Keeping pace with a fast-moving industry

Keeping pace with a fast-moving industry

The business world moves at a much faster pace than when Just Recruitment started 40 years ago. Here’s how the recruitment industry has evolved to keep up.

By Tim Gibson

Keeping pace with a fast-moving industryWind the clock back four decades and the world seemed to turn at a very different pace. Although they existed, email and the internet were by no means in widespread use, and social media would have sounded like an idea from science fiction.

...everything can happen so much more quickly and seamlessly in the 21st century.  

It’s a similar story with tablets and smartphones, the antecedents of which appeared in fantasy TV series like Star Trek and Buck Rogers, giving every impression of being utterly otherworldly.

All of which goes a long way to explaining why the speed business transactions moved at was considerably slower back in the 1980s. Because everything happened at a steadier pace, no one had a choice in the matter.

“I don’t think it’s the case that we did things particularly slowly back then,” reflects Jenny Wrightson, who founded Just Recruitment Group Ltd in 1983. “We were always working to optimum efficiency. It’s rather that everything can happen so much more quickly and seamlessly in the 21st century. And what we’re seeing is that there’s a whole generation that has been brought up in the digital age, and therefore has no patience for processes that don’t happen in lightning-quick fashion.”

This has profound implications for a business such as Just Recruitment, especially as so many of the candidates it works with are of the millennial or “digital native” generation.

“We find that many of the people we’re looking to place in jobs are accustomed to instant communications,” Mrs Wrightson continues. “If they express an interest in a job, they expect to receive further details in the time it takes for one of our consultants to reply to an email. Likewise, they expect to be interviewed in a matter of days, and even to be in post within a week or so.”

Fortunately, technology exists that enables Just Recruitment to meet these expectations – which is good news for candidates and employers alike. The sophisticated job-matching software employed by the company uses a massive database to cross-refer candidates with opportunities, enabling an almost instantaneous identification of vacancies for which they may be suitable.

“Contrast that to 40 years ago and you’ll get a sense of how far things have moved on,” says Mrs Wrightson. “When we started out, a candidate would come to our offices and have their CV typed by one of our staff. This would then be photocopied, shared around the agency and posted out to prospective employers. If a match was identified, the process of shortlisting and interviewing candidates could last as much as a couple of months. Which means a quarter of a year could easily elapse between us meeting a candidate and them starting in a new role.”

Now, Mrs Wrightson says it is possible for a candidate to make contact with Just Recruitment in the morning and have a job lined up by the close of play. In some cases, they will even report for duty the next day.

“Obviously, some appointments take longer to fill,” she declares, “especially for more senior positions. But a lot of the opportunities we handle on behalf of clients can be filled in no time at all, and it’s all thanks to the speed at which the digital world operates.”

Keeping pace with a fast-moving industryAlongside big-data-munching job-matching software and speedy modern communications, it is fair to say the processes employed by the recruitment industry have evolved, as organisations like the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) and initiatives like the Recruitment Industry Benchmarking (RIB) index recognise.

“With the emergence of social networks like LinkedIn, it’s possible to be far more proactive about finding candidates for roles,” observes Mrs Wrightson. “We can develop a profile of a candidate before we’ve even met them, and that greatly improves the efficiency of matching people to opportunities.”

This speaks of a bilateral enhancement to the recruitment process: on the one hand, technology enables candidates to find jobs more easily, and on the other, it enables recruiters to locate suitable candidates with greater alacrity.

“The net result is an industry that’s global, highly efficient and very fast-moving,” concludes Mrs Wrightson. “The nuts and bolts of recruitment are the same as they ever have been, especially the soft skills required by effective recruitment consultants. But yes, the speed at which things move has rocketed. As technology continues to advance, we’re only going to see even greater sophistication in the way jobs are filled, making it a very exciting industry to be a part of.”

 

If you enjoyed this article, you may also like:
Seven signs that you need a new job
How do you choose the best recruitment agency for you?

 

Published: 27 July 2023
© Copyright Just Recruitment Group Ltd 2023

Jobs currently available

Production Operative
Sector: Warehouse
Salary: £13.25 per hour
Location: Sudbury, Suffolk.
Role: Full Time
Contract: Temporary to Permanent
Job ref: 913140
About the role

Just Temps is actively seeking to join a company based on the outskirts of Sudbury, Suffolk.

Working hours:

  • Monday to Friday.
  • 22.00 to 06.00.

Duties will include:

  • Picking and packing.
  • Lifting up to 25kg - this is a physical role with manual handling.
  • Working within the warehouse.
  • Mixing various products together.
  • Baking products.

Having your own transport is essential due to the location of the company and the hours involved.

General warehouse experience is required and training will be provided.

 

Just Temps acts as an Employment Business for the supply of Temporary Staff.
The salary advertised is the bracket available for this position. 
We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitable candidates.

 

Read more
Environmental, Health and Safety Officer
Sector: Engineering and Manufacturing
Salary: Competitive
Location: Sudbury
Role: Full Time
Contract: Permanent
Job ref: 913261
About the role

Just Recruitment is working with a well-regarded, long-standing manufacturing business within the Sudbury area - actively seeking a full-time, permanent Environmental, Health, and Safety Officer to join its team.

The key purpose of this role is to work with the site teams to provide expert advice, promote involvement and drive improvements to site safety culture and performance in compliance with all EHS, business conduct policies, guidelines, and the local site Life-Saving Rules at all times.

