By Talent Manager Hannah Clarke & Marketing Manager Carley Malena
Our Internal Recruitment Specialist Hannah Clarke comes equipped with a wealth of knowledge and experience about the property recruitment industry. Hannah has worked at Oyster recruiting for the past nine years. She has shared in some amazing memories with the team; been to some great travel destinations and her career journey with its hard work and success has given her the ability to help and nurture those new to the business. Starting out she was a Trainee Consultant herself and then with time became ‘The Top Biller’ for the business, where she reaped the achievements both personally and professionally. It was last year that Hannah decided to move over the department and help those looking to have a career in recruitment, becoming Oyster’s Internal Recruitment Specialist. She is a well-respected and inspiring woman working in this field.
Hannah reveals all about The Oyster Academy, which is set to take place on Monday, 23 July with eight new recruits. Could one of them be you?
1. Give us an overview of what the Oyster Academy will involve?
The Oyster Academies have been running for a number of years now and we have found them to be extremely successful. When joining our academy you’ll be enrolled in a 12-week training plan that has been created and delivered by our Divisional Managers. It’s a no nonsense, relevant, and extremely interactive course. We cleverly combine classroom-based training with 1-2-1 training at your desk. Our Divisional Managers still recruit so the trainees get a real sense that they ‘practice what they preach’. Objectives are set in each session and everyone is encouraged to share experiences. We also have open forums which gives the new recruits the opportunity to speak openly and ask any questions that arise.
2. How many other specialists will be taking part in July’s Oyster Academy?
The recruitment for this years’ July academy will solely be focusing on the Permanent Team, led by Robert Murray. This is a key area of growth for the business and we are hoping to build on the success and reputation that the team already has. We have an impressive portfolio of clients and will be looking for consultants who can not only nurture these relationships, but who can maximise on new business in order to grow market share.
3. Who will be heading up the Oyster Academy? Which property sectors will the academy cover?
The Oyster Academy is delivered by our managers; between them, they have some terrific experience and know-how. What’s great about the structure of the training is that each manager will train on their area of strength. Jas, for example, has worked in the housing industry at Oyster for nine years and she’s built some phenomenal relationships, so she trains on candidate management. Rob’s background before recruitment was in performing arts and he delivers training on attitude & self-belief.
The areas that we will be recruiting for in this academy include; Technical Services, Finance and General Practice. We recruit nationally, and predominantly our clients are within the private sector.
4. What skill set is needed to be considered for a role working in property recruitment?
What I love about recruitment is that you don’t necessarily need specific qualifications to be successful, in fact our MD, Sasza Bandiera joined us 10 years ago as a Trainee Recruitment Consultant and didn’t go to University. We are proud of our diverse workforce and only want to keep this culture as we grow. Consultants have joined us from retail, hospitality, property and fitness. The key criteria that we look for throughout the interview process is attitude and a willingness to learn. We’re not pretentious, and we know we aren’t perfect. We are still growing as a business and we want people who are looking for a career not just a job. We do work long hours and trainees need to understand this; we are honest and upfront in our interviews so people know what to expect when they join! The fundamentals of recruitment is building positive and credible relationships, so it goes without saying you’ve got to be able to communicate effectively with a whole host of stakeholders and (more importantly) listen to what they have to say.
5. Once the Oyster Academy is over, what next?
We’re proud to offer ongoing training throughout your career at Oyster. Once you’ve completed the Oyster Academy you’ll benefit from coaching from the seniors, and further mentorship from your managers. Further training looks at maximising business, advanced negotiating, and understanding your market. We have also invested in an external consultant Lynn Morton who specialises in ‘Leadership Excellence’ for any aspiring Managers.
As we are a growing business there is still so much room for progression – so the opportunities are endless.
If you are keen to know more about a career in property recruitment, send your CV and get in touch with Hannah Clarke today hc@oysterpartnership.com, alternatively drop her call on 0207 7766 9000.