what provides for themselves and their families. I love that I can help people love their jobs. Whether it is helping someone take the first steps in a new contract role, or enhancing their existing career, it has a massive impact on their life, and the best part is, I helped to make it happen!

I love recruitment because…

As recruitment is a sales orientated role that requires great communication, focus, determination and passion to succeed, you have to work hard. The ‘work hard, play hard’ mantra is never truer than when describing what we do. With numerous incentives, rewards and events, along with a strong bond with my team and the organisation, I undoubtedly play just as hard as I work! Recruitment can also be very lucrative and I love to make money! As frank as it sounds, recruitment is a money oriented business with targets and commission to reward those who are successful.

My most challenging placement …

Was when I had to place candidates into defence companies, on the basis that security clearance needs to be secured, which can be very time consuming, along with the additional documentation which is required. The challenge is that contractors generally like to move quickly between roles which isn’t always possible if security clearance isn’t already active.

My biggest candidate success story…

Was with a contractor who is still working through Redline. It was my first placement for this client, who are based in Europe and specialise in motorsport racing in various different formats. They sought an engine development engineer to be based on site but to also travel by car to various races throughout the year. Identifying candidates was not too challenging, but finding somebody who was willing to live in another country and travel to the racing events was the challenge. Luckily I found a great contractor who has now been with my client for over two years, and from his hard work he has been extended on three occasions. I am now one of the preferred suppliers for all contract roles with the business.

After work…

My evening consists of quality time with family. I collect my daughter from nursery and do the bedtime routine with her before finally getting to relax!

My Plan B…

Luckily I haven’t had to make a plan B! Although I would probably look into joining the police force.