Recruiting creative talent

"Agencies who try to find creative people on their own are asking for trouble. Relying on busy HR managers to fill these positions is simply ludicrous. Even the best HR person knows little about what a creative does. It is the job of the specialist recruiter who has the knowledge, experience, expertise and skill in this field, to fill that crucial position."
 
The recruiter, who has this background, questions the employer and ascertains their exact needs. A special relationship is built up with the agency over time and they becomes familiar with the culture and the environment, their creative standard, specialities and the company's varied client base.
 
When it comes to placing creatives, it's not as simple as finding a job for a job seeker, it is a different ball game altogether. One has to assess their portfolios to determine their creative niche, the environment they're in currently, reasons for leaving their current employer and what they're looking to achieve in the future. This is where the recruiter's understanding of the advertising and design industry plays a crucial role.
 
To secure a successful creative placement, it's imperative that the recruiter not only has a thorough knowledge of the industry, but has actually worked in the advertising/design industry themselves. The advertising industry is a unique environment, fluid and ever- changing. Creatives form an integral part of this industry and the placement of a creative needs to be done with key insight into the candidate's abilities and talents, says Bradford.
 
Creatives tend to move often as they are always looking to add to their portfolios and to work on different accounts. Money is less of a motivator than the desire for fresh challenges.
 
Agencies must also recognise the calibre and importance of their people and find ways to drive their passion. A creative's work is his soul, Bradford concludes.