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Work For Us

Why work for 1st Executive?

  • Major player in a specialist, unsaturated market

  • 50% year on year growth for the last 3 years

  • Opportunity to be a part of, or take a lead role in our growth into Europe and other global, emerging economies

  • Prestigious client base of FTSE 100 and Global 500 organisations

  • Exposure to Director level key account management including retained search

  • Industry leading commission scheme and incentives

  • Great team environment, having just moved into a new Head Office in Surrey

  • Significant training and career development


What we look for in our recruits:

  • Individuals who reflect our client base - intelligent, polished, articulate and credible

  • Confidence and an interest in people, networking and influencing

  • Motivated to become a successful high earner and willing to do what it takes to achieve this

  • Proven hard work, attention to detail, organisational and prioritising skills, with a solid commercial background


Introduction:

These are exciting times for 1st Executive – in a tough economy we have grown consistently to be the largest independent in the UK procurement recruitment industry and have a structured and substantial growth plan to move further into Europe and beyond over the next 2 years.

Our Consultants typically own and autonomously manage an entire industry sector or Country, with responsibility for client development and delivery to a corporate client base. We spend significant time training and developing our staff in both industry and sector expertise to ensure everyone has the skills necessary to make a successful and lucrative career with us. Our two Directors provide hands on mentoring and support at all levels to develop people quickly, ensuring that we maintain our excellent staff retention track record.

It’s not all work and no play – we run various sales incentives and 5* international weekends away (we’ve done Berlin, Marrakech, Prague & Monaco in recent years) plus golf / spa weekends, a squash league and an annual Summer and Xmas bash. Our office is an informal but hard working environment – we take our jobs seriously but know how to wind down and enjoy life!

Our staff come from a breadth of backgrounds, including fresh graduates into our 3 month 'Academy' training scheme, experienced Consultants up to Associate Director level and those who have joined us for a career change.


Graduate 'Academy' training scheme:

We have a strong culture of ‘Grow Your Own’, and a significant proportion of 1st Executive’s current employees originally came through our Graduate 'Academy' Training scheme, where they successfully learnt the ropes as a Researcher before progressing to autonomously manage their own desk. This role is hands on from an early stage, and is a steep learning curve! During training the role is ‘delivery’ focused which typically means spending your day interviewing and short-listing candidates across a variety of roles up to Senior Management level for our blue chip client-base. You will accompany the Directors and your Managing Consultant on meetings, so expect a great deal of exposure from day 1. Whilst this may sound daunting, we will provide all the formal training and close supervision needed to make a success, all we ask is for is a lot of hard work and determination!

Whilst there is no set formula for what makes a successful Graduate Trainee, an interest in business and commerce, the ability to confidently communicate at all levels and a passion for people and networking are all a great start.


Consultant / Senior Consultant / Associate Director:

We are always on the lookout for talented people with Recruitment experience from a variety of industries and sectors, and are happy to have an exploratory chat prior to going through the formal interview process. Whether our new recruits have 12 months experience or 20 years, they are always bright, confident and articulate. Historically we have attracted staff from some of the large national agencies, where we can offer people a great deal more exposure to a corporate client base, a bigger remit, the chance to get involved in International recruitment and a more grown up environment with exposure at Director level.

We operate a structured review and appraisal programme to ensure the continued development and success of all of our staff including a structured career path into management. Our culture is around continual coaching, where you will receive on the job training from both Directors and peers, in what is a team driven environment.

This is what one of our successful big billers has to say about his career at 1st Executive:

“I joined 1st Executive as my second job from University, having gained B2B commercial sales experience with a FTSE 100. Having joined 1st Executive in a resourcing role, my progression to Consultant and Senior Consultant has been very progressive, with all of the training and support I’ve needed to develop rapidly. My role encompasses the ownership and management of an entire industry sector - I am recognized as an expert in my field and spend my days talking to and meeting a range of clients and candidates up to Director level. Over the last 5 years I’ve developed my confidence significantly and gained a huge amount of commercial exposure and detailed insight into the world of business and commerce – far more than any other environment I can think of.”

Richard Shelley, Senior Consultant

  

Career Change

We are interested in commercially successful people, regardless of background. If you have a passion for people and networking, are a natural influencer and you feel you have the drive, confidence and ambition to succeed in a competitive business development environment then we want to hear from you.

Our past recruits have come from a variety of backgrounds including teaching, property, sales, small business owners and accountancy, to name a few.

For an exploratory chat or more information please call or email James Tucker, Director on 07739 688007 or james.tucker@1st-executive.com