“How to be Hired in a Post-Pandemic World” with DRAW Recruitment
Part One of series with Nina Langford and Julia Henderson, Founders of DRAW Recruitment
by Holly Howe
Julia Henderson and Nina Langford founded DRAW Recruitment in 2016. Julia has spent 20 years in senior positions within large recruitment companies, including the CEO of Recruitment Solutions Group. Nina has worked in the art industry since 2001 and founded Art//Work Recruitment in 2013. Together they chatted with AWITA members about how to be the very best candidate you can be.
Three key steps to landing your dream job
While there have been many changes and challenges for all of us, a lot of the things with respect to getting hired and getting a new job have remained exactly the same. There are three fundamental steps that remain core to being successful in landing your dream job.
The first is having the correct skills and experience for the roles you are applying for. While that sounds obvious, sometimes we look at roles that aren’t a direct fit, but think we have transferable skills. If you decide to do this, Julia advises that you “try to research beyond the job advert and to make sure you really do have the relevant skills and experience for the job…and that you show or demonstrate these skills really clearly on your CV and cover letter as a hiring manager is not going to do that for you.”
Nina then explained the importance of demonstrating a track record. “Employers really want to see solid work experience, preferably with longevity in some of those roles – not jumping around too much – and if you have gaps they need to be justified. If you have been made redundant because of Covid then that’s fine, as long as you can justify it.”
The last thing is the importance of showing your people skills. Nina explained: “Employers still want to employ people who they can get along with, and enjoy working with, and it may sound blindingly obvious, but being nice and fitting into a team environment can often transcend any other criteria. So employers will want to see evidence of this… the common theme is ‘work hard and be nice’.”
Have employers’ priorities and requirements have changed as a result of the pandemic?
Julia has noticed a “marked increase in demand for candidates with strong digital experience. That is to cope with the changing nature of how galleries, auction houses, and organisations are operating. Some organisations were already in the middle of growing their digital side, so have just brought forward these plans, it could be online viewing rooms – but for others they’ve had to make drastic changes, and make them very quickly, or face losing their business if they don’t evolve.”
They have also seen a mix of clients taking on people for fixed term contracts with a view to the role becoming permanent, as well as those looking for temporary workers to give themselves some breathing space while the situation remains fluid.
Advice for how job seekers should pitch themselves
Nina stressed the importance of tailoring your CV to the role you’re applying for. “You may think you have all the experience you need for the position, but it’s not always obvious to the reader. Don’t assume they know what you have done in those positions unless you have clearly stated it. Look through the job description to pick out what they’re looking for and make sure that’s highlighted.”
If you’re invited to an interview, then make sure you do your research. Prepare some questions for the end of the interview – “it shows the employer that you have really thought about it and you’re serious about the role.”
Will blended working become the new normal?
Julia thinks there is a mix among their clients – some are for but others are more traditional and against it. She explains “For some, the pandemic’s proven that a culture of presenteeism is just not required and that productivity can be sustained – or even increased – with everyone working from home. Other clients, not so much – they’re counting down the days until all their employees are back in the office as they feel that’s the best way of getting the most out of people and managing their organisation and culture.”
Is now a bad time to look for a new role?
Nina believes there is never a bad time to start looking, but advises that career moves are seriously thought through. “It’s beneficial for you to start focusing on how you would like to develop your career and what you need to do in order to get there. Be realistic – don’t expect this to happen overnight, particularly in the current climate. It’s good to work towards a plan and work out if you do need to upskill to help you achieve all of this.”