James King: “There isn’t a bad egg in the office.”

03-05-2022
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We’re back with the latest instalment of the You SCANtec series, where we catch up with team members to get the lowdown on their role and time at Scantec. This time, we were joined by Principal Resourcing Specialist James King who sources talent for clients in the fast-growing and varied nuclear sector. James talks to us about his specialist searching methods, training and development opportunities, and how the culture has shifted in Scantec since he joined in 2006. 

Hi James. Can you tell us how you ended up in recruitment? 

I started out valeting cars before heading back into education to earn my degree in marketing. Once I graduated, I was perusing the local newspaper and spotted an advert to join the Scantec team. Initially, I thought it would be a job to tide me over before I found something else, but here I am 16 years later! Working alongside Client Relationship Manager Gareth Knight, I focus on the nuclear sector and source professionals for a wide range of roles, from engineering to marketing. 

How would you describe the culture at Scantec? 

It’s difficult to pinpoint what makes up our culture as it’s constantly evolving and is primarily powered by the people in the business. Since I joined, we’ve become a lot more relaxed as a team. We recently reviewed the formal dress code in the office, and there are fewer rules and regulations, which has led to a more relaxed atmosphere. There’s also the opportunity to work from home, meaning we have greater autonomy over how we manage our time and work-life balance. Most businesses we work with are moving in the same direction to ensure they appeal to both current and prospective employees.

What opportunities are there to grow your skills at Scantec? 

There are so many training and development opportunities that are tailored to what you want from your career. For example, I have never wanted to move into management, and I prefer self-learning methods. I’ve been able to develop a strong specialism in search techniques, which I’ve gone on to share with the wider team. 

The business has introduced lunch and learn sessions that enable specialists in the team to share their knowledge and skills with everyone. Additionally, we recently received training on how to get more engagement from our networks on LinkedIn, which we all found extremely interesting and valuable.

What would you say to someone thinking of joining Scantec? 

It depends on the person. If you’re a good self-starter, I’d say go for it. However, if you need a kick to get things done, perhaps recruitment isn’t for you. If I’m being honest, I’ve only stayed in recruitment so long because of Scantec. I’ve heard horror stories about how cutthroat other recruitment businesses can be and that they constantly hassle their staff due to a lack of trust. Scantec isn’t like that. The people are friendly and supportive, and we all know one another really well. There isn’t a bad egg in the office. 

Find out how your career CAN flourish…

Scantec is passionate about finding and developing the absolute best talent for our business. If you’re new to recruitment or an experienced professional and want to learn how your career can grow at Scantec, we want to hear from you. Find out more or contact Andrea Davison at andread@scantec.co.uk today.