MEET THE TEAM – ALLISON
At Property Personnel we’re firm believers that the secret to our success is down to our fantastic team. We’re kicking off our ‘Meet the Team’ series with Allison Dalrymple, who has worked with us for longer than the majority of our competitors have been in business! We sat down with Allison to ask her some questions about her role here at Property Personnel.
Name: Allison Dalrymple
What do you do for Property Personnel? I recruit Estate Agents throughout London and the Home Counties.
How long have you worked at Property Personnel? I started working here in 2001 – so 21 years!
What was property recruitment like when you first started and has it changed? There were fewer positions available when I first started at Property Personnel. My role was to focus on the lettings side of the business which has grown dramatically over the past 21 years. Property Management departments have tripled in size, lettings staff are now able to earn the same salaries as sales staff, and clients now have different departments for all aspects of the lettings process.
What challenges do you face on a daily basis? I think our main challenge at the moment is a shortage of candidates. It can sometimes be tricky to make estate agency sound as attractive as it actually is! Aside from that, it’s safe to say that internal recruitment departments will always be a challenge for us!
What is the ideal candidate like? The ideal candidate for me is someone who has a great attitude and determination to succeed; someone driven by money, but still having care and compassion. The candidate should be well presented, articulate, honest and well-mannered, and understand that he/she must put in the hard work first to reap the rewards.
What’s your favourite thing about your job? There’s nothing like hearing the elation in someone’s voice when you tell them they have the job! That’s undoubtedly my favourite part.
How do you unwind after work? I play badminton for a local league and Berkshire County, and I love going for a run to let off some steam. On other days, I’ll just pour a large glass of wine!
What makes a good client? A good client is one that still wants to talk to you on the phone, and values the detailed service you offer. Speed and trust are essential, especially in the current market – a good rapport is really important.
What’s the weirdest job that a candidate has come from? Most candidates in my experience have come straight from university, others from the sales or customer service industries, or they are already working in the business, so I don’t have any weird or wonderful stories yet. Still, never say never, so watch this space!
What makes a CV stand out for you? A good profile is key. I like to see achievements and capabilities as well as hobbies. It gives a real sense of the candidate behind the CV.
What makes a CV go in the bin? One where the candidate has had hundreds of jobs.
If you could give one piece of advice to a candidate what would it be? Attitude is king!
If you would like to have a chat with Allison, or any other member of our team about how we may be able to help you, please feel free to get in touch– we’d love to hear from you.
