Recruitment in the modern world

Hosted by Fiona Wilson

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Aug 2025

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About the show

Insights, perspectives and practical advice. For and by employers, and job seekers and job candidates.

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56 recent

August 22, 2025Episode 5620 min

Landing your next professional role: advanced insights from Ola Younis

Ola Younis is a data scientist who recently moved from work in the conveyancing sector to working for ACCA, the global body for professional accountants.In this interview, Ola reflects explicitly on the learning points that make for success in negotiating the application and selection processes in order to win a much-desired professional role. Her sophisticated insights take us far beyond the standard types of advice for candidates. In particular, Ola explains how to:develop an understanding and appreciation of the employer's needs and preferences - and how that can help a candidate to communicate effectivelywork in partnership with an agency - and how the agency can add value- and, intriguingly, how to think of oneself during the process "as a cube".Credits and affiliationsDr Ola Younis is Qualification Content Lead at ACCA.The interviewer is Anthony Haynes, Communications Director at FJ Wilson Talent Services. Anthony also edited the episode.The music is by Harry Chalmers.Finally, what we doFJ Wilson Talent Services provides recruitment and talent development services and also coaching for individuals. We specialise in professional roles at mid or senior level, Our core market comprises organisations for professionals - typically membership organisations, awarding bodies, regulators, learning providers, and charities.To find out more about our services and to contact us, visit our website fjwilson.com.

March 27, 2025Episode 5522 min

Outsourced employment and employers of record, with Janet De-Havilland

Anthony Haynes writes: This episode focuses on two concepts - outsourced employment and employers of record - that have become increasingly important in the landscapes of employment and recruitment. To guide us through the terrain, we access the expertise of Janet De-Havilland, Founder and CEO of Pendragon PEO.Janet first maps out the key concepts (and distinguishing them from umbrella employment) and then explains ways of working withemployerstalent agenciesIn the process, she identifies the major challenges and pitfalls involved and outlines changes in policy.CreditsMusic: Harry ChalmersAudio editing: Bart HallmarkFinally, what we doFJ Wilson Talent Services provides recruitment and talent development services and also coaching for individuals. We specialise in professional roles at mid or senior level, Our core market comprises organisations for professionals - typically membership organisations, awarding bodies, regulators, learning providers, and charities.To find out more about our services and to contact us, visit our website fjwilson.com.

November 25, 2024Episode 5438 min

How the General Osteopathic Council improved its recruitment: a DEI success story

Anthony Haynes writes: Matthew Redford, the General Osteopathic Council's CEO and Registrar, tells the story of how the General Osteopathic Council (GOsC) went about improving its talent acquisition from the perspective of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Focusing on the appointment of non-executives, Matthew recounts how the GOsC moved from making appointments that were predominantly white and male to markedly more diverse outcomes.Some of the steps were small, some fairly obvious - and some of them were altogether bolder...CreditsMusic: Harry ChalmersEditing: Simon HaynesFinally, what we doFJ Wilson Talent Services provides recruitment and talent development services and also coaching for individuals. We specialise in professional roles at mid or senior level, Our core market comprises organisations for professionals - typically membership organisations, awarding bodies, regulators, learning providers, and charities.To find out more about our services and to contact us, visit our website fjwilson.com.

September 10, 2024Episode 5318 min

RIBA's role as a voice of the architectural profession, with Valerie Vaughan-Dick MBE

Anthony Haynes writes: On this podcast, we've tended to focus on talent acquisition and career development, especially in relation to our core market - which comprises professional organisation (membership bodies, awarding bodies, and learning providers). But we've been intending for some time now to pivot occasionally to feature the work of our clients more broadly.In this, the first episode of this type, we had the good fortune to interview Dr Valerie Vaughan-Dick (CEO, RIBA). We discuss:RIBA's rolecurrent priorities for RIBAacting as a voice of the professionthe changing needs for skills and human capitalValerie's careerl, including her involvement with the built environment and urban regenerationLinkRoyal Institute of British Architects: https://www.architecture.com/Further listeningWe hope you found listening to this episode rewarding. If so, you might also be interested in:Establishing a culture of coaching, with Vanessa Harwood-WhitcherDiversity, equity, and inclusion, with Olivia Hill (AAT)How to improve recruitment practices, with Afrah Qassim (Savera UK)Finally, what we doFJ Wilson Talent Services provides recruitment and talent development services and also coaching for individuals. We specialise in professional roles at mid or senior level, Our core market comprises organisations for professionals - typically membership organisations, awarding bodies, regulators, learning providers, and charities.To find out more about our services and to contact us, visit our website fjwilson.com.

September 2, 2024Episode 5220 min

Diversity, equity, and inclusion, with Olivia Hill (AAT)

Anthony Haynes writes: Welcome to a new season (our 7th)! In this episode, I had the pleasure of interviewing Olivia Hill, People Director of Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT). We discussed the initiatives that AAT have embedded concerning diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). In particular, we focused on:the role of data - its collection and reporting - in providing the foundation stones for DEI strategymeasuring progress and formulating and reviewing targetstaking action: ensuring that practical measures are taken to have an impact on the organisation and the wider worldIn the process we explore such key themes as access to the profession, membership engagement, performance management, and the role of third parties.Finally, what we doFJ Wilson Talent Services provides recruitment and talent development services and also coaching for individuals. We specialise in professional roles at mid or senior level, Our core market comprises organisations for professionals - typically membership organisations, awarding bodies, regulators, learning providers, and charities.To find out more about our services and to contact us, visit our website fjwilson.com.

