RECRUITMENT APPOINTMENTS JOBS VACANCIES CAREERS RECRUITMENT APPOINTMENTS
R
ecruiting is never an easy Joshua Rayner,
job. It takes time and it MD of Dove &
takes effort – effort which Hawk, (left)
a lot of estate agents wish says the
they were putting into getting company gets
instructions, or making sales, rather over 50 per cent
than trying to hire a negotiator. of its hires from recommendations,
Fortunately estate agents don’t not from advertising – something
have to do all the work themselves few estate agents would be able
– unless they want to. The growth to do. He regularly attends awards
of specialist recruitment agencies evenings and other property industry
supplying the property sector events, so he knows many of the
allows them to outsource at least people he’s dealing with personally.
This has a cost – generally
part of the recruitment process. At the same time, he says,
Using a recruitment agency a specialised agency should know from 10 to 20 per cent
should, at the very least, save time the sector and understand exactly
spent looking at hopelessly what’s needed. General agencies
of the first year’s salary,
unsuitable candidates’ CVs. like Reed can be good for
administrative jobs. “We use Reed
which is a hefty bill.’
Annette Farrell to put those jobs online,” he says,
of Estate but they don’t work well for key
Agency sales roles. “A McDonald’s branch
Recruitment manager is different from an general agencies miss many of the agencies are recognising how
(left) says she estate agency branch manager. subtleties of the market. “A high much a disincentive this can be –
regularly sees Just because you can run one street recruiter is unlikely to fully for instance Dove & Hawk will be
employers who have spent weeks doesn’t mean you can run the understand the difference starting an online business. “Online
sorting through hundreds of online other!” He points out that he’s between a block manager, an is a cheaper business you can use
candidates and sometimes a former estate agent, so he estate manager, an asset manager with a monthly subscription basis,”
interviewing as many as understands the job, and knows and a residential property Joshua Rayner says; he points out,
30 candidates – and still have not the way the market works. manager,” she says, so they are too, that for his regular business, all
found anyone suitable. It’s only He also believes general likely to put forward candidates placements are given a four week
after wasting that time that the agencies fail to understand their whose expertise and experience is trial, “so if it doesn’t work out in
estate agents call her! clients well enough. For instance, not the best match for the job. the first month you get a
However Simon Mortlock, he says, someone who is going to 100 per cent rebate.”
sales director at Curchods, is not fit in well at Savills or Hamptons FINDING THE VERY BEST Estate agents who really want
convinced by this argument. He just isn’t going to work for “the CANDIDATES to cut costs might consider one of
says “It doesn’t take me too long little one branch office that wants Another big difference between the online recruitment boards,
to work out from a CV whether this a bit of a Del Boy”. the best specialists and the more such as Monster Jobs or Totaljobs.
is someone we want to see, or not. The general recruitment agency general recruitment agencies is However, while flat fees of £99
There are some immediate things is often driven by volume business the proactive work that the to £200 look attractive – there
I look for – sifting mechanisms like – one PA or part qualified specialists carry out to find the best are even bulk deals available for
the cover note – so it takes me 30 accountant is much the same as candidates, rather than waiting for multiple job postings – that’s
seconds to sift through.” He prefers another and one client is much the them to contact the recruiter. For purely for advertising. Few of these
to recruit direct, and says he has same as another as far as they’re instance, Dove & Hawk’s local sites offer more than very cursory
found Curchods gets a good concerned. Specialised recruiters, consultants ‘mystery shop’ in local checking of candidates’ suitability,
quality of candidate by doing so. on the other hand, are more likely High Street agents, trying to identify and none of them handle first
to take time building relationships. the best people in the market. interviews or full shortlisting.
CONTACTS, CONTACTS, Annette Farrell says, “We “We headhunt,” Joshua Rayner
CONTACTS genuinely understand the client’s says. “A lot of people just use Total TIME… OR MONEY?
Recruitment agencies can save business and have researched their Jobs or Monster, but we go out The cost is probably one of the
time in another way, though. company culture.” She believes this and find people. Everyone wants major reasons why Simon Mortlock
While an estate agent typically is crucial to getting the right people with local expertise, and is happy to do his own recruiting;
starts the recruitment process with person and sometimes, she says, that’s what we can find.” his methods use a bit of his time,
advertising and has to go through the recruitment agency can be He also points out that regular but very little money. “We have
the stages of shortlisting, then a better judge than the agent. clients benefit from the fact that an incredibly low attrition rate,”
interviewing and finally making “We are fortunate to have built Dove & Hawk belongs to the he says, “so we don’t need to do
a job offer, recruitment agencies up excellent relationships with our Recruitment and Employment a lot of marketing.” He uses the
already have a database of clients over the years, to the extent Confederation, and benefits from Curchods website, as well as the
suitable candidates, so they can that we can often arrange its legal and other resources. old estate agent trick of putting
short-cut the process. Annette interviews for exceptional It can help clients with enquiries a notice in the shop window, which
Farrell says, “We have been known candidates on the strength of our from employment law to typical seems to get a good response. It
to fill roles within 24 hours of being recommendation,” she says. “Good pay levels within a sector. attracts good quality candidates,
instructed,” though she admits candidates and new clients can But of course, this assistance too. “We have some pretty clued
that even with a full contacts book come from many different sources, has a cost – generally from up people coming along.”
it can sometimes take months but we do find that personal 10 to 20 per cent of the first year’s There’s a good case for using
to fill senior, specialist roles. recommendation is the most salary, which is a fairly hefty bill a mix of resources – perhaps using
One of the main things a consistent of all and produces the working out at several thousand specialised agencies for more
recruitment agency’s clients are highest calibre of candidate.” pounds per employee. There’s senior jobs and more experienced
paying for is its contacts database. Like Joshua Rayner, she believes some evidence that recruitment candidates, while going direct for
PROPERTYdrum FEBRUARY 2010 61
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