JOBS VACANCIES CAREERS RECRUITMENT APPOINTMENTS JOBS VACANCIES CAREERS
Finding the perfect fit
talks
to a specialist in the
higher-end of the
recruitment business
A
ndrew Deverell-Smith spends his SpecialiSt or flexible?
life playing a grown up version of And then there are the specialist areas
the toddlers’ favourite – the one within the property arena: lettings,
with cut-out holes and colourful property search, relocation, etc. There are
shapes. In his game the cut-out holes are different skill sets and characteristics which
the jobs – mostly senior positions; the make good negotiators and managers in
shapes are the people who crave the each field. “Landlords are increasingly
perfect job, challenging and rewarding. demanding and less loyal as they have so
You’d think the game must get easier, much choice,” says Andrew. “As a result,
his firm has become one of the most practitioners and managers have to show
successful specialist recruiters, but, no, that they have one of the increasing
it hasn’t. “We had a very tough time when to be for the type of person that treks number of appropriate industry
recession took a hold; companies firing around agencies, so we have to find them, qualifications and have received training.
rather than hiring, employees hanging in and frankly, there is not enough “On the sales side, as the industry
rather than venturing out and although experienced, quality ‘talent’ to go around.” continues to be highly competitive,
there is now a positive mentality and there But before they can find the perfect managers need to gain rounded, pro-
are jobs available, finding the right person person, they need to know what the active, marketing, networking and sales
is more difficult than ever,” says Andrew. perfect job actually entails. skills which will enable their own offices
“The staff turnover ratio has fallen to gain market share, reputation and
considerably with most of our clients and thinking outSide the box presence. Having said all of that, I believe
there is not much churn as people are “There’s always a great emphasis on if you’re capable, you’re capable and you
nervous of change, so when companies experience and billing records; the should be able to demonstrate ability in
need someone new they can have difficulty employer will say, ‘we want a successful either discipline. We place people in all
finding them. For the past six months we person, who has, perhaps, been in agency of these roles and they can be filled by
have had large numbers of vacancies that for quite a few years and knows their way experienced people who have never
we have had difficulty in filling with around the local market. T’ hat may be the worked in that area or maybe not even in
experienced candidates. Maybe, eventually, case, but we believe there may be better property at all and that is where we differ
the agencies will have to offer somewhat bets – after all, most of the property from most recruiters, we prospect in
higher salaries or earnings guarantees to business is, in one way or another, selling. different places to find our gold,” he says.
those able, experienced candidates if they People with a strong sales background in So, should the brilliant property
are to attract or retain the best. other fields may be brilliant at letting that professional ‘stuck’ in a junior management
“Many who left the property field are £5 million house, or selling that ‘difficult’ role with no prospect of career
not yet returning and, in a way, maybe houseboat, or getting instructions to development, look outside the property
they shouldn’t; if they left, or were pushed, market that fabulous new development - market? “No! Not at all, it’s just that they
maybe they weren’t the best in the first because they can close a deal.” are thin on the ground. We’d love to help
place.” That may sound harsh but Andrew Of course, other skills come into play them move on into something bigger and
believes that while the industry needs the as well; Deverell-Smith recruits at director better – and maybe, even, a bit different.
fully trained, experienced pro, it also needs level for many of the leading agencies “If you are motivated, energetic, hard
new energy; people with different including Knight Frank, Savills, Hamptons working and have that, dare I say it, ‘X
experiences that will treat property as and King Sturge; not all of these directors factor’ just let me know!”
the exciting challenge it is. or department heads are leading sales
“We don’t rely on applicants coming teams - the companies need accountants,
Any tips marketing to share? Go to
through the door, our positions don’t tend researchers, analysts, HR and PR people.
www.propertydrum.com/articles/deverell
66 FEBRUARY 2010 PROPERTYdrum
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68