Graham Courtney meets Fred Howie and David Taylor of Howie White Resourcing
“The use of technology has been the biggest change in the recruitment industry for over a decade. It has brought huge benefits, but those benefits have not been without a cost to the way we do business.”
So said Fred Howie from Teesside based recruitment consultancy, Howie White Resourcing. However, when you’ve been working in the world of recruitment for over thirty years, you’re well placed to give serious judgement.
“Technology allows you to do a lot of things very quickly, but it is very tempting to allow quality to fall. We are a results-driven business and, when it comes to recruitment, it’s quality not quantity that will always count. You have to recruit the right way.”
And that’s why Howie White, led by MD Fred Howie and Assistant Director David Taylor, insist on the personal touch. They’ve notched-up over a thousand assignments for local, national and international clients, so they know what they’re doing.
If you’re looking to recruit for a specific role within your business, there are two options. The first is to go to a recruitment agency and place an advert or ask them to find someone relevant. With this, there is a very strong possibility that you’ll be inundated with replies or, even more likely, the agency will deliver a huge pile of CV’s onto the corner of your desk from people who they believe are an ideal fit. Brilliant! All you then have to do, is spend hours ploughing through the heap of hopefuls and deciding what to do next.
The alternative, is to speak to Howie White. The first steps are the same; you acknowledge that you need to recruit, and you know the qualifications, experience and traits required of your ideal candidate.
This is where the two avenues differ, having been in touch with Howie White, Fred or David will have met or spoken with you covering both the role and responsibilities as well as your desired qualities. Through networking and research, Fred or David would personally interview and shortlist suitable candidates.
Only once Fred or David are satisfied they have found the best candidates for your role, they will arrange for you to meet/ interview as many as you wish.
And THAT is the big difference between dealing with a small, specialised, highly experienced company such as Howie White compared to a faceless agency who operate a scattergun policy where, to be honest, you are just a number.
Howie White rely upon the human element.
“You can’t beat meeting candidates personally to find out exactly what they’re like,” added David. “Anyone with experience of dealing with candidates knows that they frequently look wonderful on paper and have a fantastic CV but once you meet them, you know within a nanosecond that they’re not suitable.
Here at Howie White we get to know you, and your business, giving us an excellent idea as to what type of person would be ideal, and let’s face it, unless you actually meet a candidate, personally, there is a good chance that you are not going to find a square peg for a square hole.
