May 2019 Blogs

It’s never been more important to step up your candidate game. In this digital age, marketing talent can have a huge impact on your bottom line. This realisation is driving fierce competition. And, as employers battle it out to secure the best people, it can be difficult to stand out from the crowd. This fight for marketing talent is only going to get fiercer. With McKinley Marketing Partners, predicting in their 2019 Hiring Trends Report, that 62% of marketing managers will look to grow their teams in 2019. So, how do you become an employer of choice? We have brought together some simple tips to help you become a most-wanted employer for marketing talent. Make Candidate Engagement a Priority In a talent-short marketplace, candidates have the luxury of choice. And first impressions count. Every touch point you have with a candidate, from setting up an interview to discussing benefits is a chance for them to see who you are, and negative experiences can hurt your chances of landing the best people. Make sure that you create a process based on people, not transactions, and build meaningful relationships with candidates from day one. Keep Things Simple The more complicated your processes, the more likely candidates are to walk away or simply not take a closer look. If it takes hours to navigate complex forms or they can’t find the information they need quickly online, you’re going to lose people fast. This is even more important in marketing roles, where clunky processes and systems are going to be a red flag to digitally-aware candidates. Streamline your process, use smart technology, and make it easier for people to connect. Think Outside The Capital In the UK, London has traditionally been the home of marketing talent and many organisations start their search there. But the market has evolved, and such a narrow search could hurt your chances of success. We are seeing amazing marketing talent coming out of every region in the UK. And right now, we have a wealth of candidates in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, and Hertfordshire. Think bigger and look further – it could be game-changing for your organisation. Looking to grow your talented team? Henry Nicholas can help make it happen. As specialist marketing and PR, data and insight, digital, technology and creative recruiters working across the UK, we know the people who can make a big difference in your business. Find out more, here, or contact us on 0117 317 8103 to talk marketing, talent, and connecting with the best candidates around.

Henry Nicholas Consultant, Poonam Thaker talks about her specialist territories in the home counties and why they’ve become the place to find and place outstanding talent in marketing, digital, and eCommerce. Although one in three new jobs created in the UK over the past decade has been in London, there’s been a considerable growth in three regions outside of the city. Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire are rapidly becoming key areas for ambitious marketing, digital and eCommerce professionals due to them being home to some of the most exciting blue chip organisations and innovative startups in the UK. I work with some fantastic clients located in these regions who are looking for talent and offering amazing opportunities for career progression and development. Additionally, each has a commitment to nurturing company culture, an increasingly important selling point for today’s candidates. As a result, and despite talent shortages in the fields of marketing, digital and eCommerce elsewhere in the country, businesses in these three regions, in particular, are seeing substantial competition for roles. This means a lot of clients who may not be actively recruiting will do so for a first-class candidate, and it’s my job to match them with candidates who would be an excellent fit for their business. If you’re looking for an exciting role in the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire regions, or you’re a business in search of outstanding talent, contact me on 0117 317 8103 or let’s connect on LinkedIn. About Poonam After 10 years living in the Big Smoke, Poonam joined Henry Nicholas to conquer new territory and become a fully-fledged Bristolian. After completing her MA in Marketing and embarking on a career in this field, Poonan decided to move into recruitment, putting her knowledge to the test to find the best marketing talent out there. Having both client side and agency side experience, Poonam brings eight years’ of recruitment experience, with expertise across Marketing, Digital and Ecommerce in an array of industries such as retail, travel and leisure. She truly understands what it’s like to be on the other side and what a client really needs, and applies her unique and transparent approach to get the best for her candidates. Her ‘turf’ is within the SE region, focussing on Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire.​

Each month, we’ll be catching up with a member of our team to find out more about who they are and what they do at Henry Nicholas. This week we have our latest recruit, consultant Poonam, who joined Henry Nicholas after living in London for 10 years, to become a Bristolian and conquer new territory. After completing her MA in Marketing, Poonam chose to move into recruitment to put all her knowledge to the test and find the best marketing talent out there. Having both client side and agency side experience, Poonam brings eight years’ worth of recruitment experience, having recruited for brands such as Royal Caribbean Cruises, Maplin, Mothercare, Hilton Hotels and the Casual Dining Group. Poonam, welcome aboard! What does a typical day look like at Henry Nicholas? Thank you! I was brought into Henry Nicholas to help build out a specific business unit and my day is split between contacting candidates and clients. In the morning, I spend time proactively looking for fresh talent across various channels, aiming to connect with 10 new A-star candidates across my regions every day. I’ll usually speak to clients in the afternoon, showcasing the benefits of my candidates, as well as sharing and learning essential market information and mapping. What type of roles do you recruit for? I’m looking for strong marketing candidates to fill roles across marketing, digital and eCommerce in the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire regions. What makes a successful recruitment consultant? In short, you have to build trust with both candidates and clients. This requires an honest and fresh approach in all communication. Tenacity, dedication and a real passion for helping people secure their ideal role also helps! What are today’s candidates looking for from an employer? It depends on the region. Those who move outside of London are looking for a new challenge and may feel limited by their location, or feel they can’t get the same opportunities as they did in the City - that’s just not the case! I have some great clients who are looking for talent and who offer amazing career progression and development. As a result, there’s a lot of competition for great roles in key regions outside of London, and culture is a key selling point. How about employers? There are a lot of passive clients who may not be actively recruiting but they would for a first-class candidate. It’s my job to let them know which candidates are available and would be an excellent fit for their business. How would you sum up the culture at Henry Nicholas from your experience so far? It’s a great place to work for an experienced recruiter; you’re given the autonomy to work your market in your way. John is an amazing Managing Director and so approachable, and the whole team is willing to learn from my experience too. The office provides a really fun environment, and everyone is so friendly. Certainly not your typical recruiter. If you’re looking for an exciting role in the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire regions, contact Poonam at Henry Nicholas today on 0117 317 8103.