Inmarsat & Arras

"I have built up a good relationship with the client and had a good understanding of what they were looking for in candidate."

Below is a conversation about a recent placement at Inmarsat (October 2011). Michael "Mick" Hides was the Arras People consultant who placed the candidate successfully; he is interviewed by Arras’ PR coordinator Dan Strayer. The conversation is also available in PDF format for printing.
 

DAN STRAYER (right): Tell us about your customer’s history, and help us understand the nature of the company’s business, where they were looking to take it, and what role the programme or project they were undertaking played in those developments.
 

MICHAEL HIDES (left): Inmarsat are the recognised leader in Mobile satellite services with 31 years experience. Inmarsat operates a current fleet of 11 satellites providing a wide range of services such as the Broadband Global Area Network (BGAN) service enabling live coverage of events to be received around the world. The next generation of satellites is being built by Boeing which will provide the backbone for a 50 megabits per second service. The role in question works within the area of the business charged with maximising the commercial opportunity of the satellite infrastructure. They were looking for a project coordinator on a contractual basis.
 

DS: Why did they turn to an external recruitment agency?
MH: We have worked successfully with Inmarsat on a number of occasions, providing high calibre candidates.
 

DS: So they were familiar with the track record we had established?
MH: Yes, most definitely.
 

DS: What elements were you able to coach the customer on with regards to the nature of finding the right person for the role?
MH: The nature of the role was still being explored by the client and so candidates of varying skills, knowledge and experience were provided allowing the hiring manager to fully explore their needs. A discussion was also held around the suitable rates for the role and our experience of recruiting across a number of sectors and geographical locations informed this discussion.
 

DS: Talk in detail about the steps you took to meet the challenge. What was the crucial information you needed, and talk about the meat and potatoes of how you solved the issues this role presented to you?
MH: As I said, the nature of the role was still being explored by the client, so candidates of varying skills, knowledge and experience were provided to Inmarsat, allowing their hiring manager to fully explore their needs. The role in question required filling the gap left in the coordination of activities by a more senior role. Candidates were presented with a range of skills from project administrator through to senior programme co-ordinator.
 

DS: Talk about how the job reflected on your experience as a PPM professional
MH: The client was looking to replace activities which formed part of an existing more senior role. I think it was my capability for understanding their programme structure and approach that enabled me to correctly focus on suitable candidates. I have built up a good relationship with Inmarsat, and have a good understanding of what they were looking for in a candidate. I used this information to ensure that the candidates I provided to them met Inmarsat’s technical and cultural expectations.
 

DS: What are some of the main facts and figures you’d like to point out from this role?
MH: Speaking statistically, we submitted three candidates to Inmarsat for this vacancy. They were pleased with the quality of the candidate we gave them, and they chose to interview two of them. I've reason to believe, but cannot confirm, that there were other firms chasing this role down for them. We first signed terms with the client in 2007, and in the last two years we have had considerable activity with them.
 

DS: I wonder if you might be able to share with us the feedback and quotes from the customer you’ve heard since you’ve made the placement.
MH: Happily! The feedback we’ve got so far was that both candidates that Inmarsat interviewed were of a very high standard, although unfortunately one was too senior for the role although this was only identified once the interviews had been undertaken.

DS: But in your other interviewed candidate, you had found the right fit of a candidate for your client.
MH: Yes. The candidate’s name is Sheryn, and she started a 6-month contract with Inmarsat in October 2011.