Get to Know Us: Meri Allen - Temporary Recruitment Consultant at JR Personnel

It's always nice to put a face to a name - especially when dealing with something so personal as finding yourself a new career or perfect employee for your business, that's why we are continuing our blog series where we offer you an insight into our team here at JR Personnel. 

This week we meet Meredith (Meri), Temporary Recruitment Consultant and soon-to-be new mum! 

What is your position at JR Personnel? Temporary Recruitment Consultant and occasional blog-writer!

How long have you worked at JR Personnel?     Over two and a half years!

What do you enjoy most about your role?           For me the most enjoyable aspect of the role is definitely placing candidates in a new position whether it be their dream job or something interim to tide them over. Being able to call a candidate and tell them they have been offered a new position is so exciting and rewarding - notifying the client that the job has been accepted is equally as special.

What do you see as a big challenge in recruitment and how do you resolve this issue for candidates/clients? How quickly the market moves is a huge challenge we face on a daily basis, so we have to be really proactive in managing both client and candidate expectations – that means always being well informed and keeping both parties up to date with any changes whether that be advising the client the candidate has other interviews to attend and may be snapped up quickly or letting the candidate know that the hiring manager is on holiday so it’ll be two weeks before we hear anything back. Recruitment can change in an instant so it's vital to be one step ahead. 

Professional & educational background? Prior to becoming a recruitment consultant I’d always worked within the student sector in Sheffield in independent, family businesses – I thought I’d stick with this theme as I joined JR Personnel and love working for a tight-knit, family-run, Loughborough institution.

Unusual fact or story? I studied Fashion Design at University and was fortunate enough to meet and work alongside some British fashion icons including Christopher Bailey, various Saville Row tailors and Vivienne Westwood!

Greatest Achievement either personal or professional? In 2017 I raised £2000 in the space of 4 months for British Lung Foundation by skydiving in honour of my dad who passed away from Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis in 2016.