Driving Recruitment Success with Data

10 Feb 2025

At First Recruitment Group, operational excellence plays a role in ensuring smooth processes and continued success. One person at the centre of this is Carmel Bardsley, Operations Business Partner. With a keen eye for process improvement and a passion for data-driven decision-making, Carmel works closely with teams across the business to enhance efficiency, drive performance and create meaningful impact.

In this Q&A, Carmel shares insights into her role, the power of data in recruitment and the collaborative efforts that keep First Recruitment Group ahead of the curve.

Can you explain your role as an Operations Business Partner at First Recruitment Group?

I’m all about getting to the heart of how we work as a business. I spend time with colleagues to figure out what processes we already have in place, where things might not align and where there are gaps. The idea is to pull all of this together into a clear, easy-to-use process that helps everyone work smarter. It’s about giving the team the tools they need to do their best work and creating a solid foundation for us to keep improving as we grow.

How do you support recruitment teams and the group's sister companies in delivering great results?

My aim is to keep things running smoothly and ensure our processes and systems work well for everyone. I spend a lot of time working to understand where the business is headed and how we can align our operations with those goals. Whether it’s improving workflows, staying on top of compliance, or solving everyday challenges, I’m here to help things work smoothly. It’s about making life easier for the team, creating processes and working with systems that add value, alongside encouraging a culture where we’re always looking for ways to improve.

What do you enjoy most about your role?

I get to do something that I love, enjoy and am passionate about. If anyone has read my LinkedIn profile, they’ll know I’m a self-proclaimed process geek—making the world a little more organised, one system or process at a time. Curious by nature, I enjoy working with the teams, getting to know their challenges and working with them to find workable solutions. A large part of this is looking at the data, questioning what it’s telling me and sharing the insights.

Data-driven recruitment

How does data help improve recruitment outcomes at First Recruitment Group?

You need to know where you are to know where you want to be. Understanding our metrics is pivotal to our effectiveness in delivering the best recruitment outcomes for our consultants and their clients. When they win, we win and it’s all about growing together in an ever-changing and fast-paced environment. I attended a few sessions at the Recruitment Expo in Birmingham earlier this year and the importance of data came up multiple times. The main takeaway for me was: you cannot manage what you don’t measure. We should obsess over the important metrics that drive the right behaviours. Done correctly, the right metrics encourage positive habits and help people understand how to be successful.

Can you share an example of how insights from data have made a difference?

I think the biggest difference is being able to make data-driven decisions. At First Recruitment Group, making sense of our data has been a game-changer. It’s not just about numbers—it’s about spotting trends, understanding what works and knowing where to focus our energy. Whether it’s figuring out which sourcing channels bring in the best candidates or seeing how a team is performing, solid insights let us make data-driven decisions that mitigate risk and drive growth. With the right data, we’re better equipped to adapt to market changes, amaze our clients and stay ahead of the competition.

How do you ensure data is effectively used by the recruitment teams?

All the data we currently have can dilute its effectiveness, so it’s about understanding what is needed to drive the business forward versus what is just a nice-to-have. Sometimes I have the data, but I don’t know how it helps. This is why my relationship with the teams and leadership is influential in understanding where the business is going and keeps me aligned with our operations and goals.

Keeping pace with recruitment technology is a challenge, so staying up to date with product updates helps streamline our hiring efforts, reduce bias and find the best-fit candidates more efficiently. Having the capability to make data-driven decisions is paramount to our effectiveness and success. It’s essential to choose the right tools that align with business requirements and integrate them effectively into our workflows.

Collaboration across the Group

How does your role connect with the wider Group?

My passion for process improvements led to an insightful session with our sister company, focusing on enhancing recruitment operations. A review of their existing processes helped identify and strengthen key areas to drive efficiencies and eliminate duplicate activities that didn’t add value. Working with them strengthens our relationship and ensures that we are together on the journey, collectively connected to operational goals.

Are there any unique opportunities or challenges in working within a Group structure?

Opportunities all the way. I love being in a role where I can see the big picture across the entire group. It gives me the chance to really understand how everything fits together and work with people who are absolute experts in their fields. For me, it’s a rewarding experience because I’m right at the heart of things, connecting all the dots. I really enjoy learning from others and working together to make things happen. Building strong relationships is what drives me because I genuinely believe that when the relationships are solid, success naturally follows.

Looking ahead

How do you see data shaping the future of recruitment?

It’s already happening! Data-driven decision-making was a key recruitment trend for 2024 and I see this continuing for the foreseeable future. The need to prepare candidate data for more widespread use of AI tools is no longer a nice-to-have but a strategic requirement. Quality data has always been needed for recruiters to be successful, but with the increased focus on digital transformation and the rise of AI, it’s now more than ever.

What makes First Recruitment Group stand out in the industry?

The people, its values and the willingness to adapt to change in the industry and its clients’ needs. First Recruitment Group is passionate about who it is and how it can better serve its clients. This aligns with my own passion for continuous improvement. We tackle challenges with a solution-focused approach and are driven by curiosity to find out what people need and how we can meet those needs.

At First recruitment Group we will continue to trial, evaluate and embed new technologies and ways of working, but our people – colleagues, clients and candidates will always be at the heart of everything we do.