Whenever I tell people I’ve started a new job it’s interesting to see their reaction when I tell them I’m working in recruitment. Some people flinch, having had bad experiences with recruiters in the past; some imagine that I’ve now become a bit of a wide boy, a slightly up-dated version of Del-Boy with a Blackberry instead of a Filofax; some suddenly become interested, obviously hoping that I’ll be able to find them a new job.

What is working recruitment really like? Do you have to become a slightly unscrupulous, aggressive salesman, twisting people’s arm to move jobs when they don’t really want to? Does starting in recruitment mean having to make millions of cold calls in order to stay in the job until the end of the week? Well, after a month’s work at Beament Leslie Thomas I’m glad to say that the answer is certainly not! This is my first job in recruitment (I landed it through Owen Gill of graduate recruiters GRB) and I’m glad to say that I’ve found that the atmosphere is supportive, the high standards are demanded and quality, not quantity, is the order of the day. But then, I have to admit, I wonder whether if I’ve joined a slightly atypical recruitment company in BLT…

BLT’s philosophy is all about providing the best service to both clients and candidates. That means that we’re happy to give advice and input to anyone who wants to explore management consultancy as a career and that we’re dedicated to understanding the needs of our clients. My first month has been all about learning the market, understanding the things that make each client different and their profile unique and how to match the right CV to it. BLT put a premium on deepening and broadening my knowledge base so that can offer the kind of high-quality consultancy service for which BLT is already well-known. This means dealing with both clients and candidates with integrity and honesty in everything we do and avoiding the kind of sharp practice which, I’ve already discovered, unfortunately characterises too much recruitment today.

The good news is that my experience doesn’t need to be unique because BLT is seeking to expand its recruitment team. If you’re looking to continue or begin a career in recruitment with an emphasis on intellect and integrity then why not get in touch with Paul Grafton at BLT pjg@blt.co.uk and see if you match their requirement!