Trainee programme
At Distinct, our board of directors all began their careers as trainees, so we know what tools, training and support are needed to help individuals excel in recruitment. Our desk-ready training programme is designed to do just that.
Since launching our training programme in 2021, we’ve seen a number of talented individuals go on to bill an average of £86k in their first year, hitting car allowances and promotions along the way. In fact, one of our first desk-ready graduates is now relocating to work in our Boston office in the USA.
Investing in people
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.
Our 12-week training programme is very rewarding, but it doesn’t come without its challenges. You’ll be expected to complete target-led exercises and deliver presentations to keep you on track. There will be regular touchpoints throughout and you’ll be given plenty of one-to-one support from our in-house experts.
About you
Our desk-ready 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:
We’re open to speaking to individuals who either:
- Are in the early stages of a recruitment career (0-12 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 working hard. In return, we’ll make sure your efforts are always recognised. This starts with a £2,000 salary increase after your first promotion.
Hear from our consultants
FAQs
What are your locations and working hours?
We have two offices in the UK. Our head office is in Nottingham and we also have an office in London. Our new USA office in Boston will be opening in 2024.
Our training programme hours are 9am-5.30pm (including one hour for lunch) regardless of whether you’ll be going into the UK or US market. After training our standard working hours are:
UK – 9am – 5.30pm
US – Includes two days of 1pm – 10.30pm working hours. The remaining 20.5 hours can be arranged flexibly within the core hours of 1-6pm.
What skills will I learn?
Recruitment can include a lot of 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 very 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 all of your billings. After that, you will go onto our company-wide commission structure which goes up to 45%.
How long will I be a trainee?
Upon 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 three team placements or making one placement solo, this 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 USA office will open in 2024, but you can also work in this market from our Nottingham or London offices.
In return for working slightly anti-social hours, there are great perks such as USA travel up to three times a year and a flexible working week, with many of our team arranging their hours to include Friday’s 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 desks?
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 Consultant through to Director level. 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.
"*" indicates required fields