Trainee programme
At Distinct, we understand the tools, training and support necessary to help individuals excel in recruitment. Our trainee programme is crafted to achieve precisely that.
Why Distinct?
We invest in our people from day one. As you drive your career forward, you’ll benefit from excellent salary progression, as well as a generous bonus scheme in line with our career path.
Trainee programme
Our 12-week training programme is highly rewarding, but it doesn’t come without its challenges. You’ll complete target-driven exercises and deliver presentations to keep you on track. There will be regular touchpoints and you’ll receive one-to-one support from our in-house experts.
Our perks!
About you
Our trainee programme is suitable for individuals who are motivated, confident, resilient, competitive and great at building relationships. You’ll also live and breathe our internal values:
Do the right thing
No
egos
To dare is to do
In it together
Go home proud
Hear from our consultants
Ready to apply?
We’re open to speaking to individuals who:
- Are in the early stages of a recruitment career (0-24 months)
- Work in a different discipline (such as sales or customer services)
- Have graduated from university and are passionate about starting a career in recruitment.
Most importantly, you’ll be driven by results and committed to hard work. In return, we’ll make sure your efforts are always recognised. Apply today and our internal talent specialist, Laura Henderson, will be in touch.
FAQs
What are your locations and working hours?
We have two offices in the UK. Our head office is in Nottingham, which is for both the UK and USA consultants. Our London office is for USA consultants only. For those who wish to relocate, we also have an office in Boston, USA.
Our training programme hours are 9am-5.30pm (including one hour for lunch) regardless of whether you’ll enter the UK or USA market. After training, our standard working hours are:
UK (Nottingham) – 9am – 5.30pm
USA (Nottingham or London): This includes two days of later evenings. As long as you work the core hours between 1 and 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday, you can arrange your remaining hours to suit you. Many of our consultants opt to take Fridays off!
What skills will I learn?
Recruitment can include many transferable skills, such as business development and marketing. Our training programme will cover key competencies such as:
- Digital sourcing techniques (using our CRM and LinkedIn to build relationships)
- Business development tactics (how to best engage with new and existing clients)
- Pitching (selling the job, a candidate, and our services)
- Content creation (how to write great job adverts)
- Negotiation (an introduction to handling rates, offers and objections)
- Compliance (the legal steps to be followed to protect the business)
- Offer Management (getting the right offer and maximising the likelihood of acceptance)
Will I be paid during the training period?
Yes! You’ll receive a full base salary, which will come into effect from your first day.
How long do people typically work in recruitment?
When you join Distinct, we hope you’ll see the potential for a long-term career. Many of our consultants have over ten years of experience, working in both recessions and boom periods, so you’ll be surrounded by a wealth of experience.
How does the commission structure work?
During your first six months, you will receive 10% of your billings. After that, you will join our company-wide commission structure, which can increase to 45%.
How long will I be a trainee?
After successfully completing your 12-week training period, you’ll officially land at your new recruitment desk, which essentially means the industry you’ll be focusing on. You’ll then be considered for promotion after contributing to two team placements or making one placement solo. This process takes an average of 3.3 months.
What opportunities are there to work in your USA team?
The American market is an exciting area of our business and we’re rapidly growing. Our first Boston office opened in 2024, but you can also work in this market from our Nottingham or London offices.
In return for working slightly antisocial hours, there are great perks, such as travel to the USA up to three times a year and a flexible working week. Many of our team members arrange their hours to include Fridays off. If you’re keen to find out more about recruiting in the USA, please include this in your enquiry.
Will there be opportunities to move markets?
Once you have passed your six-month probation period, you will be able to apply for any internal desks that are advertised.
What does career progression look like at Distinct?
We have a clear career path for all consultants, from Resourcing Consultants to Directors. You’ll have full transparency on what you need to do to be promoted and the corresponding benefits.
Ready to get started in recruitment?
Get in touch with us today.
At Distinct, we hire attitude and train skills. So if you think you’ve got the right mentality, let’s have a conversation.
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