Having returned from the Project Challenge Spring Show 2009 in Birmingham, Arras People’s free offering of the popular Project Management Careers Clinic went down well with an enthusiastic audience.
We’re not just bragging – we can back it up. Several emails with glowing words of praise for our services last Wednesday and Thursday at the NEC has left us overwhelmed and humbled by our impact on the project management field.
‘I thought it was informative and very useful in helping me to decide which Project Management qualification is right for me and also in terms of looking at career development,’ said one e-mailer.
As the convention was populated with a variety of job candidates and/or people keeping watch of what the job market might hold for them, Arras People’s offering of 30-minute consultations face-to-face for free seemed to speak well to the contingent. It’s the reason we offer the PMC Clinic: in these uncertain economic times, a quality service invested in finding the best people for the project management job can go a long way for both candidate and client. And while the audience at the NEC was captive, the manner in which we presented our feedback and advice was appreciated in an atmosphere that might otherwise encourage high pressure and sales-oriented interaction.
‘I was also pleased that the session wasn’t an attempt to sign me up and that there was no pressure to take any specific action,’ one e-mailer stated. ‘I came away with what I believe to be effective and professionally delivered advice, (both verbal and documented) and with a much more positive view of my situation, so many thanks for that.’
‘I met with Gary (Holmes, Arras People PM Consultant),’ said another respondant. ‘I considered it to have been very useful, in fact about the only highlight of the visit to the show actually. Definitely worth 1/2 hour of my time.’
Although the praise has poured in, Arras People has grown accustomed to positive feedback for its PMC Clinic services. Apparently, one particular candidate felt that we were meant to do this, describing us as the possessor of a sort of Midas Touch for project management job advice.
‘Frankly, I wondered what the special touch about Arras was,’ the e-mailer wrote. ‘Now I know. It wasn’t the regular frustrating discussion with a recruiter who little about what they really needed in a candidate. I was quite impressed an very satisfied with session at the career clinic with Mick (Hides, Arras’ PM Consultant).’
But seldom have we had such immediate impact on a career as we had with the following e-mailer:
‘The session was useful as it prompted a number of thoughts/things that I need to do,’ the e-mail began. ‘I have secured a 6 month contract, so can you please thank John (Thorpe, Managing Director of Arras People) for his help.’
