Adrian McDonagh: BA Hons Sports Studies

Adrian McDonagh

BA Hons Sports Studies, 1998

As the demands of the graduate recruitment market increase, the words of Bedford alumnus Adrian take on a greater significance.

Eleven years after graduating Adrian is now the MD of his own e-recruitment company. Web based Easy Web Recruitment (www.easywebrecruitment.com) is the market leader in flat fee online recruitment.

After graduating in 1998 with a BA in Sport Studies Adrian cut his teeth in the world of IT recruitment before setting up his own company, Verticality. For the raw graduate from Milton Keynes with a keen interest in technology and a burgeoning entrepreneurial streak it was a steep learning curve, but one that paid off when he started his second business Easy Web in 2006.

So now Adrian is clear on what makes a successful business enterprise. It’s the core skills of finance, legal and marketing. He recommends tapping onto the local business support and development agencies such as Business Link.

"It’s your business but you don’t have to do it alone."

Many things have changed in the virtual age and so has recruitment. With clients such as Tesco and Nike his advice on student preparation for the employment market is timely.

And Adrian’s advice to students?

“Gain as much commercial experience as possible before you graduate. It is hard for employers to make choices between graduates on paper if they just have a degree. It’s the extra things such as work experience in summer holidays, which will have felt like a part time job at the time, but will deliver you a competitive advantage to help you secure that interview.

“After that it is down to researching the company. Don’t just look at their website. Review blogs and news articles so you can see what other people are saying AND show you are sharp and highly motivated.”

Interviewed March 2010