Mark Dexter, The Data Talent Scout
My journey into data recruitment wasn't exactly conventional. When I was looking for my first job in The City, my experience with recruitment agencies was pretty poor. Landing an interview arranged by a recruitment agency seemed like a good first step, but weeks of radio silence followed, only to be broken with a surprise job offer in the mail.
This pattern repeated itself – interviews went dark, good news arrived via impersonal letters, and the agency's terms felt poor value for the service. At 21, navigating this system felt confusing.
Starting my first recruitment role, I took it on myself to call unsuccessful candidates. One call stands out - instead of anger, I received genuine shock at being given an update. It struck a chord.
These were individuals who invested time preparing, and they deserved basic courtesy. Giving people news, good or bad, became a core principle. Fast forward to today, stories of ghosting by recruiters on social media is a rampant issue – a stark contrast to the simple act of keeping candidates informed.
My passion for data recruitment truly ignited in the late 90s while working with Unilever. Staffing their global intelligence program opened my eyes to the power of data-driven insights. When I ventured out to establish my own agency, Business Intelligence (BI) became my focus.
Throughout my career, one thing I've consistently emphasised is building a tribe of trusted data professionals. Not a vast, impersonal database, but a curated network of the top 5%, the tried and tested. I learned early on that placing the best talent has a profound impact on a company's success.
This dedication to quality is what fuels my role as The Data Talent Scout.