All I Want for Christmas Is…
Dear Santa (yes, it’s that time of year),
I thought I would check in since the kids are very excited—did you receive their letters?
Actually, I wanted to contact you about something I would like.
I’m a Quantity Surveyor with a nightmare client giving me grief, and let’s just say I hope they get coal in their stocking!
Anyway, I’m currently working for a consultancy near London (I’m sure you know it?) and have been there for a few years now—it’s the only company I’ve ever worked for!
It’s okay, but… it’s just okay.
My boss is always busy and struggles to find time to sit down with me. I’m about halfway through my APC, but one of my QS friends just sat his exam, and I feel like that should be me! Also, the projects are becoming a bit predictable.
Don’t get me wrong, the team is a great laugh, but I think it’s time for a fresh challenge—something that will take my career to the next level.
So, the real reason for this letter is that I need your advice, Santa. How do I go about starting the process of moving companies?
My first thought was to put my CV on all the job boards, but I’ve heard so many Christmas nightmares about CVs going everywhere without the candidate’s knowledge.
I’ve thought about applying directly, but I don’t know too many other companies, and the job specs all seem very generic!
Therefore, Santa, all I want for Christmas is a recruitment consultancy I can trust. Someone who listens to what I want, someone I can have a proper conversation with about what’s potentially out there for me.
I’ve only been at one company my entire QS career, so if they could find me a nice mix of consultancies, that would be amazing. I want someone who won’t waste my time with interviews for roles I’m not suited to.
It would also be great to work with someone I can trust to give me honest, objective advice when I need it. And, when all is said and done, maybe we could go for a Christmas pint (or two).
Santa, if you could find me someone like that, I promise not to eat all your mince pies before you stop by!
Merry Christmas,
Quantity Surveyor
Dear QS,
Thank you for your note—it made a nice change to get a letter from someone not asking for an iPhone!
I have to be honest, this isn’t exactly my area of expertise. However, I had a chat with a few of the Elves in the workshop (many of them used to work in the construction industry before the global downturn but retrained as shoemakers and toymakers to make ends meet), and the same name kept coming up.
I just checked, and while lots of recruitment consultants are on the Naughty List, one company seems to have most of their consultants near the top of the Nice List!
I’ve put the company name in my big red sack, and as long as you’re asleep when I stop by your house on Christmas Eve, I’ll leave a link to their website under the tree.
Quick note: I am sick to death of mince pies and, frankly, have a gluten intolerance. If you could leave one of those “doner kebab” things instead, that would be great. I’ll have had a few sherries by then, and I always seem to crave one….
Ho Ho Ho!
SC
