1. Describe your approach to your own career progression?
I’d like to think that my career has progressed naturally because I have been recognised and
rewarded for doing a good job. I haven’t ever played any career ‘games’; I am a strong believer
in getting your head down, cracking on and sticking at something and I think this attitude has
stood me in good stead for internal promotions over the course of my career so far.
How did your career in the staffing industry begin?
I entered in the industry fresh out of university, and completely by chance. I was temping for
Westaff when an opportunity arose to join them as a Recruitment Consultant. I was offered
and accepted the position with a view to earning some extra money and biding my time
whilst waiting for now-wife to finish the last year of her degree studies; working in recruitment
certainly wasn’t a long-term plan.
4 years later I was in branch management with Westaff and had been involved in the running
of several branches, when one of Westaff’s Regional Directors made the move across to Kelly
and I followed shortly after becoming Branch Manager of Solihull in the UK.
A couple of years later I went on to join a new UK Staffing implementation team as Project
Manager, before going on to become Head of Implementation in 2006.
When in 2009 the UK underwent a large restructure and Kelly took a global approach to
implementation, I moved to the role of Senior Project Manager within Global Implementation
Services (GIS) which in turn lead to my current role as Director for GIS in EMEA.
What are your key tips on effective Project Management?
Describe the ideal Kelly/customer
relationship?
Without doubt the ideal relationship is built
on mutual trust, with both parties working
together as a partnership. Pulling towards
the same goal invariably means achieving
the best possible results all round.
Do you have any career regrets?
I left school at 18 and spent the next 5
years working within the hospitality industry
before continuing my studies and returning
to university. In some respects I regret this
gap in completing my education as it set
me back 5 years career-wise, however I can
honestly say that I don’t regret my time in
hospitality, which really shaped my work
ethic and taught me a great deal about
people management.
In general I would always prefer to regret the
things I have done than the things I haven’t.
I would rather try something only to discover
it didn’t work out, than never to try it at all.
What is the highlight of your role?
Without question it is the people I work with,
and have worked with over the last 12 years.
We have great people in our organisation
who have undoubtedly contributed to my
decision to stay at Kelly for so many years. I
genuinely do not think the grass is greener
anywhere else!
This is My Story
Keep in mind
we are not in the busi-
ness of managing pens
and pencils but people
and; for this reason no
two projects are
the same
Plan, plan and
plan some more;
expecting the unex-
pected and having
contingencies in place
for every eventuality
will save time in the
long run
If things go off
course, draw on
previous projects and
experience to find
proven solutions
Manage customer
expectations through
honest and open
communications
Never
underestimate the
power of common
sense!
Michael Woods,
Director GIS EMEA
How do you choose to spend
your free time?
Most of my free time is spent focussing on
family activities but outside of this I like to
get out and cycle; I’ve completed a few
distance challenges
for charity and next
year I’m hoping to
cycle the UK ‘End
to End’, covering
1,000 miles
in 10 days.