Karen Wilson
Karen started on the GTS in 2007 and is currently working as the E-Learning Executive for Learning & Development. Karen graduated from York University with a degree in Psychology in 2007.
Why did you apply to the Reed GTS?
I applied for the Reed GTS as I was attracted to the idea of selecting your own placements and being able to shape your time on the GTS, as opposed to most other Graduate Schemes where the path is pre-selected for and graduates and they have no control over what placements they complete. The funding of a professional qualification offered by Reed also played a key part in my decision process.
What was your first GTS placement and what did it involve?
My first GTS placement was as a Permanents Consultant for the Westminster branch of Reed Specialist Recruitment. I worked alongside a high performing senior consultant and was involved in building relationships with clients and bringing on new clients thereby increasing the profitability of the desk. I was consistently hitting financial targets and earning rewards for surpassing them.
What did you most enjoy about the GTS and what was the biggest challenge?
The opportunity to experience different parts of the organisation and the pace of progression is the most rewarding part of the GTS. The biggest challenge of the GTS is adjusting to studying for a professional qualification at the same time as working full-time, however the opportunity is fantastic and the results of study are beneficial for not only my current role but also opportunities for further development and placements.
What is your current role and why did you choose that area?
I am currently working as an HR Advisor for Reed Specialist, I chose this as HR has always been an area I have wanted to work in and having now completed my CIPD this role is giving me a chance to put the skills and knowledge I have gained into practice.
What have been your major achievements at Reed so far?
My biggest achievement so far has been playing a key part in implementing and authoring a new computer based training programme relevant to all consultants. The courses have been met with great enthusiasm with senior managers in the business complementing the work that has been done and making requests for additional computer based training courses to be authored.
Why did you choose to stay at Reed beyond the graduate scheme?
I have been given a number of opportunities working through Reed and these did not stop when my time on the Grad Scheme came to an end. Having spent my time on the Grad Scheme working towards a role in HR I have now been given the opportunity to take on this role permanently. I do not think any other organisation could provide me with the opportunities Reed has.
What advice would you give candidates applying to the GTS?
I would advise candidates applying for the GTS to seek an operational role as a first placement. It allows you to gain an understanding of the primary business of the company which is beneficial for further placements (and the financial rewards are not bad either!).
Finally, how would you summarise working for Reed?
The opportunities, systems and training available at Reed create a fantastic environment conducive to success and personal development. Working for Reed is a fulfilling career path with many benefits both financial and otherwise.
Lewis Campbell
Lewis started on the GTS in 2004 and is now Reed's May Day Champion. Lewis holds university degrees in both Psychology (Liverpool) and Sports Sciences (Edinburgh).
Why did you apply to the Reed GTS?
After six years of studying at university, I applied because I had decided that it was time to get a job! The Reed GTS was one of the most appealing options because of the variety of roles available - I thought it was a good idea to opt for a company that would offer flexibility to try a variety of roles. I wanted to find my niche, not get trapped in one particular role by an inflexible employer/graduate scheme.
What were your three GTS placements and what did they involve?
Year 1 - I first worked as the Executive Assistant to James Reed. Before understanding this role fully, working as an 'assistant' would not have been my first choice! However, it was a fantastic induction into business life. I was responsible for managing the day-to-day running of the Chairman's office, whilst working on ad-hoc business projects. It was an extremely demanding role that set a tough standard.
Year 2 - I thought it was important that I have a thorough understanding of Reed's core business - recruitment. So my second year was spent as a Contract Recruitment Consultant in our Technology specialism.
First and foremost any recruitment job is a sales job, you have targets and you have to hit them. You need to secure new clients and build strong relationships with them and you must develop good relationships with your key candidates quickly. If you get it right, it's a fast paced job with lots of highs and good rewards.
Year 3 - My final role on the GTS was as the Account Manager for the Graduate Training Scheme. The GTS is held in very high regard across Reed and as such there was, and is, a great deal of demand from operational managers for graduates. The performance of the scheme is also directly reported to James Reed on a monthly basis. Both these factors made this a demanding role.
As the Account Manager I was responsible for the attraction, recruitment and induction of new graduates into Reed, as well as the development and on-going management of all graduates already on the GTS. It was, again, a fast paced and target driven job that involved dealing at all levels with Co-Members across all divisions and operating companies of Reed.
How did you perform against your targets in any target driven placements?
I either hit my targets or I exceeded them. The only other option was failure and that isn't much of an option!
What did you enjoy most about the GTS and what was the biggest challenge?
I benefited from the variety of roles and the high expectations on the GTS - the worst possible option for me would be a pedestrian, mundane and routine job. The biggest challenge was that the graduate predecessors had set a high standard - the expectation is that people who make it onto the GTS are talented and capable. There is an expectation that you will be exceptional at your job and be able to turn your hand to any role or challenge. This is a fantastic atmosphere for developing your career, but you've got to make sure that you stay on top of your game.
