Thank you so much for your all your efforts in finding me a position within IT Sales. Your input has been absolutely essential to my current success. From my first interview you have been there accurately interpreting, encouraging me and, most importantly, guiding me to the success that I have been able to achieve today with TestPlant. Rest assured that I will be singing the praises of Celsius to anyone that displays the attributes that you and your team can translate into successful professionals.
Once again I thank you and look forward to meeting you again for the sales training session coming up soon.
Chaish S
“My experience with Celsius has been exceptional in terms of pace and success. I had been applying for jobs constantly through jobs boards and websites with little success. I received a call from John on a Friday. He invited me to an assessment day the following Tuesday, which I successfully got through, and was placed in an interview at Apple's UK headquarters on the Thursday. By 4pm that same day I was offered the position.
Celsius' assessment day was delivered excellently, showing clearly why they are very selective of the candidates they present to their clients. The feedback I received on the activities during the day was honest and clear, and the advice on interview technique was evidently very helpful.
I would fully recommend using their services if you are serious about pushing your career into sales.”
Bryan L
“Having graduated with a degree in Business and Human Resource Management I was not sure if I would be a suitable candidate for Celsius as my knowledge and background had never been focused on IT or sales. My reservations and concerns were quickly dispelled following my initial contact with Celsius and I went on to progress through their assessment day. They were an excellent support with one to one mentoring and with regular contact. They found a suitable job opportunity for me straight away which matched my personality and strengths. Within days I had been offered an excellent job with great opportunities and an outstanding remuneration package. Celsius gave me access to opportunities which I otherwise would not have been aware of and I am now on my way to a bright and successful future.”
Naomi S
We recently caught up with one of our clients, Avecto ltd, who recruited 2 graduates from us earlier in the year to find out how things were progressing. Here are the thoughts of one of their founders, Tony Bolland.
- A brief overview of your company please, Tony
Avecto Ltd – Founded 2008. Manchester based software house with offices in Boston MA. Innovator and developer of Privilege Guard, a new technology developed to improve the security of desktops and laptops in Fortune 1,000 companies and government departments. The Avecto management founded and led two other technology companies that featured in the Times Technology Fast Track 100, 5 years out of the last 12.
Graduate recruitment/development has been a fundamental building block to our previous business’s sales engine.Avecto will also follow the same model of recruiting and developing high achieving sales individuals based on partnership with Celcius.
- When did you recruit Ben and Jonathan?
Feb 2009
- How they have been targeted and what they have achieved (calls/DMs/Appointments/Revenue)
Target 10+ business conversations per day. 1 Web meeting. Both achieved web meetings on the first day. Ben consistently closes 10+ new web meetings per week with senior IT managers in major UK organisations.
- How quickly did they win a deal?
2 Months to first order.
- What is the total revenue they have generated in their first 3 and 6 months
£100K sales per sales person in the first 4 months. Targeted to achieve £100K new business per qtr (note sales person closes their deals), although they are now handling sub £5K deals. Cost sub £3k pm – generate £25K
- Any aspects of their performance that you feel are appropriate
The beauty of the graduate is their hunger and lack of baggage!
“Steve joined 724 Solutions in October 2008, he was initially tasked with providing operational support for a fast paced sales team, and since joining has integrated himself into both the company and the mobile telecoms industry. His versatile approach to challenges make him a fantastic asset for the company, and has resulted in his role growing to encompass many areas, from dealing with customer documentation and developing team collaboration facilities to marketing and presentation production, as well as representing the company at mobile events in Europe. His commitment, tenacity and communication skills have helped 724 Solutions greatly over the past year and Steve has proven a great hire for the company.
Celsius provided great candidates for interview and we subsequently selected and placed a highly motivated graduate with the right skills into our organization. The endorsed diploma in professional sales provided by Celsius helped develop the graduate and further enhanced their value to the company. Using Celsius simplified the recruitment process and we are very pleased with the results.”
Matt Dunnett, VP EMEA Sales, 724 Solutions.
“I was initially slightly sceptical when I engaged with Celsius. What was an assessment centre? Would the process lead to interviews? It all sounded too good to be true! Anyway, I kept an open mind, and after what turned out to be a really pro-active and interesting assessment day my initial concerns were quickly alleviated!
After being told that I had been successful at the assessment centre I was immediately taken into a meeting and provided with my own personal graduate manager. Straight away we got talking about a number of opportunities that sounded fantastic and were exactly what I had been looking for. I had three interviews arranged for me for the following days and I was thoroughly prepped on the companies that I would be visiting.
