Camp Counselor to Graduate Recruitment Consultant

Camp Counselor to Graduate Recruitment Consultant Camp Counselor to Graduate Recruitment Consultant 29 Oct 2019 Connor Marchbank You’re back home. That summer you spent in the USA was a lot of fun; you made new friends, immersed yourself in a different culture, and learned more Disney songs than you care to admit. Now how can your work experience at camp benefit your professional career? I was fortunate to spend three fantastic summers working at URJ Camp Harlam situated in the Pocono mountains in Pennsylvania. Each summer I worked a different role: roller hockey/rollerblading specialist, athletics supervisor, and adventure supervisor, to name just a few. Across all these roles I picked up a variety of skills and experience that I’m putting to good use as a Graduate Recruitment Consultant at Eden Scott. Communication Communication is vital to success at camps such as the one I attended; everything and everybody is moving at 100mph. Being able to effectively convey information to a wide variety of people is a very useful skill to have. One minute you could be telling a bunk what’s for breakfast while ensuring everyone has trainers, sunscreen and a water bottle, the next you’ll be passing on information to a fellow counsellor about the pending schedule change, all while reporting to your supervisor why having 20 campers at the zipline is a bad idea. Strong communication is standard practice for a successful camp counsellor. Communication is equally vital in recruitment. Keeping both candidates and clients in the loop at all times during the recruitment process is vital, not only to filling a position, but ensuring repeated jobs come your way as well. I’ve been using my communications skills to make sure that all stakeholders who come across my desk, regardless of job title or stature, get the same standard of excellent customer service. You never know who your candidates may become! Resilience Resilience is a skill that often gets overlooked at camp, but behind every energetic, singing, dancing counsellor is often an incredibly tired person. Working from 7.30am and finishing at 10pm will take its toll - and that’s without factoring in a healthy dose of social activity.   Sometimes it can be incredibly tough to put on a brave face and get excited for the day’s activity when you really need that extra hour in bed. However, it is important to remember why you are working where you are, embrace the moment, and do it for the kids. Resilience is a word commonly used when looking for a role in recruitment; being able to trust in your own abilities, see the bigger picture, ride the highs and bounce back from the lows are all phrases you might have heard. It’s true; recruitment can be tough. You’ll require mental strength and thick skin to succeed, but if you can lead 16 campers to go swimming at an unholy time in the in the morning, take them adventuring in the afternoon, and lead a talent show in the evening, you can bounce back from that perfect candidate never calling you back. Decision Making Decision making is a scary process for a lot of people and having confidence in your convictions takes a lot of self-belief. At camp, you’re a role model and you’ll often find yourself being a beacon of fun and stability. Throughout the summer you’ll be making all kinds of decisions;  what is important is that you make your decisions with confidence to show everyone you’ve got everything under control. Decision making in recruitment can be equally daunting. Candidates are putting a lot of trust in you to find the perfect role and your clients will be expecting you to find and decide the perfect candidate. Again, it all comes down to making your decisions with confidence and showing all stakeholders that you are unflappable. You’ve got this, you know this â€" now show them. Creativity Creativity is a cornerstone of a fun summer at camp - and you better believe plans will change unexpectedly. Be it weather, time constraints, or equipment not behaving, being able to think on your feet and make things happen regardless can often lead to the best moments of the summer. Creativity is also an essential trait for a recruitment consultant. Being proactive and thinking outside the box can be the key to success when sourcing candidates, developing business relationships, and making connections. Great talent can often be found in unlikely places.   A Supportive Culture A supportive culture and an investment in your success. At camp everyone backs you to succeed and wants to see you do your best; its a great feeling knowing everyone has your back which can help you feel comfortable stepping out your comfort zone and trying something new. The graduate scheme at Eden Scott mirrors the same principle; everybody here wants to you to succeed. You’re not expected to be an expert recruiter when you first step in the door - you’ll be given the freedom to develop your skills in a supportive environment surrounded by some of the best in the business. One of the best aspects of the camp counsellor role is watching your campers succeed and grow throughout the summer. This can take many forms; from climbing to the top of the tower, to performing in the camp play, or simply making a new friend. Eden Scott prides itself on being the people business. It’s no surprise that the consultants here frequently refer to placing candidates in their dream role as the best part of the job. Taking pride in their clients and candidates and watching them develop into industry leaders is what really sets Eden Scott apart. If you think this sounds like your dream job, just get in touch and let’s have a chat.