Insights & Blog

What to expect when starting at BWD

Posted on
December 6, 2019

Tom is one of our newest consultants at BWD, and we thought it would be interesting to share his thoughts on working at BWD so far! 

What made you want to start working at BWD?

When I was first put forward for my role at BWD, I did my research on the company. I really liked both the website and the LinkedIn page; the company looked incredibly friendly and the incentives looked great. BWD is also in the city centre of Leeds, which is perfect for my commute.

In my interview I learned about the 1.5-hour lunch for gym-goers, which I thought was a great idea, and made the company seem very forward thinking; it really didn’t look like your typical recruitment agency.

What would you say is the highlight of your time at BWD so far?

My highlight so far would probably be the quick win of getting someone placed in the first month or two I was here. It was a passive candidate, and so unexpectedly, happened a lot quicker than I thought. It was very lucky on my part, and definitely something I will remember from my first few weeks at BWD.

Why did you decide to become a recruiter?

I knew for a while that I wanted to get into the recruitment industry. Before I went travelling, I was doing in-house recruitment for a company, which I really liked. I then acquired a Sales job over in Australia, which convinced me that I would also enjoy recruitment for an agency.

I liked all the recruiters I had met previously; they were very well-rounded people and always seemed good at adapting when communicating, which is something that I had admired. There are good opportunities and great rewards as a recruiter, and promotions are always possible, as long as the targets are hit.

How did you find the induction process?

The induction process was very smooth. There was no rushing involved, although, of course, I had a very busy first week, but that was entirely expected. During my first two weeks, there was lots of role-playing and training, and then I only made my first telephone call when I felt completely ready; it was entirely my decision and I have enjoyed that good amount of responsibility during my time here.

I didn’t have too much knowledge on the Actuarial market when I first joined. I thought it would be really challenging and hard to keep up, but I had the support to learn quickly, and I now know a huge amount more than I did when I first joined.

What has been the best part about working in the Actuarial division?

The best part about the Actuarial division is the different people that I get to engage with. Some of the people I talk to are reserved, but most are very easy to speak to and are very interesting. They are all very intelligent people and I can learn quite a lot from the time I spend talking to them. Along the way, my knowledge of acronyms has also developed!

Outside of work, what do you like to do?

Outside of work, I like to go to the gym and play football. I also enjoy watching documentaries on Netflix, specifically crime-related ones.

Who is your idol?

I don’t have an idol, however, I do have two great role models; Bill Gates, and David Attenborough. Recently, I’ve been watching a documentary that shows Bill Gates’s strong dedication to learning, how he uses his wealth and power to give back to charity, and how he helps developing countries with new technologies. Similarly, David Attenborough is incredibly dedicated to his work, and there are no signs of him slowing down, even at 93-years-old.

What are you most looking forward to in the future of your career?

I am consistently working on improving my confidence and communication skills, such as thinking on the spot, speaking to people of seniority, and being confident in any environment. I look forward to being able to build good relationships with clients, know my market really well, and have the knowledge to provide the best advice in my sector.

Do you have anything you’d like to achieve in the rest of your time here at BWD?

I would like to achieve the role of Senior Consultant over the next few years. That would definitely be a great accomplishment for me, and I am looking forward to any steps towards that which will help me reach that position.

What makes BWD somewhere that people want to come and work for?

The family-feel at BWD is great, and I know that everyone here likes that. I’m in a small team, which helps to make a nice relaxed atmosphere, but we are all still incredibly productive and there is no micromanagement, which is fantastic; we’re allowed to have a lot of freedom here. The motivation levels are always high, and we have incredibly supportive staff members, whom allow you to take your time when you need it. BWD is definitely a modern company in terms of the way we think.

(And it’s always very handy to work in financial services recruitment when you need advice on your finances!)

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