Patricija Verikaite

Graduate careers – is recruitment the right career path for you?

It is that time of year again when students are coming towards the end of their degrees and are starting to think about life after university. Although it is a very exciting time, it can also be quite a confusing time too. Especially for those who are not quite sure what path to take or what career they want to go into.Recruitment can be a very rewarding career and with the sector continuing to grow, now is the best time to start considering this as an option.Here are some points that might help you to decide whether working in recruitment is the right career path for you, and some top tips on what it takes to work in this exciting, fast-paced environment.Recruitment gives you opportunities to work in different industriesWithin recruitment there are lots of different sectors you can choose to work in such as Legal, Finance & Accountancy or HR. Choosing a sector that you already have knowledge of can make it a lot easier when going into recruitment, for example, some of our Legal Consultants are non-practising Lawyers. If you have worked or studied in a particular sector before, you will have a better understanding of what clients and candidates are looking for and also the challenges they are facing in the market. Once you have chosen a sector it does not mean that you have to work in that sector for the whole of your career. Recruitment allows you to develop many transferable skills, so it is fairly easy for you to change roles if you decide to move into a different market area for example.Career development opportunities in recruitmentRecruitment is a very exciting career to get into but it can also be challenging so you have to be sure that it is suited to you. As with many sales roles, there are highs and lows so perseverance is key. It is important that you have the ambition and drive to want to succeed as a Recruitment Consultant, and there are plenty of opportunities where you can progress quickly and increase your earning potential. At Sellick Partnership we offer a variety of opportunities – all of which are integral to the success of the business. Whether you join as a fresh graduate or as an experienced recruiter there is a career path for you. If you would like to learn more you can visit our work for us page.Learn new skillsRecruitment Consultants learn many skills throughout their careers which will benefit you both personally and professionally. This is great if you decide to have a sector change within recruitment or even a career change later down the line. Most of the skills are transferrable such as communication, organisation, negotiation and problem solving and are great to have and include on your CV and will be relevant to most roles.Be in charge of your own success in recruitment Being a Recruitment Consultant can be like running your own business. You are in charge of managing your clients and candidates so it is really important you are organised. This means that the more work you put in the more rewards you will get making you in charge of your own success. At Sellick Partnership we offer an uncapped commission structure meaning there is no limit to how much you can make.Rewarding career with great earning potential and benefitsRecruitment Consultants can be rewarded very well for just doing their job and there are lots of opportunities to earn commission. Recruitment Consultants here at Sellick Partnership all get their base salaries along with commission for positions within our specialist areas: Legal, Finance, HR, Housing & Property Services, Actuarial Procurement and Change & Transformation. We offer an extremely competitive commission structure which is uncapped, meaning there is no limit to the amount of commission that our Recruitment Consultants can make. So more sales means more commission with no limits. We also do not have a billing threshold, as soon as you start billing you start earning commission.Recruitment Consultants get to help people find their dream role!Recruitment can be a very rewarding career, not only in terms of remuneration but also in terms of helping other people find their perfect role. Our Recruitment Consultants are responsible for helping candidate’s find their dream job that is right for them. This means helping people progress in their careers, increase their earning potential and often supporting candidates who are considering relocating.If you would like more information on graduate recruitment please feel free to get in touch with myself, or visit our work for us page.Alternatively, you can check out our latest internal vacancies here.

Top tips on supporting your staff during Ramadan

The holy month of Ramadan can be an understandably challenging time for employees which means it is important for businesses to be aware of what they can do to support Muslim employees who are fasting. Here we offer information and advice to business leaders in order to equip you with the tools needed to make the month as comfortable as possible. Ramadan is observed by Muslims across the globe and it’s an opportunity to celebrate the revelation of the Holy Qur’an. During this time, those taking part will fast from sunrise to sunset, but it’s much more than just abstaining from food and drink. Ramadan is a time to reflect on one’s actions and words, offering the opportunity to purify the mind, body and soul. It is a spiritual and physical detox in a sense, as well as providing the chance to get closer to God and become more compassionate to those in need. During this month, Muslims dedicate as much time as they can to worship and undertaking charitable deeds, as the rewards are multiplied in this month. The idea is to be on your best behaviour to attain high reward and carry on with these habits beyond Ramadan. Ramadan lasts around 29 or 30 days, and Eid is then celebrated upon the sighting of the moon. How can business leaders help/support staff that are taking part in Ramadan? There are a number of ways businesses can support staff during Ramadan. They include: Offer a safe space to pray: while the five prayers are obligatory outside of Ramadan, Muslims can be more particular about praying on time during this month. Businesses should try and accommodate their staff with a prayer room or some space where they can offer prayers. Be considerate: people should try and be considerate when eating around those who are fasting whenever they can. It is a good idea to avoid asking if a person is fasting. They may not be able to fast for a number of reasons, which can be quite hard, especially for someone wanting that spiritual connection. Be understanding: when someone is fasting, they may not have the energy to go out for company events or other social gatherings. Be sensitive to their needs and religious sentiments and be supportive in any way you can. Accommodate flexible working: this may be easier to execute following the COVID-19 pandemic, but offering flexibility to those taking part in Ramadan can be transformational. Employers could discuss whether there are any temporary arrangements that can be made. Annual leave requests: employers may notice there are more requests for time off which may come from those observing the festival. These may come at short notice because Ramadan is based on the lunar calendar which focuses on monthly cycles of the Moon's phases. Making colleagues who aren’t taking part in Ramadan aware: this encourages other members of the team to be supportive of their fasting colleagues. What are the challenges while working? It can be difficult to go through each day without food and drink, particularly when there are longer daytime hours in the UK. Sleeping patterns are also massively disrupted, so energy will be low and concentration levels will not be the same as outside of Ramadan. People can experience extreme drowsiness as a result of low energy and lack of adequate sleep and it can also be exhausting to commute while fasting, which can be difficult to avoid if your job requires frequent travel. Some other things to consider are: Re-evaluating the work of staff who are fasting. The key for senior staff and all colleagues is to be patient with those who are fasting and assist where they can to help make the month go by smoother. Not to assume because members of staff are fasting, they won’t need to take breaks. Workers have the right to one uninterrupted 20-minute rest break during the working day, if you work more than six hours a day. Avoid company events that offer lunch or food in general during this time. All senses are heightened while fasting, particularly your sense of smell. It may make participation at such events harder than a regular day of fasting. Some people may request extra time off during the last ten days of Ramadan, as those are considered to be the most important nights. Many men confine themselves to the mosque, dedicating them to worship and women can choose to do the same in their homes to achieve a greater reward. Businesses should try to accommodate these needs when they can to allow their staff to have a greater spiritual connection. If you are currently taking part in Ramadan we would love to hear about your experiences and what your business is doing to support you. Please contact us, or you can engage with us on LinkedIn, Twitter or Facebook.