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A Day in the Life - Lauren Jackson, Senior Recruiter at Kuiper Group UK

A Day in the Life

– Lauren Jackson, Senior Recruiter at Kuiper Group UK

 

Following on from 2 years at Aberdeen College (now North East Scotland College), where I studied advertising and public relations, I landed my first job in oil and gas recruitment back in 2005. During my time in this position I completed my CREC (Certificate in Recruitment Practice). Following this, I took a year out to go backpacking around South East Asia, Australia and New Zealand. I was working whilst overseas and by the time I returned home, I was 100% certain that I wanted to pursue a long-term career in recruitment - and had found a job within a week of coming back to Aberdeen. 

What does your job involve on an average day?

There’s a lot going on every day! From engaging and sourcing the right candidates for our clients (which includes vetting them, checking references, interviewing and submitting their CVs), to keeping on top of the latest industry news – which is vital in this business as we need to understand exactly what is happening in the North Sea, in order to service our clients effectively. 

One of my key roles is to engage with new talent, whether that’s meeting them face-to-face, attending networking events or ensuring our digital platforms are reaching out to the right people, with the right message. 

Although I’m based in Aberdeen, I work closely with our international recruitment teams. As everyone knows, there is always a lot of movement within the global energy workforce, so it’s important that each Kuiper team communicates effectively to ensure we’re maximising all opportunities.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

By far the most enjoyable part of my job is being able to call someone to advise that they have been successful for a position. It’s very satisfying knowing that I have been able to help candidates gain new opportunities and develop their careers.

I also get a real sense of satisfaction from building of relationships, with clients and candidates alike. 

As I said at the very beginning - this is a very varied job, which I enjoy. Energy is a fast-paced industry, so by that nature the recruitment side of it is just as fast-paced; there’s no time to sit and twiddle your thumbs!

What does your job involve and who are your clients?

KGUK works with several major International drilling contractors both locally and Internationally, so communication with them – and our candidates - is a constant fixture in my working day. I’m currently also working closely with our international teams to help build, tailor and roll out across the company a new, global Real Time Information recruitment database.

What are your biggest challenges?

Right now, the energy industry is suffering a skills shortage. It’s understandable after the recent downturn but it presents all recruiters with a considerable challenge. However, it’s a chance to really draw on your experience and contacts – and makes the final result even more worthwhile!

What has been the highlight of your career so far?

In 2014, I was fortunate enough to gain experience working in Australia, where I was seconded to Perth, WA for over a year. 

During my time there, I worked closely with an international drilling company to crew up one of their assets which was due to start operations in the Bass Strait, SE Australia. It was a challenging, but a rewarding project to be involved in and I draw upon that experience in my work every day. 

Working in a different environment - and indeed in Australia - gave me so much exposure to different regions and ways of operating. 

How is your company evolving to ensure it delivers value to its clients?

We are on a journey of continuous improvement, using technology, lean systems and a cohesive global recruitment network to maximise opportunities, thus ensuring consistent service delivery. 

What plans does your company have for the future and how do you see your role evolving?

Kuiper Group UK is building on the success of, and expertise within, our international parent group, and aims to grow alongside the recovering North Sea industry. We’re in a position to deliver a local presence for both our existing international client base, and new, purely local clients. 

Whilst our team has significant experience in the oil and gas recruitment sector, Kuiper is the “new kid” on the Aberdeen block. As such, we’re not constantly comparing and contrasting with pre-downturn times, which I think provides valuable clarity on what constitutes good service and value for our clients. Kuiper Group’s philosophy is one of partnership; our job works best when we’re viewed as a part of the client’s team. That way we’re there to take the resourcing burden from them and make life as easy as possible. 

And this is a philosophy that’s working. Based on recent developments, we anticipate outgrowing our current office space before the end of 2019. It’s been a busy year!

Company

Part of the global Kuiper Group, KGUK was established in Aberdeen in 2018 to ensure we can locally support UK-based energy sector clients with their recruitment, crew management and HR requirements.  

As one of the world’s fastest-growing specialist offshore resourcing companies, Kuiper Group has a presence in 15 key energy hubs across Europe, Middle East, Africa, Asia and Australasia. 

Published: 26-07-2019

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