The REview of March 2024
Recruitment Entrepreneur
The number one global investor to build, scale and exit recruitment businesses
As we enter March and look forward to the next quarter, the market is showing promising signs of recovery. The demand and outlook in several sectors are rebounding, suggesting a stronger quarter ahead.
In areas with growing demand, differentiating our recruitment processes and enhancing our client and candidate engagement are key. The market remains tough, and we are driving efficiency and maintaining an eye on diligence in every process as it improves.
We'll be approaching the next quarter with a focus on actionable goals, clear strategies, and a commitment to excellence.
Greg Hollis - CEO at Recruitment Entrepreneur
Sarah McGrath, Director and Co-Owner of 360 Search provides insights into the Irish market and innovative ways to engage with clients and candidates through content marketing.
Can you provide an overview and the history of 360 Search?
360 was set up in 2010. Lynda saw a gap in the market for a specialist firm and started 360. I joined when the business was a start-up in 2012. We met RE six years ago and decided it was the right move for us to help scale our business and continue as specialists with a wider offering.
Currently, we service the Insurance, Life, Pensions, and Investments industries. Our growth areas for 2024/2025 are Accountancy and Compliance. We are seeing traction in the UK with our existing Insurance clients and plan to drive that throughout 2024.
How has last year’s performance in the Irish market influenced 360 Search's recruitment strategies?
We are taking our growth slowly and are person-dependent. We have identified the areas where we want the company to grow and want only the best talent in that space. The next couple of hires in 360 will be part of shaping the next growth phase.
Our people are our best assets. There are times when a business needs hunters and times when a business needs strong, competent account managers and business managers. We are in our hunter phase.
What specific changes or diversifications has 360 Search implemented to remain competitive in the Irish market?
We created an M&A offering to support our broker clients during their acquisition journey and introduce companies to potential buyers. We are in the early stages of discussing a partnership with a psychological coaching company that focuses on the performance of CEOs and leadership teams through nutrition and performance coaching.
We are viewing this as a retention and performance tool for employers. Also, we created CEO Corner, which allows people to listen to CEO stories of how they built their careers. It’s a career-building and development tool for people to know that anything is possible.
What challenges and opportunities has 360 Search encountered in the Irish market?
Slow recruitment processes, misalignment with job seekers' salary expectations versus employer salary expectations, and counter offers are still prevalent.
How do you envision the future of the financial services recruitment industry in Ireland?
Our financial services sector in Ireland is a growth powerhouse, enabling all sectors of Ireland’s economy. FS contributes to almost one-quarter of Ireland’s total corporate tax income. Ireland services over €5.2 trillion worth of assets under administration. 11 of the top 15 insurance companies have a presence in Ireland, 17 of the top 20 global banks are based here, and 14 of the top 15 global aircraft lessors operate from Ireland.
We have over 9,000 financial services companies employing over 105,000 people operating throughout Ireland in various industries - banking, insurance, fund administration, investment management, corporate treasury, international financial services, aircraft leasing, securitisation and fintech. The government has stated that it wants Ireland to be one of the top 20 global FS centres by 2025.
Can you outline the core focus areas of 360 Search's podcast, CEO Corner?
To inspire and educate people and to know that success is a process and a journey possible for anyone. Listening to the reality of a CEO’s career journey gives us an understanding of the blueprint and can give us practical tools to start or continue on our own path.
How does CEO Corner contribute to 360 Search's branding and thought leadership in the industry?
We are sharing insights and information directly from the source. The CEOs themselves! All while building upon our relationships with leaders in the Irish market. The learnings that come from speaking with CEOs have been invaluable.
What I have learned from interviewing CEOs so far; You don’t always need a clear vision.
Simply working hard, putting yourself forward, and believing you can make it is part of the process. Even the most successful people have fears and doubts. However, they do not let these hold them back. The most successful leaders and CEOs are high in self-awareness, resilience, empathy, and purpose.
How do you measure the impact of the CEO Corner podcast on client acquisition and candidate attraction?
One of our participants became a client shortly after the interview took place. It’s been useful from a branding perspective, with strong feedback from other leaders in the marketplace. We share the interviews directly with candidates and encourage them to engage in career development conversations.
How does building a personal brand impact client acquisition and candidate attraction, especially leveraging platforms like podcasts?
Brand building is crucial to a person’s success in recruitment. Your reputation is everything. A cold call becomes a warm call, a closed door opens more easily, and people approach you directly based on word of mouth and online presence.
