Kiran
As Director of Recruitment Advertising can you tell us about your role, and what your team does?
From the first day I joined an advertising agency as a temp back in 1998, I knew I had stumbled across a path and industry that suited me down to the ground. Every day was different - dealing with clients, media and working to tight deadlines. The thrill of it all was very exciting and I loved it. A lot has changed in the industry since then. For instance, no one anticipated that print advertising in newspapers was going to die and that online job boards would take off so much. Here we are now, with advances in AI and even more change in the industry. What hasn’t changed though, is the need to attract great talent and that’s what the team and I are here to do every day.
Unlike other recruitment businesses, we are unique at Prospectus and are the only company in the not-for-profit sector to have our own in-house advertising department. We are fully recognised in our field and with the skills and experience to plan and deliver advertising campaigns. Through content and creativity, we support our clients in finding the person or people they are looking for by ensuring their vacancies are seen across the most suited and relevant places in the most engaging, informative and inclusive way. As well as directly working with clients, my team also get to work with Prospectus Recruitment Consultants to compliment our recruitment services by providing advertising advice, media buying and providing on-brand creative design to enhance their search campaigns.
Over your 14 years at Prospectus, what achievements or contributions are you most proud of in your role?
My first role at Prospectus began as an Account Manager, and soon after joining I realised that I was really going to be able to put my negotiating skills to use - adding value and impact to my department and the clients we support straight away. Not before too long I found myself leading the team and adapting the way we worked with our clients to offer a really values-based service. I found encouraging and motivating team members, recognising great contribution from them and nurturing them to excel in their roles was just something I really enjoyed and something that has always come quite naturally to me. I’m proud of the way I’ve shaped and helped to develop many team members over the years. Many have gone on to either continue to succeed within Prospectus, or to follow their career paths and succeed elsewhere.
Similarly, I too have been developed and supported throughout my time at Prospectus through some great colleagues and managers whom I have learnt from, and they have shown me great trust and respect over the years. This in turn has enabled me to earn my place on the Leadership Team. This part of my role comes with great responsibility and the need for a wide lens across the whole business. I am part of a great leadership team and it’s a privilege to work alongside them to deliver our business strategies. It also allows me to lead and set an example to others within the business. To those who look up to me, that they too can realise through commitment, passion and hard work, it’s possible to achieve personal as well as business goals.
As someone with significant tenure at Prospectus, how do you stay motivated and engaged in your role, and how do you help to foster a positive work environment for your team?
It’s not difficult to stay motivated at Prospectus. My team and I share a similar work ethic ‘work hard, work smart, always focus on the client’s needs and try and have fun whilst doing it!’ I could not be here if I didn’t enjoy what I do.
We have worked hard to adopt a culture where our teams can thrive. We offer development and flexibility, we accept everyone’s differences and cultures, and we are richer for doing so. We always try and focus on the positives, and we celebrate one another whether that’s on the Advertising Team, Operations Team, Recruitment Team or the Leadership Team. When I engage and collaborate with my colleagues, I can see how brilliant they are and it drives me to want to be more, learn more and give more of myself to a values-based business I truly care about.
The richness and diversity of the causes we support still surprises me every day. We collaborate with and provide advice to so many impactful organisations in the not-for-profit space, which has allowed me to apply my experience, skills and knowledge to ensure they can recruit great talent that aligns with their ambitions. This provides an overwhelming sense of satisfaction and achievement, and is the reason why I still enjoying being part of the fantastic team at Prospectus 14 years later!
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