Diary of... Victoria Walmsley Operations director, Morgan McKinley's financial services temp division

Victoria Walmsley
Operations director, Morgan McKinley’s financial services temp division

Monday
I meet with the managing director to discuss activity and objectives for the week, divisional strategy and new terms of business being negotiated. For the rest of the day I step back in to the recruiter role, which I always enjoy, as one of the desks is short staffed. Manage to get consultants’ training requirements for the next six months to the training manager before I leave.

Tuesday
Today is the group directors’ meeting and it starts early with discussions on business strategy going forward and agreeing processes. Afternoon session is devoted to discussing how we can ensure maximum efficiency in our operations. Meet with internal recruitment before I leave as we need two new consultants and two new researchers.

Wednesday
Morning catch-up with other directors of the UK financial services business and agree a number of initiatives to further improve cross-selling within the teams. Afterwards, meet a key client for coffee to discuss our performance to date and their hiring plans. In between sending CVs to a client and reviewing CVs for the internal researcher role, I catch up with our legal advisors over liability clauses in a new client’s contract. My inbox is full - good excuse not to go to the gym.

Thursday
Morning meeting with temporary division managers who report a slight increase in new job volumes. It’s good to hear as it’s been such a tough 12 months and the increase is a direct result of improved market sentiment. Consultants are finally having the success they deserve from all their business development over the last year. Have a breakthrough on a client negotiation, then straight on to two interviews with potential researchers. Frustratingly, neither are a good match but then I hear the offer we made to a recruitment consultant from a competitor earlier in the week has been accepted.

Friday
We’re planning client and candidate events so I need to finalise dates and budgets this morning. Due to give a monthly presentation to the business this afternoon and having prepared the key points the pressure is on to be witty and entertaining - difficult when you know you are the last hurdle before the consultants get to the pub. However, it’s not too long before we are all on our way to enjoy some well-deserved drinks.

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