Iron and Steel Today – Sept/Oct 2007
A Working Day in the life of Philip de Belder
Is it by pure coincidence that I have started to write this article during the longest day of the year? They say the day in the life of a recruitment consultant is not prohibited by the number of hours but by the availability of their candidates and clients!
We started our company in 1998, and have remained active in the search and selection of candidates for our clients and during recent years expanded our client and candidate portfolio within Europe, Middle East and Far East. With recent visits this year to India, China and Europe, we are helping companies with their recruitment requirements truly far and wide. However, the location of our clients and candidates in their respective time zones can result in some of my working days feeling longer than a 24hr day.
As a specialist recruitment company with ambitions for future growth, I have to perform a dual role of working ‘in’ the business and working ‘on’ the business as a director. The consultancy element of my role is usually time managed to fit into a typical working day whereas the strategic elements required for growing the business is often conducted after normal office hours.
I always try to be at my desk by 08.00hrs with a strong cup of coffee and respond to the emails, telephone messages and any other outstanding correspondence. A lot of my time is spent on the telephone speaking with new candidates, completing reports, writing appointment specifications, completing candidate interviews, and having meetings with existing and new clients. During the morning, I will usually consult with my research assistant team to check the progress of our searches, contacts with candidates and the follow ups with candidates who have expressed an interest in any of our advertised appointments. I try to keep the afternoons free for face-to-face meetings with either candidates or clients. More than often, I have to travel to Germany or France to interview candidates and if arranged correctly, can be completed in a day before returning to the UK.
Each day can be different and quite diverse particularly as our business has grown to these newer market areas and countries. We do predominantly concentrate on the foundry, casting and metals industry but we have found that we have attracted clients and candidates who are affiliated to this main market such as the refractory, consumables and equipment producers. The different challenges presented make each of our assignments most interesting and perhaps this is why I enjoy what I do.
Early this afternoon I have to interview a candidate who is seeking a career change and is also willing to relocate outside the UK. The candidate seems to be favourable, as his experience, qualifications and knowledge appear to meet our client’s requirements for this particular appointment. The usual checks will be performed and if the interview is successful then we would probably submit his details to our clients with our report and recommendations.
I enjoy meeting new clients and discussing their individual recruitment problems and consider it to be most important to visit and meet them personally. After the interview session today, I have to meet a new client who has asked us to help to find a manager for a senior executive role. This should be an interesting assignment for us as the company has a facility outside the UK and requires a suitable candidate to take full responsibility for the management of their new venture. I will discuss with the client the key tasks, duties, objectives and responsibilities for the role to enable me to produce an Appointment Specification. This essential document will be presented to the client and will ensure all main areas including the terms and conditions of the appointment are clearly identified before commencement.
We find confidentiality is the most crucial aspect to our service and are often asked for our opinion relating to other areas other than recruitment issues. We may not be in a position to answer on certain key points but we would certainly know of someone who could.
The drive back to Manchester is surprisingly quicker than expected. I return in time to respond to a few emails and messages from candidates. The Appointment Specification is completed and a proposal letter confirming all the points discussed with the client this afternoon is soon emailed so that a decision to proceed with the assignment can be made. A couple more phone calls to the USA and Brazil and the day is almost complete.
I play trumpet with an amateur Glen Miller style swing band and it’s the last rehearsal before several wedding and dance gigs this month. It’s now time to switch off, relax and play a bit of boogie.
de Belder Associates Ltd is a executive search and selection recruitment company specialising in the global recruitment of all levels of personnel for the foundry, castings, metals and associated industries.
