Welcome to the latest installment of our monthly interview series called ’10×10′. Ten questions presented to ten specialist recruiters. Our interview this month is with Kevin Warner.

Based in our Brisbane office, Kevin took time to sit down with us as part of our 10×10 Series to discuss his career, personal insights and future industry trends.

1. Tell us about your career, and how you got started in the recruitment industry?

Growing up in New Zealand, I always dreamt about traveling. So as soon as I could, I bought myself a one-way ticket to London, with the expectation I was going to work there as an electrician. It wasn’t long before I realised that I didn’t want to work in the freezing cold! Instead, I set upon a career in an office environment.

I was lucky enough to get a break and started my first role in recruitment, which if I’m honest, I didn’t know much about. The job was within the energy waste sector, where I started learning all about anaerobic digestion and biomass – glamorous stuff!

I quickly began to love the role and moved into the solar and wind space, where I have now spent almost 10 years working in. The exposure to exciting clients across the globe in either entering new markets or supporting local projects has been great!

2. How has the recruiting process changed since those early days?

Technology has progressed considerably over my time. When I first started, we worked on spreadsheets and Google. Today there are technology platforms that allow for a far better customer experience and help to ensure the optimum results for the people we partner with.

3. What is the latest recruitment trend that’s made you take notice?

Video interviewing is a great new platform that allows for candidates to truly tell a story in a more visual and audio manner. The traditional CV can sometimes not be a true reflection of someone’s ability or background, you get the full picture this way.

4. Based on your experience, what do you think will happen within recruitment over the next five years?

Technology will continue to play a fundamental role in how recruitment is delivered. However, I believe that in staying human in an increasingly digital world recruitment agencies will add value to their candidates and clients through their understanding and industry insights and not just sending a CV and hoping it matches the client’s requirements.

5. How important is diversity in the workplace and do you have any advice for employers?

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“Diversity is crucial if a business or organisation is to grow and evolve. it’s all about bringing together people with different views and experiences to ultimately collaborate and drive outcomes which may be somewhat outside of the box to one individual.”

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My advice to hiring managers is to make sure people feel able to share their points and be head in their team or office environment. Everyone is different and often the people that are afraid to speak up will have the best ideas. An inclusive workplace culture should be at the heart of everyone’s priorities.

6. Not all recruitment companies are the same, so what questions should a client ask when choosing one?

When speaking with a recruiter, make sure you ask them questions about your industry. Whilst recruiters are not going to be specialists on every single thing in the industry, they should have a pretty good understanding of what is going on.

7. How do you source candidates for specific roles, and do you have any advice for those seeking to further their careers?

Generally, I find my candidates through either my network or specific head hunting. I find that advertising roles in the general forums often won’t turn up anything of use and really the reason why a company engages a consultant isn’t for us to put an advert up but rather actively meet the market and discuss the opportunity.

My advice for those seeking to further their careers would be to reach out and speak with a specialist recruiter. They really do know what is going on in the market and where the value can be added for that individual. The good recruiters will also be honest about how or when they might be able to help them. If it’s not something they can do they should be able to tell you straight and at least still point you in the right direction.

8. How do you measure success?

I measure success through fulfillment. Some of the best placements I have ever made have not been the most lucrative but rather the most rewarding. One example was a business development manager in the Philippines. I was representing a global renewable energy company and through a vigorous search and selection, I found a guy who was fantastic and we offered him the position at a salary of US$60,000. This was 5 times what he was earning at the time and in his words, had changed his and his family’s lives.

9. What do you consider the most rewarding aspect about your job?

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“Seeing companies grow and develop. I work in an industry that has had huge growth in the past 10 years and continues to grow today and I have been lucky enough to play a fundamental role in helping the businesses. Seeing the success of those companies and individuals over the past 10 years is what I love about my job.”

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10. Tell us about someone you admire and why…

All Blacks legend Richie McCaw! Richie had a career with the All Blacks that is unlikely to ever be surpassed. Not only is he the highest capped international rugby player of all time, but has captained the All Blacks over a hundred times. Through his career, he always managed to have a very calm and focused demeanor. He is also in my mind one of the most humble guys you’ll ever meet. He was the guy who everyone and not only the 15 guys on the field but rather the 5 million people in New Zealand looked to. We’re a proud rugby nation and he had so many people counting on him. Yet he had an uncanny ability to block out that kind of pressure and just get on with the job. I hope to one day be able to take a lot of what he did on the field and replicate that in a professional sense.

Kevin Warner has assisted some of the largest global companies to enter into emerging energy markets across Europe, Africa, Middle East, China, Japan, SE Asia and Australia. Get to know Kevin by connecting with him via LinkedIn or by email.