How did you join the team at Coleman James?
Prior to joining Coleman James, I was a client coordinator at a packaging company. I was living in Leeds but wanted to move to Newcastle to live closer to my partner. While looking for a role in the area, I got chatting with Charlotte Smart, Managing Consultant at Coleman James, and was immediately interested in what the business had to offer.
I initially joined the team as a Contracts Coordinator, in charge of reviewing our client contracts and other important documents we use when working in partnership with our client base. I became more interested and skilled in compliance and systems, so in January this year, I was promoted to the role I’m now in.
What does a typical day look like for you?
Essentially, every day I look at how the business can operate as smoothly as possible, ensuring efficiency and freeing up our consultants so that they can focus on finding the right candidates for our clients.
A large part of my role is continually focusing on ensuring we’re up to speed with all the latest regulations and legislative changes. I also undertake research on potential new technology or systems that we can adopt to get the best results for our clients.
There are a few vital tasks I do each day that all form the backbone of business operations here at Coleman James, such as invoicing, completing client documentation, and reporting to our senior leadership team. It’s a varied role, and I enjoy coordinating the information everyone on the team needs to do their jobs effectively.
What do you enjoy most about your role?
I love knowing that I’m making a difference to the team, helping them match the right candidates with the right businesses and putting everything in place to make sure they can seamlessly communicate with our clients.
Technology is a big interest of mine, so I find it enjoyable to research new technologies to see how they could work for us.
I’m also enthusiastic about making sure everyone can use our systems well. I write guides and hold training sessions on the different software we use across the business, so that whether you’re a new starter or just need a refresher, all the information you need is to hand.
What are the key ingredients for a successful career at Coleman James?
I’d say an appetite to learn new things is one of the most important qualities anyone can have here at Coleman James. We are always learning something new, taking on new challenges and seeking out the latest information - whether you’re in an operational role like me or more client-facing.
Flexibility is also important. Recruitment is a fast-moving industry, there’s always something new on the horizon, so being able to adapt to change and take on a new approach is the secret to success.
What would your advice be to anyone considering a career at Coleman James?
Before I applied for my role here, I’d not considered recruitment before. I assumed that you would have to be a recruitment specialist to work in the industry, but once I chatted with the team I realised that wasn’t always the case and there are other roles, like mine, where you can thrive without actually being a recruiter.
The atmosphere here is great. Everyone is very supportive, and it’s easy to feel at home.
My advice would be to be open-minded about the opportunities that may be here at Coleman James. Play to your strengths, and think about what role might be the best fit for you, whether that’s operational or client-facing.
What training and support is on offer at Coleman James?
I recently worked closely with Jemma Foster, our People and Development Manager, on enhancing the onboarding plan for all our new starters with training and support being central pillars. We make sure that when you start with us here at Coleman James, you have all the information, tools and guidance you need to be a success.
For example, I run a weekly training session with new members of the team to help them understand and start using our CRM. I’m also working with Sandra Kennedy, our Operations Director, to make sure we’re always ahead of the game on compliance matters, and that the team are informed on the latest requirements.
We have such a strong professional development culture here; there are always opportunities to learn. I recently completed an environmental awareness qualification, so I can implement best practices as a climate-aware business - that’s great news for Coleman James, and for my own skillset.
At the end of the week, we get together as a team for our wrap-up meeting. Everyone describes their highlight of the week, and it’s a great way to finish the week on a high.
Why would you recommend a career at Coleman James?
It’s all about the people. Everyone is very supportive, and the positive atmosphere permeates everything we do, making it a great place to work.
We celebrate the success of the whole team, whichever role you are in, and everyone really looks out for each other and supports each other to do amazing things.