Recruitment Nick

I know, I know, I’ve been missing for a week or so now.  I apologise but I have had a huge amount on… it seems spending an hour or so a day writing blog posts is one of the first things to go when you are working 13/14 hour days!

But I do have good news, as the title of this post suggests I have placed my first for me start up business candidate… happy days!

Not the biggest fee in the world but, at just shy of £4k, not to be sniffed at either.  For those that were wondering this was achieved by taking one of the best candidates I had come across since I started and selling him into the 8 or so relevant companies I am aware of within his ‘catchment area’.  3 requested interviews and 1 made an offer, which he accepted last night.

Unfortunately he has a months notice to work off so will be awhile yet until he starts, until I can invoice and even longer until I get any money for it but definitely very, very good news… I’m up and running.

I will try get more relevant business start up posts up next week.

Remember the recruitment advert for Zurich?  Well the same marketing company have got in touch with me asking about advertising life insurance because they feel that, as professionals taking risks with money, life insurance is something we should be thinking about.

And its hard to argure with the logic, it is something we should all think about so I have accpted an offer to run the advert on the sidebar for awhile.

More important to me though (as I already have life insurance) is the fact that as part of the advertising campaign they have a bunch of fun games, perhaps not great when you are trying to concentrate on work but a bit of fun when you are giving yourself a break - and you can win £500 worth of Argos vouchers.

http://www.kontraband.com/games/13986/Lifesville/

The branding here is much more obvious (no trying to work out what it is they are advertising) but its a bit of fun and it does raise awareness of things like life insurance, which we should be considering.  Remember as well AXA do business insurance which might be more up your street.

Right now there is nothing more depressing to anyone starting a business than the news reports.  Everything is about the credit crunch.  How the economy is going down the pan, how businesses are failing etc.

Remember that it needs to be taken with a pinch of salt.  The news sensationalises things, even the BBC.  The reality that I have found IS that it is tough out there, but nowhere near as bad as they say.  Companies are still hiring, if not in the numbers they were before.  Skilled individuals will still get positions in companies and businesses are still struggling to find top individuals with the skill sets they want.

Yes things may have been easy before, but the reason companies use us is to find the hard to find individuals that they not have found by just shoving a couple of adverts up, or signing up to Monster and the like.

So I’m sticking with my plan of ignoring the news as much as possible.  Still would have liked a nicer financial market to start my business in though!

Very very busy at the moment, which means that this ’start up issue series’ is a little behind where I wanted it to be, but no matter, we shall press on.

As you would expect with any series that covers starting a business we will have to, at some point, take a look at what is needed to start up. So lets get that out of the way whilst it’s still fresh in my memory.

The basics are obvious

• Computer
• Phone or Voip

And, theoretically that is it, the rest you can do without. Of course with just those you won’t get too far without a LOT of work so lets try for the minimum requirements needed to make things ab it easier than that.

A computer is essential. You need a central point (and ideally some recruitment software, which we’ll get too later) to be able store CV’s, clients details, notes, Read the rest

I am finally making an attempt to put one up for you to download.

I have definitely gone back on my opinion of linkedin not being worthwhile.  OK it still doesn’t have the business networking potential here in the UK that it does in the US but it does provide some very useful contacts and names into businesses… and that is something no consultant worth his pay should ever pass up.  Couple with useful company profiles such as number of employees, who they are most linked to and what companies they generally come from it is a very very useful resource.

So get on to using it if you’re not already.  You can join my network here.

The basic guide is provided by the knowledgeable Andy Headworth of Sirona Consulting.  His linkedin page is here.

Let me know of the download link below doesn’t work and I’ll stick it up on a downloading site.

Linkedin For beginners

No I haven’t forgotten that I am running a new series, the ’start up issues’ series (first part on finding clients and making the introduction is here).  Indeed I have a few outlines lined up for proper blog posting that i should get at least one of done this evening.  Use the sign up box or RSS feed on the right to make sure you don’t miss any of it.

However I realise it is not just my experiences that we are looking at.  Obviously something I found difficult others will find easy, and I will find some things easy that others will find difficult, so I thought I would open this up.

Let me know what is it you would like this series to cover?