Key duties include:

  • Coordinate, develop and aid the implementation of the site’s EHS systems, to ensure it is fit for purpose, efficient and effective and in compliance with legislation (SSoW, Permit to Work, Near Miss Reporting, Job Hazard Analysis etc.), audits and inspections, environmental monitoring, health monitoring and industrial hygiene).
  • Develop site-specific EHS systems and EHS procedures meeting the requirements of U.K. legislation in line with the site's needs and organisational structure. Assess written and practised compliance against agreed standards via gap analysis, process confirmation and audit.
  • Be the on-site appointed person to advise on requirements for the shipment of dangerous goods and produce DGN’s as required.
  • Work with Occupational Health in coordinating the Site’s Health Surveillance Programme. Implement and manage a comprehensive Occupational Health Programme.
  • Coordinate risk assessments, COSHH assessments and PUWER assessments for the site to meet material and process requirements.
  • Maintain and review site legal register to ensure compliance with UK legislation.
  • Complete sustainability and product questionnaires as required.
  • Be site lead for ISO45001 OHSMS and ISO14001 EMS certification, delivering and coordinating the processes for the Management Systems across the site. Be site contact for external regulatory bodies. (HSE, Environment Agency, Local Authority).
  • Coordinate emissions monitoring and solvent management plan; submitting results to the Local Authority. Coordinate personal VOC, dust exposure monitoring, face-fit testing, DSEAR assessments and manage any resulting actions. Through monitoring, measuring, and advising, ensure site compliance under the LAPPC permit.
  • In conjunction with relative functions, you will be responsible for writing, reviewing, and amending standard operating procedures to ensure continual development of best practices.
  • Forms part of the site Emergency Team and is responsible for reviewing and maintaining the site emergency plan, investigating emergency situations, and participating in the recovery of such situations on-site during and outside normal working hours.
  • Identify EHS training needs and plan and provide training to pursue the achievement of improved EHS competencies and skills for all associates. Responsible for the coordination and completion of the Competency Assessment Schedule, ensuring that individual action plans are established.
  • Responsible for producing, implementing, and maintaining site inductions for contractors and new employees.
  • Responsible for compiling and submitting annual data for the UK business in compliance with packaging waste regulations.

Qualifications and experience:

  • IOSHH trained in Managing Safely.
  • Holder of NEBOSH General Certificate.
  • Minimum 3 years of experience in Health and Safety in a manufacturing environment.
  • Experience in internal auditing and managing ISO14001 and ISO45001 standards is essential.
  • ADR, IATA, and IMDG trained, preferable, but not essential as training will be provided.
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office – Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint.
  • Ability to engage with staff at all levels and achieve clear and concise two-way communication.
  • Developing personnel so that they have sufficient skills to meet the EHS objectives of the business.
  • Understanding of manufacturing environments and processes.
  • Recognised within the business as a champion of safety and environmental performance.
  • Ensure accurate record-keeping/document retention systems are kept in line with legal obligations.

This is an excellent opportunity, to lead the EHS function of the site. The role offers a competitive salary with great benefits as well as a stable, long-standing and friendly team environment.

 

Just Recruitment acts as an employment agency for permanent roles.
We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitable candidates.

 

Read more
Warehouse Operative
Sector: Warehouse
Salary: £10.50 per hour
Location: Stanford-le-Hope, Essex
Role: Full Time
Contract: Temporary to Permanent
Job ref: 1113015
About the role

Just Temps is seeking Warehouse Operatives to join a company based in Stanford-le-Hope.

Working hours:

  • Monday to Friday, 08.00 to 17.00.

Duties will include:

  • Unloading and loading of lorries and containers.
  • Using handheld scanners to pick and pack.
  • Working within the stores.
  • Other general warehouse duties.
  • Heavy lifting will be involved.

No experience is necessary for this role. Teamwork is paramount for this role.

This company really cares about its workforce and offers lots of opportunities to progress.

 

Just Temps acts as an Employment Business for the supply of Temporary Staff.
The salary advertised is the bracket available for this position.
We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitable candidates.

 

Read more
Marketing CRM Executive & Sales Support
Sector: Marketing, Advertising and PR
Salary: £25,000 - £27,000 per annum
Location: Haverhill
Role: Full Time
Contract: Permanent
Job ref: 913259
About the role

Just Recruitment is recruiting for a permanent Marketing CRM Executive & Sales Support role within a company located near Haverhill.

You will be responsible for supporting the Marketing Manager by setting up online marketing campaigns, focusing on social media, maintaining and updating the CRM system, supporting the Sales Team with CRM, merchandise sourcing, despatch, shows and customer visits.

Key responsibilities and duties will include:

  • Setting up and running the planned SEO digital and print marketing campaigns including Salesforce Account Engagement
  • Focussing on social media, SEO digital marketing, newsletters, and pay-per-click
  • Working with the sales team to create relevant content both domestically and internationally
  • Focussing on social media and digital marketing both domestically and internationally
  • Reporting on marketing campaigns and their return on investment to the Marketing Manager and Commercial Director
  • Visiting and attending trade shows and industry events to create content and support the sales team
  • Administering, monitoring and informing the sales team of all leads and enquiries acquired
  • Reporting on the conversion of enquiries and leads into sales achieved by the sales team
  • Administration duties as requested by the Marketing Manager
  • Supporting the sales team with the administration of the CRM system

Essential requirements:

  • Hands-on CRM system experience required – preferably Salesforce
  • A minimum of 2 year’s experience in a similar role
  • Ability to build and manage customer relationships
  • Experienced in content creation and the running of digital marketing campaigns
  • Professional, articulate and conscientious

Hours: Monday to Friday, 8.00am to 5.00pm.

Due to the company’s location, you will need to drive.

 

Just Recruitment acts as an employment agency for permanent roles.
The salary advertised is the bracket available for this position. The actual salary paid will be dependent on your level of experience, qualifications and skill set.
We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitable candidates.

 

Read more