Blueprint International

08/11/2015

This week marks six months since the launch of Blueprint! Thank you to all of my amazing clients and candidates for their continued loyalty and support. We certainly would not be here unless it was for you.

03/08/2015

A large part of my role is to educate those considering a move to the GCC for an exciting new opportunity in the communications sector. To me the answer is simple. Why not? It will take your career to the next level. Surely having international experience under your belt can only be a positive in th…

17/06/2015

To me nothing is more important in my role than face time with my clients and candidates. It still shocks me when candidates question why I ask to meet them before considering them for to a role. It would seem that many of my peers are willing to add people to their books without meeting them to understand their motivations.

The secret to a successful placement is knowing both sides of the table inside and out. At Blueprint, we insist on interviewing every candidate we represent, whether it is face-to-face or via Skype. This might seem like overkill, but it is the only way to ensure that the candidates we put forward for each role matched with the most suitable client. Understanding people and understanding what personality types best match is a crucial part of what we do. Without knowing what drives the candidate, we would be taking a risk in sending someone who will not enjoy the role and therefore not add the value my clients are looking for. To make sure I introduce the most impressive clients to the best communications roles in the region, I need to have a thorough understanding of their employment history, what they are looking for, what will make them happy and the direction they would like their career to progress in.

During our interviews with candidates, we ask a wide range of questions, those you would expect from a formal interview and other, more personality-driven questions that help me seek out their drive. However, candidate confidentiality is of the utmost importance to us. We would never release the specific details of these discussion to any client without their permission. Experience has told me that this is rare in this region, but it is key to ensuring that my candidates trust me, and my colleagues and therefore see us as more than a recruiter, but someone they can turn to throughout their career.

This belief in integrity and confidentiality also extends to my clients, the organisations that approach me to source talent on their behalf. I visit their offices and spend time getting a thorough understanding of their business so that I truly understand the roles I am filling. We don’t just do this at the beginning of our working relationship, we continue to nurture these relationships continually to ensure we are intone with their strategy and objectives, as well as the culture of each particular team.

I wanted to put down in writing my belief in the need to insist on true professionalism from recruiters in this region. To ensure quality of service and success, it is vital that neither client, nor candidate accept anything but the best service from recruitment partners. It wastes valuable time and money, and can damage relationships. Instead, insist on knowing all the details and trust that we will do the same to make sure we place the best people, in the best roles.

15/06/2015

http://www.buzzfeed.com/jessicaprobus/never-microwave-fish-at-work?bffb&utm_term=4ldqphz #.ywQQ0gDo3N

Until now! Based on this Quora thread.

24/05/2015

http://the-media-network.com/blueprint-launches-in-the-uae

Kate Watson has launched boutique recruitment consultancy Blueprint, a specialist in placing communications experts throughout the Middle East. Most recently a Director at MCG Associates, Kate has over 12 years of experience in media recruitment, having been based in the Middle East since 2010 speci

24/05/2015

Hello,

Since I launched Blueprint a fortnight ago, amongst the overwhelming amount of well wishes I have received, a number of people have asked me the reasons why I created the company in the first place. So I thought I would put digital pen to paper and tell you all.

It’s actually pretty simple and boils down to the passion I have for my chosen career path. Coupling this with the strong industry understanding I have gained and the reputation I have created and enhanced with both clients and candidates, I can honestly say I love what I do.

Allow me to share a little bit about my background. Starting my career almost 13 years ago in London, I chose to move into communications recruitment in 2006 where I changed from placing secretarial candidates into sourcing marketing roles for film studios and record labels. Following this, I spent a period of time specialising in the advertising industry and further cutting my recruitment teeth with the broad variance of roles therein. I look back on both of those times in my career very fondly.

Then, in 2010 I was fortunate to be offered an opportunity that would not only challenge me professionally but personally too – to move to the Middle East.

At the time, I knew little about PR and even less about the region. Throwing myself straight in, I thoroughly immersed myself in the communications sector across the region and have since been lucky enough to work with, and place some of the most exciting talent in the world. I have genuinely loved every minute of the past five years. My clients have, and still, include a majority of the global PR and communications agencies alongside a number of listed ‘household name’ companies. Where I focused primarily on PR in 2010, I now find myself working across a wide range of opportunities including marketing, advertising and digital roles from entry level to c-suite opportunities.

I have loved watching the sector change dramatically over the years. When I first arrived it was still a burgeoning market with the great majority keeping themselves to themselves, concentrating on what they knew and could deliver best. I now see both PR and advertising agencies active in areas that were, back then, deemed to be way out of their comfort zones. The larger brands would only ask me for mid level Arabic speaking candidates in 2010 whereas now they are insisting on senior level, 15 years + candidates who have the knowledge and ability to create and roll out award winning global campaigns. The speed of market maturation has been impressive and exciting.

This brings me back to the reason why I have created Blueprint. I created it because I love what I do and I have a genuine and authentic passion for the communications sector. I enjoy meeting my clients and speaking with them about their business and the personnel needs therein. I am constantly inspired by interviewing candidates, learning what they do, finding out how they tick, where they are looking to go and strategising to help them to secure their dream career move. I love supporting the broad spectrum of sectors, consistently injecting fresh young talent who one day will be the stars of future in their chosen fields. Some of my best memories over the years have been to see my past placements and favourite clients up on stage wining awards for the superb work they have produced and recognized for.

It is no secret that there is a general distrust about the recruitment industry and from stories I have heard from client and candidates alike, I can understand why.

I, however pride myself on genuinely being different. Blueprint is built on honesty, integrity, discretion and industry knowledge. It is on this foundation that we will continue to grow.

Please don’t just take my word for it, though. Feel free to ask my clients and candidates for their opinion. I cannot thank them enough for the support they have shown me over the years and have once again, with my new venture.

On the other hand, why not take the opportunity to find out for yourself how we do things at Blueprint, either by sourcing your next member of staff or even helping find your own next dream role.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Kate

Managing Director
[email protected]