Following a busy but successful year for our team, we thought it was the perfect time to introduce our new Meet the Team feature.
We’re going to be introducing each of our brilliant team members, so you can learn a little about each of them and what they do in their roles. Who better to start with than our fabulous Managing Director, Debbie McDermott!
Tell us a little bit about yourself.
As a busy mum of two young kids, ages 8 and 10, life often feels like a balancing act. When I’m not shuttling my children to their various activities, I try to make time for my own health and wellbeing. I’ve found that group exercise classes are a great way for me to stay motivated – I love the energy of working out with others and having an instructor push me to work harder than I would on my own. If left to my own devices, I’m likely to sit on the sofa and lose motivation.
To unwind, I look forward to Friday nights when I can enjoy quality time with my family. My kids love picking out a fun movie to watch together, we order a tasty Chinese and my husband and I can relax with a nice glass of wine. Weekends are when we can step back from our busy schedules and focus on each other.
As you’re the Managing Director, how did Bluestones Staffing come to be?
I’m very passionate about recruitment and enjoy providing clients and candidates with exceptional service, ensuring everything is managed effectively.
After starting my family, I was ready to get back to my challenging but rewarding career. I couldn’t find an agency that matched my values and work ethic, so with 23 years of experience, opening my own agency felt like the obvious next step in my career.
In your role, what do you do?
My responsibilities are far-reaching and diverse. On any given day, I may be creating and publishing job advertisements, networking with potential candidates online, speaking with clients to understand their hiring needs, interviewing applicants, or motivating and supporting my talented team. I enjoy the challenge of juggling these different initiatives and wearing many hats.
What do you enjoy about working in recruitment?
I enjoy the fast-paced, ever-changing nature of recruitment. No two days are ever the same, which keeps things exciting. My focus is on attracting top talent, building relationships, and guiding candidates through the recruitment process with care. It’s rewarding to help people find roles where they can thrive while also ensuring a great hiring fit for our clients. The variety and working with so many people make recruitment a dynamic, meaningful career.
What is it like working with the rest of the team?
Like storm Agnes, it’s ever-changing. No two days are the same in our unpredictable, fast-paced roles. While it can feel like a rollercoaster ride at times, the support and solidarity amongst our team make the highs higher and the lows more manageable. There are certainly stressful, difficult moments when obstacles arise, but we face them together with optimism and humour. My team are brilliant, and we always have plenty of laughs together and their loyalty inspires me. They have the same passion and drive that I do, and I’m excited for the future of Bluestones Staffing.
What do you enjoy most about working with clients?
I’ve been fortunate to develop meaningful relationships with clients that have evolved into lifelong friendships. When you work closely with someone over an extended period, you get to know them on a personal level that exceeds business. I actually invited some of my clients to my wedding! If you treat clients with genuine compassion and integrity, you can develop friendships that last forever. Recruitment is an incredibly rewarding career.
What do you enjoy most about working with candidates?
When working with candidates, my priority is to understand who they are, beyond their CV. I take the time to genuinely listen to their career aspirations, what motivates them, and the type of environment they want to work in. I make sure they know I’ll always make time for them, whether they want career advice or to simply grab a coffee and have a chat. As with my clients, I’ve worked with some of our candidates for a long time and I’ve built genuine friendships with them. When I’m placing candidates, I aim to make meaningful matches between candidates and roles that align with their skills, interests, values and professional goals. Every time I place someone in a position that is a good fit and meets their needs, it’s incredibly rewarding.
You can connect with Debbie on LinkedIn
Tel: 028 95 219 313
Email: debbie.mcdermott@bluestones-staffing.co.uk
