60 Second Interview: Ginnie Riley of Jobsearchwarrior
Ginnie Riley Owner / Job Search Strategist at Jobsearchwarrior. We caught up with her to get to know her better and see if she has any top tips to share with recruiters and candidates...
How long have you worked in food recruitment?
Since my Northern Foods days, in 1999. 21 years.
What do you love most about working in food recruitment?
What’s not to love! The people, the products, the innovation and the pace of short shelf-life is truly inspirational. I believe the UK food manufacturing sector is world-class and if you have food manufacturing on your CV, then these are highly transferable skills, knowledge and experience which will serve you well.
What’s the best piece of advice you could give to a candidate?
Assume nothing and be open in your thinking. Self-limiting thoughts can block opportunity and certainly restrict your options going forward. Be very aware of your internal dialogue and be prepared to consider the odd left turn as you journey through your career road-map. You never know where a conversation will take you.
Listen to your gut feeling - it’s always right. Your gut feeling is a human algorithm that cuts through the emotion and pivots on logic.
What’s the best piece of advice you could give to an employer?
That’s an easy one. If they truly value and want to protect their organisational brand, particularly in an era of skills shortage and a ‘war on talent’– then be sure to do the right thing every time by the candidate. Feedback, Feedback, Feedback. And good quality feedback which is timely and personal to the candidate, not the process. Nurture your recruitment and onboarding process and respect the complete, end to end candidate experience. It will tip the balance, give you a much needed competitive edge and enable you to attract top tier talent to your business.
What is your favourite food?
Chocolate or Patisserie. Can’t decide which. It’s like choosing your favourite child!
What are your thoughts on the current challenges faced by those facing redundancy or looking at career transition?
I think it’s been a really tough few years for the food and drinks manufacturing sector - sustained Brexit uncertainty, IR35 turning interim support on its head and now a global pandemic which is pushing businesses to the limits, and in some instances, sadly beyond. Recruitment is slow at the moment but it won’t last forever. The sector is resilient and there is light at the end of the tunnel as the nation forges a new normal.
I think the way in which we recruit has changed tremendously in recent years and it is so much easier for Candidates to take more control of their job search themselves and steer their own ship through this torrid storm. There will be a Hirer looking for their skill set and industry knowledge somewhere. It’s all about getting on their radar, clearly defining and presenting your candidate proposition, knowing the protocols, the buttons to press and how to play the system.
Jobsearchwarrior is a highly-personal job-search, career transition and outplacement, coaching and mentoring service, provided in every instance by Ginnie Riley.
Ginnie provides expert practical support; mentoring guidance during the transitional journey and turnaround; and goal orientated, coaching programmes, in order to effectively boost job search activities, speed up career transition and successfully achieve next-step career goals.
Ginnie Riley; Career Transition Coach, Job Search Stategist & CV Writer
To find out more about jobsearchwarrior Click Here