Things I Know, Bruce Russell

Bruce Russell, director of RightPeople, gives us his career tips

Core values are important

I set up Right People in Aberdeen with Alex McLeod six years ago, in part because we felt like recruitment was moving away from its core values. Too many people were trying to take short cuts, such as using e-mail to communicate with candidates and failing to actually meet them. But it is still so important to meet people, to build relationships.

It’s better to have the right choice than lots of choice

We provide a boutique service in the sense that we work very closely with both our clients and candidates so that we don’t have to send a lot of CV’s to make a placement. We feel we are better placed to find the right, more precisely suited candidates to the roles in question. It’s not about quantity, but quality.

The candidate’s needs are as important as the client’s

We always try to understand what the candidates current and future goals are, as well as which clients may suit them culturally because that way we can ensure we are finding the right role for them. That in turn is useful for the client because it can boost retention and a better work environment.

Technology can be good and bad for recruitment

Improved technology has definitely brought benefits. For example, it’s easier to communicate with candidates and clients more quickly. But it does also allow for shortcuts to be made. Meeting people is as important today as it has ever been. I placed someone last year who I had not had a chance to meet before they arrived in Aberdeen for interview, so I picked them up from the airport and drove them to the interview myself so I could meet them. When you do things like that you become a better recruiter, whether or not that person gets the job, because you understand the people involved better.