Think you’ve heard it all when it comes to candidate engagement? We’ve not even gotten properly started yet. So, here’s some More for you…
O2 is one of the UK’s biggest and best employer brands. Their consumer brand promises More for you, and when it comes to candidate engagement they definitely don’t underdeliver, thanks in part to one of our recent campaigns…
Our kind of client
Suzanne, O2/Telefonica UK’s Head of Resourcing has been part of the business since 2010. She’s enthusiastic, great to have on your team, and committed to customer and candidate satisfaction. In other words, she’s definitely our kind of client.
Back in the summer of 2015, Suzanne and her team had an idea: create a brand new high street retail experience. Somewhere you could pop in, hang out, play with some cool tech, have a chat, and experience something a bit… well… different. So she asked us to help them bring their Stores of the Future to life.
No ordinary campaign
This was no ordinary campaign from start to finish. Right away, we decided that this project needed a different kind of creative approach, and our ‘different someone’ theme spoke to exactly the kind of massive personalities we were looking for. Our cracking copy and mix of highly targeted channel marketing attracted people who could make a natural connection with customers, build rapport and get some great long-term relationships going.
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Creating an innovative candidate assessment experience was a challenge too, and our pop-up sensory ‘experience zones’ in London and Manchester let candidates see, smell, touch, taste and hear the future of retail. Literally. They left with a goodie bag to say thanks for taking part, and their feedback was simply fantastic. So fantastic in fact, that we also picked up a RAD for Best Candidate Engagement.
Time to catch up
We caught up with Suzanne recently to find out a little more about life in (and out!) of O2…
How did you get into the industry?
I was fortunate enough to be offered a place on the Halifax Graduate scheme (HBOS) and started life out as a Bank Manager – I was approached to manage their Graduate IT Scheme and snapped their hand off. It was an opportunity to give something back and help shape the scheme for future talent. Since then, I’ve never looked back. I love the Industry and I’m passionate about being a great Hiring Manager and providing a fantastic candidate experience.
What would you do if you didn’t do this?
I’ve always been interested in teaching, either Business or Theology!
What’s the best piece of advice you've received in your career?
Always keep the candidate at the heart of everything you do.
What advice would you give someone starting out in the sector?
Knowledge is key. Recruitment moves at pace and there’s always something new on the horizo. Bottom line – make the most of your network to help you stay ahead.
What's the best thing about working with Chatter?
They’re not afraid to challenge the norm and try something different. I truly look forward to seeing what they produce following a brief. Most of all, they’re great, hardworking folk that inject a lot of fun and energy into everything they do.
What was your highlight of the Stores of the Future project?
Besides recruiting some amazingly talented individuals within very tight timescales and picking up a RAD Award as a result, it would have to be the moment Lisa and I stepped into our pop up shop in London. It was a tense and nervous journey down to London that morning but the minute we opened the door, we immediately knew we had created something truly special.
What are you reading, watching and listening to at the moment?
I’d love to impress you with what I’m reading right now, but the truth is I have a 1 year old boy and a 3 year old little girl so I don’t really have the time to read, unless it features Peppa Pig or Paw Patrol. I do however live for music – this weekend’s breakfast disco (something my kids insist on) featured Stevie Wonder, Faithless and the Tribes.
I also watched Idris Elba: Fighter at the weekend, it amazes me that in just 12 months (and despite an injury), through hard work and determination, he went on to win his first professional kick boxing fight. Just goes to show, if you put your mind to it, you can achieve anything.
What’s your guilty pleasure?
Grabbing a bottle of red wine, a blanket and sitting in a field every weekend from April onwards watching cricket for up to 10 hours a day!
Three words to describe yourself?
Driven, determined and fun.
What fact would surprise most people about you?
My husband still doesn’t believe me, but in my younger years, I was the Yorkshire Cross Country champion – something I am very proud of.