August 7, 2024Episode 5120 min

Recruiting talent with a commercial edge, with Fiona Wilson's Talent Report

Anthony Haynes writes: Our experience of working with organisations for professionals (membership organisations, learning providers, and awarding bodies) shows that there is a long-term and still growing trend of wishing to recruit people who can help the employer develop a sharper commercial edge.In this episode, Fiona Wilson (MD of FJ Wilson Talent Services) provides detailed guidance on where the challenges lie and how they can be avoided or overcome. She focuses on the issues ofcandidate attractionselection processesinductionThis is the first episode in our Talent Report series in which Fiona provides insights gleaned from developments in the talent industry and the market place.Further listeningWe hope you found this episode rewarding. If so, other episodes likely to be of interest include How to improve recruitment practices: Afrah Qassim of Savera UKEstablishing a culture of coaching, with Vanessa Harwood-WhitcherGood practice in onboarding and induction, with Dawn PikeCreditsEditing: Simon Haynesmusic: Harry ChalmersFinally, what we doFJ Wilson Talent Services provides recruitment and talent development services and also coaching for individuals. We specialise in professional roles at mid or senior level, Our core market comprises organisations for professionals - typically membership organisations, awarding bodies, regulators, learning providers, and charities.To find out more about our services and to contact us, visit our website fjwilson.com.

July 4, 2024Episode 5018 min

Candidate search and DEI, with Fiona Wilson

Anthony Haynes writes: Once a recruitment agency has been engaged and briefed on a role, the question arises of how to conduct the search for potential candidates.This entails two entwined considerations, namely how to conduct the search efficiently and how to ensure that the search aligns with DEI factors.Here Sherah Beckley interviews FJWTS Managing Director, Fiona Wilson, on both aspects of the question.Their conversation includes a discussion of such factors as search tools and search protocols. The emphasis throughout is on going beyond the obvious to develop flexible, creative, and proactive strategies,Further listeningWe hope you found this episode rewarding. If so, other episodes likely to be of interest includeHow talent acquisition works: the researcher roleWriting job advertisements: a DEI perspectiveFinally, what we doFJ Wilson Talent Services provides recruitment and talent development services and also coaching for individuals. We specialise in professional roles at mid or senior level, Our core market comprises organisations for professionals - typically membership organisations, awarding bodies, regulators, learning providers, and charities.To find out more about our services and to contact us, visit our website fjwilson.com.

June 20, 2024Episode 4922 min

Establishing a culture of coaching, with Vanessa Harwood-Whitcher

Anthony Haynes writes: 'Being passionate' has become a cliché of management speech - but in the case of Vanessa Harwood-Whitcher (CEO, Institute of Occupational Safety and Health), the culture of coaching is genuinely a passion. Our conversation explores, in the context of IOSH's culture, the relation of coaching to a range of concepts - notablyempowermentlearning culturelearning from each other - informally as well as formallyIn the process, we consider the significance of inclusion, psychological safety, reverse mentoring, feedback, and reflective learning. LinksIoSH website: iosh.comFurther listeningWe hope you found this episode a rewarding listen. If so, you might particularly enjoy the following:Coaching: an inside viewCreditsThanks to Harry Chalmers for the music and Bart Hallmark for audio editing.Finally, what we doFJ Wilson Talent Services provides recruitment and talent development services and also coaching for individuals. We specialise in professional roles at mid or senior level, Our core market comprises organisations for professionals - typically membership organisations, awarding bodies, regulators, learning providers, and charities.To find out more about our services and to contact us, visit our website fjwilson.com.

June 7, 2024Episode 487 min

Writing job advertisements: a DEI perspective

Anthony Haynes writes: There's plenty of guidance on how to construct job advertisements - but much of it has little to say about considerations of diversity, equity, and inclusion.In this episode, Sherah Beckley and I focus on these considerations. There are several widely occurring pitfalls. Simply anticipating them can help to improve your advertisements in terms of DEI.Here we identify typical pitfalls and outline why they matter.Further listeningWe hope you found this episode a rewarding listen. If so, you might particularly enjoy the following:DEI in talent acquisition, with Dawn PikeHow to maximise candidate attraction, with Fiona WilsonLaying the foundations for DEI, with Fiona WilsonCreditsThanks to Harry Chalmers for the music and Bart Hallmark for audio editing.Finally, what we doFJ Wilson Talent Services provides recruitment and talent development services and also coaching for individuals. We specialise in professional roles at mid or senior level, Our core market comprises organisations for professionals - typically membership organisations, awarding bodies, regulators, learning providers, and charities.To find out more about our services and to contact us, visit our website fjwilson.com.

May 22, 2024Episode 4712 min

Laying the foundations of DEI in talent, with Fiona Wilson

Anthony Haynes writes: Many organisations - employers and talent agencies - are reviewing their policies regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). In this, the first episode in our occasional series on the topic, Fiona Wilson (MD of FJWTS), Sherah Beckley, and I begin with a broad perspective: how can we lay the foundations for effective policy? And, in particular, what are the pitfalls to avoid?Further listeningWe hope you found this episode a rewarding listen. If so, you may be interested in the following episodes:DEI in talent acquisition, with Dawn PikeHow to improve recruitment practices, with Afrah QassimCreditsThanks to Harry Chalmers for the music and Bart Hallmark for audio editing.Finally, what we doFJ Wilson Talent Services provides recruitment and talent development services and also coaching for individuals. We specialise in professional roles at mid or senior level, Our core market comprises organisations for professionals - typically membership organisations, awarding bodies, regulators, learning providers, and charities.To find out more about our services and to contact us, visit our website fjwilson.com.