Before attending each of the interviews I was briefed by my graduate manager over the phone to ensure I had the best possible chance of being successful, I was also de-briefed when I came out, this ‘hands on’ approach really helped me through this rather daunting process.
Later that week I received two offers and decided to accept the one from one of the world’s leading IT networking providers! Since then I have been working as a sales executive in their head office in Manchester and I’m loving the challenges that each day provides me with!
Looking back I’m really pleased that I attended the assessment day and I would strongly recommend that fellow graduates embrace the opportunity that Celsius provide.”
Shaun F
“I have recently started employment after attending the assessment day at Celsius in Manchester with Iknow UK.
Having been to an assessment day for another company previously I was able to compare the two days, and the day with Celsius was far more organised and helpful than my previous experience.
The day began with introductions from the graduates being assessed on the day which broke the ice. We were then split into groups of 5 to carry out some group work.
Obviously having the knowledge that these group exercises were to see how we all worked together and to pick out characteristics in us, I tried my best to demonstrate the attributes the assessors were looking for, which was much easier to do than first thought as the activities were well designed to do this.
A quick bite to eat and one by one we were asked to speak to clients of Celsius (of which there were 2) so they could assess if we were right for their company. Being successful enough in both of these quick meetings, I was asked to have a more formal interview with both.
I was eventually successful in gaining employment with one of these companies and after a week working here feel I really fit in well and hope to be successful. I have had a lot of support from Celsius and feel that if there were any problems, even now, I could still ask them for help.
Thank you to everyone at Celsius!”
Caroline C
“Three and half years ago I came along to a Celsius recruitment day in Manchester, Celsius secured an interview with IBM for me to which I was successful and in February 2006 I joined the IBM software tele sales team in Dublin.
I have to say I have had a fantastic time so far and have progressed within the company and now have responsibility as a field sales rep for one of the software brands for Ireland and Northern Ireland and have been able to work directly with some of the world’s largest corporations.
Training and travel opportunities within the company have allowed me to spend time in Holland, Spain, UK and the USA-all of which have been thoroughly enjoyable, not to mention off site training across Ireland. Last year I was able to spend a week on a high achievers course in Boston, Massachusetts enjoying tours of the local area and meeting colleagues from around the globe.
This is just a quick thank-you and to say that if I look back to the time immediately after I graduated getting in contact with Celsius was one of the best things I have done and Celsius opened the door to what I hope will be a long and successful career.”
Max W
“They’ve provided us with two graduates so far who have been with us for six months and are doing very well. It’s always a challenge when recruiting graduates but Celsius have made it easier for us and found us the kind of people we need.”
Cem Baris, Search and Select Team Leader, SOLA Group.
“We’ve recruited two internal sales people through Celsius, and they’ve even placed my son in a role. I was very impressed by the caliber of people they sent to us. The benefit to us is that Celsius have done much of the hard work before we even see the candidates. Recruiting anyone of quality is a challenge and it’s always a risk. Celsius made that process much easier and reduced the risks we face when taking on anyone new.”
Mark Grindey, Business Development Manager, Repton.
“So far we’ve hired four people through Celsius to take part in our structured sales programme. We were looking for people with enthusiasm, good presentation skills and the right level of education. All the candidates they sent to us were excellent and invited back for a second interview. Rather than having to advertise for ourselves and then sift through the dross they’ve definitely made it easier for us. The ongoing training they provide is done on the timescales we require and it means we don’t have to look anywhere else. We’ll definitely be using them again in the future.”
John Good, Public Sector Manager, Hopewiser.
“I found the course extremely interesting throughout as we explored the psychology behind what drives people to buy. Alun was an extremely good trainer; he was enthusiastic and energetic throughout and adapted his style to keep the group focused. Now that I am back in the workplace I am putting theory into practice with much more confidence and my communication with others is much more effective.”
Gordon M.
“From the moment of first contact with the Celsius team, their professionalism and outstanding ability in what they do are more than apparent! Certainly a confidence boosting, highly informative journey!”
Chardi-Leigh S.
“[Celsius Training is an] excellent introduction to sales for people with no or little experience in sales. An eye-opener to the world of sales. [I] can’t wait for the next course!”
Marc S.
“A highly effective course in teaching confidence, communication and selling skills. Highly recommended!”
Steve V.
“I found Celsius to be very organised and efficient in placing me in a job role: the training given on the induction day proved very useful for my interview, which was actually arranged on the same day as I attended the induction. The company I am now working for is a thriving IT firm and I have found all of my colleagues to be friendly and I am enjoying the position immensely.”
Sian
