Granted, most employers will view the blend of experience, aptitude, track record and know-how to perform and execute senior duties as the safest and most viable option when taking their business forward. As such employers will pay a premium to enlist the services of qualified professionals to undertake these duties required, whether it be running a multi-national conglomerate, sourcing for a non-executive directorship or the niche expertise required in a chosen field that can only be found in many instances from their closest competitors, experience in many instances cannot be replicated.
On the contrary, Oxfordshire like many towns and cities across the UK is awash with employers seeking quite the opposite; the next generation of young, bright, hungry, motivated, personable and gregarious candidates looking to make a big splash. Yes, the political vacuity of recruitment can often diminish the opportunities presented in favour of safer candidates that may appear more represented on paper to position ‘x’, yet when compared to others (without the experience) with ‘personality’ may however prove more suited and employable longer-term. It’s a balancing act that can be performed with great efficiency if there is a strategy for recruiting the right talent of ‘personality’ over ‘CV’.
It is the next generation of candidates (who with the support of recruitment and socioeconomic genies!) using their visibility and luminance who can draw the attention to prospective employers. In my experience when recruiting for entry-level positions, many candidates might view their existing (or lack of) experience as an implausible coupling in respect of suitability, but with a recruiters assistance, the proactive and well connected few can make the impossible a distinct possibility.
Recruiting talent in trainee roles can be achieved often by a visceral human connection with a recruiter. How many candidates with the persistence will introduce themselves with a phone call or a tailored email suggesting a coffee to request career advice? Personality will always be king in this instance, over experience. Those who stand out from the crowd for their endeavour, enthusiasm, eloquence, desire and sheer ‘x’ factor will always get my vote.
