Lessons Learned

This week's Recruiter magazine has a case study about the actions one agency took to fill a contract in the Falkland Islands. Giving there are only 3000 people on the Islands, they had to find someone who had the right capabilities and was willing to move from the UK to the South Atlantic temporarily. Amazingly, they had someone on their books who had both the right experience, and who had had 'visit the Falkland Islands' on her life's list! The most interesting part of this article, however, is the 'Lessons Learned', aimed at the agency. However, if you reverse the advice, it's as applicable to candidates as it is agencies.

Build Relationships - Keep in touch with your temps and take an interest in them. Knowing the candidate's love of travel helped them identify her as potentially right for this role. If you have a desire to travel, to work in a particular company or industry, let your contacts know. They can't help if they don't know.

A Lucky Challenge - This agency just happened to have the right person on their books. Luck is sometimes a big part of the development of your career. Putting yourself out there - meeting people, being part of associations, volunteering for projects and activities - helps you be more lucky.

Word of Mouth - Talk about hard to fill placements, the person you're talking to might just know the special candidate. Talk to your contacts about your next move - even if you think they can't help, they might know someone who can.

http://www.recruiter.co.uk/south-atlantic-mission/1004511.article