I am already looking at how to cover

• lead generation
• referrals
• more on motivation
• more on KPI’s
• networking
• basic requirements of starting

Anybody think of anything else? (or if you have anything to say with regards any of these subjects I always appreciate hints and tips).  If so leave a comment below, or email me on recruitmentnick@gmail.com or send me a tweet or a message via linkedin

Again I stress I am no expert, just someone giving it a go and reporting what I find.  But I found that there was a scarcity of open, forthright examples of exactly how to start a recruitment company and so started this blog up.  So when following my advice make sure you consider other points of view and sources of information.

I suppose this is also a good time to mention… if anyone wants a ‘guest post’, where they write an article for the blog then feel free to get in touch… the more points of view about starting companies and what it takes the better.

So I’ve been in business now for 3 weeks. Not exactly a milestone but this weekend has had me thinking about what I have gone through so far and how that relates to what I am able to offer others who are also starting a recruitment company at the moment.

There have been a few challenges and some successes (no placements but a few interviews I am hopeful on, cross your fingers). The major thing I am happy about is that the engineering sector doesn’t seem to effected by the credit crunch. The market isn’t as buoyant as I remember it a few years back but neither is it the mill pound I was worried that it would be.

There are requirements out there and a shortage of skill sets. This is what recruiters are here for, and I am remembering just how much I loved working in the industry.

But there are definitely challenges that I am currently facing that are worth bringing up as many of you starting your own agencies will probably face the same business issues.

This is the first in a series of posts about what challenges starting a recruitment company can bring, and how I am tackling them. At no point do I suggest that my way is the only way, the best way or even the right way as I am just as susceptible to making mistakes as anyone else. But I do hope to make you aware of issues so that you will be at least forewarned!

1.Making the initial introduction.

Quite frankly my business has very little brand recognition. A number of clients still remember me, but most companies out there don’t know me from Adam and they have Read the rest

This article is all about starting a company up.

Now I am going to assume that most people coming to this blog are actually here because they are looking for hints, tips and how to’s on starting a recruitment company. That is, after all, what the subtitle of this blog says.

Can’t say being smacked for false advertising sounds like much fun so maybe I should do one of those….

So here it is, my basic guide for what I have gone through to start a company. Perhaps not exhaustive and is indeed a subject I intend to recover in a bit more detail, but for now this should give a structure or idea for you to understand what I have done and take things on board for your own start up business ventures.

First tip first….

Budget for more than you think you will need

Business budgeting is always stressful. Forecasting income, understanding expenses and cutting the nonessential is something that gives headaches to the best mathematicians, never mind a novice number cruncher like me. But it is a necessary evil I’m afraid.

So what will you need?

I can’t answer that for you, every company is different. Later in this post I will be going into what I am spending money on but be aware Read the rest

Just a quick one to reiterate what I said before about motivation when starting a business.

You HAVE to have outside interests and pursue them, no matter how urgent you think the work is. Over the weekend I worked a few hours in the morning and a few hours in the evening (both days). Often that would leave me feeling a bit burnt out after putting in some huge hours during the week. And business fatigue is a real worry for me as I have a tendency to throw myself into things probably a bit too wholeheartedly.

But instead I feel refreshed.

How? Because I did other things as well, and I mean DID things, not just zoned out in front of the TV. I played a rugby game on both days. After working in the evening I met up with friends for a few drinks (more than a few on Saturday).

In short I exercised, socialized and got myself away from the house/office. I switched my brain on to other things, and, as a result, I am excited to be getting back to work (despite the time I will post this I am actually writing it at 7am on Monday).

Now it might not be rugby, it might be other hobbies and activities… but get out there and give your business brain a rest, excite yourself with other things and I promise you, business motivation will be far far easier.

As I near the end of my 2nd week of starting a business I have taken on a number of lessons already. One is the time management that I told you about earlier. And a valuable lesson that is too.

KPI’s are not an enemy

Another important business lesson is that you have to set yourself targets. Yes I know you started a business to get away from silly things like KPI’s, targets that mean nothing and a boss that is constantly looking over your shoulder.

Good for you, and so did I. But the thing is those things are there because they work. Obviously you don’t need to hit every one (something some managers could do with taking on board) but if you have them there then you can use them to motivate you.

I tried going without for the first couple of days but honestly found myself at a loose end, even with my day plan. Was I pushing myself hard enough to be where I wanted to be? Was I making Read the rest