1)What’s your name and job title?
Georgina Harrington, I’m the Office Manager here.
2)How long have you worked at Willcox Matthews?
I’ve been at WM since April 2021, still getting to grips with everything but slowly getting comfortable here!
3)What does your job entail?
I keep things organised around the office, get the adverts out onto the websites that we use. I run the social media accounts (which surprisingly takes up a lot of time!), keep all the posts up to date and interact with the followers.
Making sure that the new candidates that are sent through are listed on the systems correctly and keep all of our system contacts up to date.
Creating company policies, and ensuring that the Health and Safety regulations are up to date is also part of monthly to do list!
4)What is a typical day like?
After logging into the email / systems and checking to see if anything important came in overnight I will log into our LinkedIn / Facebook / Instagram accounts to check on the posts that went live the previous day. I also check to see if any applications have come in through the Direct Messages, if there have been I will forward these onto my colleagues to be processed.
If needed, I will create an advert from the raw specifications that are sent from the company. This will then be put onto our company website, ensuring that our SEO / categories are all correct, then it will be posted onto the job websites that we work with. I will also create a post via our Canva account, that will be used to advertise on our LinkedIn / Facebook / Instagram accounts. Currently we just work on organic connections with our Social Media accounts.
I write the blogs / articles that go live on our website and on a company website that we work with.
Sporadically I will check up on our policies and make sure everything is up to date, or needs amending to reflect our growing office.
If needed I will keep the office / kitchen / break room clean and throughout the day we all take turns answering the phone lines.
5)Favourite memory from your time at work?
There’s far too many to choose from, especially considering I’ve only been here since April 2021! We had a great company night out when we attended the Chamber of Commerce Awards in Sept, which really meant the team could bond outside the office.
But I would say this is one of those rare offices where everyday there are laughs and we enjoy our days!
6)What’s an ideal client?
As I don’t work directly with the clients, I don’t have too many specifications, but having a clear, easy to read and up to date CV from candidate will make supporting our clients so much easier!
7)What advice would you offer for someone who wants to be in your industry?
To be an Office Manager (or anything administrative, which is where I started) you need to have great organisational skills – keeping on top of your work, and others, maintaining a calm demeanour and keeping a good relationship with your colleagues. You need to be approachable so that you can keep a good lead with anything.
8)What do you like most about your job?
Weirdly, I like my organisation! I like making sure things are running smoothly, finding ways for functions to run more efficiently. I also like a structure, so the fact that my daily routine doesn’t change is soothing for me.
9)What do you find most challenging about your job?
I wouldn’t say anything I’ve come across so far is too challenging, however when we have a particularly busy period and everyone is sending adverts to go live it can be quite overwhelming!
Also when the kitchen is an absolute mess when I come back from a few days off can be quite a challenge!
10)Where are you from?
I grew up and currently live in Droitwich but I’ve lived in Carlisle and Glasgow.
11)Where did you go to school?
Locally, at the Droitwich Spa High School.
12)What do you like to do when you aren’t working?
Spending time with my partner and our miniature dachshund, Willow – going out on mini adventures. I’m an avid reader so whenever I have a spare quiet moment I like to be with a book or buying them from charity shops. I also love to bake (which helps having an office full of men) so I’m always bringing in spare bakes for the office.
13)Do you have a pet?
Yes! Willow – she’s a tiny terror who thinks she’s the size of a German Shepherd but oh so cute!
14)What do you follow outside of work (sports / theatre / tv shows / comics)?
Theatre! I love going to watch musical’s (or just listening to the soundtrack!). I did Performing Arts in university so it’s a small passion that I love to explore, especially when new ones are going on tour!
15)What’s a fun fact about you many people may not know?
I genuinely believed that Weetabix gave me Chicken Pox as a child – I believed this until my teens, when logic prevailed, and I knew that wasn’t possible! But I have not eaten them since!
16)What was your first paying job?
I was a pot washer at a local restaurant, I loved that first paycheque! I think I went and treated myself to a bright yellow handbag!
17)What’s one thing you’re really good at / one thing you’re really bad at?
I’ve always been the ‘mum’ in every friend group, I’m really good at being prepared for everything and keeping an eye out for everyone! My draw at work and handbag is crammed with little things for those ‘just in case’ scenarios!
And I am so bad at taking time to relax, at the weekend I’m forever scooting off to places or cleaning or baking or re organising something!
18)What three items would you take with you to a deserted island?
I think I’d have to be sensible and have a mirror so I could start a fire / a tent / the Harry Potter book series, then I’d have something to do whilst I wait to be rescued!!
19)If you could have a career in anything, what would it be?
I always wanted to be a wedding planner, or a wedding dress designer, I loved being involved with all the weddings. As it turns out, my partner is a wedding photographer, so I get to live my wedding dreams through their work!
20)If you could meet anyone (real / fictional) who would it be and why?
I’ve also been a bit of a history bug so I’d love to meet Elizabeth I and talk about her life!
