For Professionals
FAQs
What type of working patterns should I be considering?
There are various ways to work flexibly and Sapphire’s clients are seeking a number of options:
Many of our professionals are self employed and have set themselves up as a limited company. We will help you to decide what set up is best for you and offer you professional support to make sure you have the correct structure.
How will you help repackage me if I have been out of the workplace for some time?
Sapphire offers an enhanced service which includes CV production, interview technique, presentation training etc. which we tailor to your needs. A Sapphire consultant will work with you to make sure you are well prepared for that all-important first interview, and each one thereafter. We also introduce our candidates to our network of strategic partners where appropriate expertise is beneficial.
How do I know how much to charge?
We will work with you to set an appropriate daily rate, project fee or salary target. In many instances the client will have a clear budget but will also retain Sapphire to advise on appropriate remuneration levels.
What kind of professionals are you seeking?
Typically our professionals are women, aged between 37-47 with over 15 years’ experience but calibre is our real focus. All have reached senior management positions within their chosen organisations. Many now want to change direction and to work in a different way, some in a totally new professional context. We absolutely do seek out high-achieving men who want flexibility but what makes us different from 5,000 other search firms is our expertise in senior women.
How do I become part of the Sapphire talent pool?
The first step is to call us. We will talk with you via phone or by email and ask you to send us your CV. Provided our professional benchmarks are met, we will arrange for you to meet a Sapphire consultant. There is a comprehensive interview process and references are taken up. We set minimum levels of experience and seniority in line with the demands of our clients, all of which are leading organisations with a range of challenging opportunities to offer.
What are your minimum requirements?
Our clients are seeking experienced professionals. All our candidates will have reached senior positions within their respective fields. The majority will be educated to postgraduate level and have a minimum of 10 years’ management experience. We understand that many of our potential candidates may have taken a career break. Your energy and drive are what is important to us and our clients.
Do you work only with women?
No, we will work with senior male and female professionals who are the right fit for our client’s needs. Relevant skills and experience are always the key requirements. Our emphasis on flexibility tends to appeal most to experienced senior women. Sapphire is intentionally different from other consulting and search firms and our female focus sets us apart.
Do you include Board appointments?
The UK plc boards are well served by the major search firms for traditional candidates. Sapphire Partners is focused on the broad group of UK small and medium sized enterprises, corporations, private equity firms and not for profit organisations who would benefit from experienced, female board members who may not yet be sufficiently high profile for more conservative search firms to have noticed.
Our female board candidates have strong credentials, demonstrable capabilities and deep commitment to their careers. Their integrity, intellect and achievements are outstanding.
What type of working patterns should I be considering?
There are various ways to work flexibly and Sapphire’s clients are seeking a number of options:
- Permanent part time: reduced hours on a flexible basis
- Temporary project work: special projects that will range in duration, typically 3-6 months. This can be full time or part time
- Interim assignments: covering employment gaps e.g. recruitment or maternity cover
- Job sharing: opportunities for sharing a position with another individual
- Full time permanent: flexibility can still be achieved with aspects of a job being done from home
Many of our professionals are self employed and have set themselves up as a limited company. We will help you to decide what set up is best for you and offer you professional support to make sure you have the correct structure.
How will you help repackage me if I have been out of the workplace for some time?
Sapphire offers an enhanced service which includes CV production, interview technique, presentation training etc. which we tailor to your needs. A Sapphire consultant will work with you to make sure you are well prepared for that all-important first interview, and each one thereafter. We also introduce our candidates to our network of strategic partners where appropriate expertise is beneficial.
How do I know how much to charge?
We will work with you to set an appropriate daily rate, project fee or salary target. In many instances the client will have a clear budget but will also retain Sapphire to advise on appropriate remuneration levels.
What kind of professionals are you seeking?
Typically our professionals are women, aged between 37-47 with over 15 years’ experience but calibre is our real focus. All have reached senior management positions within their chosen organisations. Many now want to change direction and to work in a different way, some in a totally new professional context. We absolutely do seek out high-achieving men who want flexibility but what makes us different from 5,000 other search firms is our expertise in senior women.
How do I become part of the Sapphire talent pool?
The first step is to call us. We will talk with you via phone or by email and ask you to send us your CV. Provided our professional benchmarks are met, we will arrange for you to meet a Sapphire consultant. There is a comprehensive interview process and references are taken up. We set minimum levels of experience and seniority in line with the demands of our clients, all of which are leading organisations with a range of challenging opportunities to offer.
What are your minimum requirements?
Our clients are seeking experienced professionals. All our candidates will have reached senior positions within their respective fields. The majority will be educated to postgraduate level and have a minimum of 10 years’ management experience. We understand that many of our potential candidates may have taken a career break. Your energy and drive are what is important to us and our clients.
Do you work only with women?
No, we will work with senior male and female professionals who are the right fit for our client’s needs. Relevant skills and experience are always the key requirements. Our emphasis on flexibility tends to appeal most to experienced senior women. Sapphire is intentionally different from other consulting and search firms and our female focus sets us apart.
Do you include Board appointments?
The UK plc boards are well served by the major search firms for traditional candidates. Sapphire Partners is focused on the broad group of UK small and medium sized enterprises, corporations, private equity firms and not for profit organisations who would benefit from experienced, female board members who may not yet be sufficiently high profile for more conservative search firms to have noticed.
Our female board candidates have strong credentials, demonstrable capabilities and deep commitment to their careers. Their integrity, intellect and achievements are outstanding.