What is your current role and why did you chose that area?
My current job title is 'May Day Champion'. We are delighted to be part of HRH The Prince of Wales' May Day network, which is a group of companies that are committed to taking action on climate change. Reed's aim is to reduce its environmental impact as much as possible and then efficiently manage what is unavoidable - the responsibility for this lies with me. In 2007 I submitted a proposal to our Chairman outlining some environmental opportunities for Reed, he thought they were good ideas and so he gave me the job of implementing those changes! I now report directly to our Chairman, ensuring that environmental initiatives and changes are implemented swiftly across the entire group of companies.
I also report to the Chief Executive Officer for Reed Specialist Recruitment. In this capacity I am responsible for managing various business projects. This has involved running a diagnostic project to identify opportunities to improve business practices and the subsequent implementation of those recommendations.
What have been your major achievements at Reed so far?
I was delighted that Reed's environmental initiatives were recognised in 2008 through winning the City of London Corporation's Sustainable City Award for Resource Conservation and a high commendation as an Environmental Business of the Year. We also received a commendation from HRH The Prince of Wales in his 2008 May Day address.
In 2006 my work was rewarded through being chosen to attend a leadership course that involved five days challenging mountaineering in the Swiss Alps. I was also, in 2007, invited to attend the inaugural Life and Leadership Academy in Dubai.
Why did you choose to stay at Reed beyond the graduate scheme?
I was unable to think of any other company that could offer the range of opportunities available at Reed, or the prospects for career progression. Previous graduates have progressed on to very senior roles within Reed and three years on the GTS has the potential to set you up to follow that trajectory. My experience is that in Reed hard work and success always result in opportunities for progression and development.
What advice would you give candidates applying to the GTS?
Be prepared to work hard and commit yourself 100% to the roles you are in, even if they are not quite what you expected. You'll often find them surprisingly rewarding and beneficial in the long run.
Finally, how would your summarise working for Reed?
Reed has a high performance culture - if you want to be successful then you need to be extremely intense and energetic.
Richard Frodin
Richard Frodin is currently the Chief Operating Officer of Reed International. Reed is expanding globally very rapidly, with offices in ten countries outside the UK and further growth planned for 2010.
Since joining Reed give us a brief overview of your career to date?
I joined the business in 1997, with my initial placement being as part of the project team that designed and implemented Reed’s first network-wide database (and indeed the first nationally networked recruitment database of its scale in the UK – Reed tends to break new ground like that). After that pretty hectic introduction to the business, within which I guess I spent time in pretty much every Reed division and indeed most offices, I then worked as a Temps Consultant in Bristol - which was the most fun I’ve ever had at work.
My lucky break came in late 1999 when, having just joined Reed Training as a sales consultant, my boss moved on and I was given the opportunity to lead that business. It was quite a stretch at the time, but we were pretty successful at building something together, so a great experience. I then joined Reed’s newly formed specialist professional recruitment business in 2002 as the Sales & Marketing Director, with the remit to set up a marketing function and national sales team for those niche divisions. Since then, I’ve also led Reed Technology and helped establish Reed Scientific, before taking on my current role – which is to expand Reed’s operations into new markets outside of the UK.
On a personal level why do you think you have been successful at Reed?
I think for anyone to be successful in this business you need to have a passion for what you do, be prepared to work harder than the next person, and set your own stretched goals rather than waiting to be told where you’re supposed to be. I’ve also been lucky in having a peer group who were doing some pretty exciting things – a little healthy competition goes a long way. Fundamentally, Reed is an entrepreneurial company and if you are able to spot opportunity, and work hard to convert it into something of value, then there are no limits to what you can achieve.
What have been your major achievements?
Taking Reed Training from being a 5 person operation running two or three courses a day in some rooms above a shoe shop, to one of the leading training businesses in the UK, was a blast for sure – we had a great team and a decent idea about how to be better than the competition. More recently, setting up recruitment businesses in 10 new countries over the last couple of years has been an amazing challenge, and it’s been great so far – although we’re still only just starting out, so it’ll be a while before we can pop any Champagne corks…
Do you have any regrets?
Not yet. I’ve certainly made a few mistakes along the road, but on balance they were all useful in some way or other so I’m not entirely sure I regret them.
More generally why do you think the scheme as a whole has produced a large number of people in senior positions across the business?
Because the business has been prepared to give them the chance, simple as that, whereas many don’t. People are usually capable of more than you think, and often more than they think. On several occasions when I’ve been given opportunities here a large part of me thought the decision was mad (“surely someone with more experience is available?”), but it worked out pretty well in the end… personally I don’t buy all this you have to do X years attitude a lot of other Graduate Training Schemes have.