Always here to help...
Meet the driving force behind MSA. Joint Managing Directors Stuart Houston and Jim McNaughton explain how their passion for quality and service has helped them build a trusted and respected recruitment service, with a personal touch.
Stuart has 17 years’ recruitment experience delivering permanent & contract resource to the Data Analytics & Business Intelligence market.
Following a highly successful career with a large multinational staffing group Stuart felt there was a real opportunity to form a recruitment business dedicated to the Data Analytics market;
"I’d spoken to Data professionals every day for 12 years and wanted to apply this knowledge to my own way of working – I’m not a qualified statistician or BI developer but understand the analytics market from a hiring perspective; what specific skills are deployed in particular business areas and recognize different BI tools are needed to achieve different objectives”
"I’ve also seen the data market evolve from basic MI reporting function to become a crucial business partnering operation, developing advanced analytics & insight to support commercial and operational decision making” …… "Moreover, I’ve appointed close to 1000 Data driven professionals into industry – I think I can talk with credibility about the market”
Aside from market knowledge Stuart demonstrates a solid work ethic, doing what needs to be done to find the right fit for candidate & client alike, recognising it’s not just about putting a bum on a seat;
"I rarely work a vacancy until I’ve met the client, understand the business need and as importantly the working environment – I’d struggle to fully brief and qualify a candidate on a vacancy without going through this process”
"I take pride in working with candidates pre & post placement - detailed Interview preparation, support with on boarding, follow up progress meetings are key. I’ve assisted candidates who have relocated for positions on many occasions – arranged property viewings & literally helped with removals on the day, you could call this a hands-on approach!”
It is not easy to offer a recruitment service that is different. The recruitment industry is a revolving door of consultants coming and going – that makes it very challenging for recruitment firms to offer a credible and consistent service, as a different person fills that seat and is starting from scratch.
Clients will call me today to fill a vacancy – they are now Associates / Hiring Managers, or in many cases have started their own business. Quite often, I will have found them their first job in Acoustics as a Graduate! That is why trust and credibility are key to what I do.
You gather a lot of industry knowledge over 13 years. It means you can offer a credible service, backed up by evidence. But as well as industry knowledge, it is important to focus on the personal aspect. Advice to Graduates will invariably differ to that provided to an experienced Acoustician. Personal circumstances change, so we always pay great attention to the personal needs of the individual – not just their career aspirations.
MSA Careers & Consulting Ltd