Tools like podcasts can show you in a different light and allow people to connect with you and your guests personally. A good brand can enhance your day-to-day activity.
What strategies does 360 Search employ to ensure consistency between individual and company branding?
We ensure consistent branding across our team and company. Our strategies include unified messaging, clear branding guidelines, personalised training for recruiters, tailored candidate experiences, strong client relationships, and ongoing evaluation for improvement.
We have quarterly strategy meetings where we present our intentions for the coming quarter. These meetings include marketing and branding ideas and what we want to achieve.
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How do you balance the promotion of personal brand with the overall company brand?
Each person on our team is responsible for building something for their own success and benefit. If our team succeed on an individual basis, the company succeeds and we all win. We run multiple campaigns at once for the company and team members. We encourage creativity and risk-taking.
What advice would you give to other founders looking to develop their own personal brand?
Take risks. If you have an idea, go for it. Think it through, create a plan, find what excites you and execute it. Do not procrastinate. Lead by example and encourage an environment where ideas are shared, and people want to put themselves out there.
You must capitalise on your passion and remember why you are making this effort. It will pay off.
Visit 360 Search's website HERE
In a significant move for the global talent industry, ZRG, a leading talent advisory firm known for its rapid growth, has announced the acquisition of Ignata Finance.
Most entrepreneurs within the group would recognise ZRG of also acquiring Walter James in December 2021.
Based in the UK, Ignata Finance launched in 2017, Ben Searls quickly added his wife, Vikki (to run the quickly established itself as a pivotal partner for major VC, PE, and listed organisations in their search for Chief Financial Officers and their teams.
Ignata Finance's Co-Founders, Ben Searls, Vicki Searls, and Steve Revill, highlighted the acquisition as a key moment for the company's global expansion, enhancing its C-suite capabilities and international reach. ZRG's CEO, Larry Hartmann, emphasised the strategic importance of the acquisition for ZRG's European growth, particularly in the UK and across their shared global customer base.
This acquisition marks a notable achievement for the Recruitment Entrepreneur portfolio, showcasing the success of businesses within it. Ignata has been recognised for its bespoke talent solutions across various sectors, including retail, e-commerce, FMCG, technology, and more.
James Caan CBE speaks to Ben Searls - Co-Founder of Ignata Finance Ben explains how Ignata Finance secured a lucrative sale with the support of James and Recruitment Entrepreneur.
Visit Ignata Finance's website HERE
Fast Forward specialises in recruiting for leading technology firms in New Zealand, aiming to become the primary provider of advanced technology talent. The firm focuses on sourcing exceptional global talent to elevate New Zealand's position in the global technology sector, with a commitment to excellence in the fields of emerging technologies.
Lynn Crean O’Callaghan - CEO and Managing Director
With over 16 years of experience in the recruitment industry, Lynn Crean O’Callaghan stands as a seasoned professional dedicated to elevating client talent acquisition.
Lynn has navigated diverse roles, contributing her expertise to renowned companies such as Chase Portland and Salt. Her journey began with the establishment of Role Recruit in 2017, and today, she co-founded Fast Forward. Lynn and her dynamic team consistently surpass expectations, diligently enhancing recruitment and retention for a wide array of clients.
Visit Fast Forward's website HERE
With an illustrious 18-year tenure in the recruitment industry, Sultan embarks on a new journey joining Parvyez Salam as Co-Founder and CEO of ETRA Talent.
Sultan has a rich history of working across global recruitment firms and specialising in Compliance, Risk, Finance, and Technology & Change Management, and is poised to leverage his expertise in Banking & Financial Services and operating in the UK and the Middle East to deliver an exciting first year for ETRA Talent.
ETRA Talent was established to provide clients and candidates with tailored and memorable resourcing solutions and career management, combining both traditional methods and state-of-the-art technology (Insights/AI).
ETRA Talent have a tremendous breadth of industry knowledge from working with clients across International Banking, Prime Brokerages, Trading Firms, Sovereign Wealth Funds, Private Equity Funds, Investment Managers, Asset Management, Family Offices, FinTech start-ups, and Crypto Market makers.
Visit ETRA Talent's website HERE
We’re excited to announce our upcoming webinar hosted by Recruitment Entrepreneur, featuring April Turner, Investment Manager, and Sam Proctor, Marketing Director.
Join us as we delve into the essential strategies for building a premium search brand in recruitment.
Don’t miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights and stay ahead of the competition. Secure your spot and register below.
?? 9th May 2024
? 2:00pm to 2:45pm
Register HERE