Direct recruitment is better than using a headhunter or an agency in building authenticity with candidates, according to the recruitment manager at The National Trust.

Jenny Rettie told Recruiter that feedback from a recently advertised position of director of brand and marketing was that candidates valued the fact that the National Trust had recruited directly for the position rather than used a third party.

“Some of the candidates said they were impressed with the courage that we had done this.

“They felt they were getting the authenticity, whereas if you go through a headhunter or agency, you may feel slightly removed from the job, and you don’t know what is being sold to you. The very fact we had done this made them want to work for us.”

Despite, these views, Rettie admited that she had got all her jobs, including her current position, through agencies.