What makes a good employee?
We ask this question because Finders is currently recruiting; we’re seeking regional representatives and research and administrative interns to work with us, so of course we want to set out what we look for in the people we successfully recruit.
The last series of BBC Heir Hunters (and we are currently filming for series 9, as you’ll see from our Facebook page updates) raised awareness of the work of probate genealogy firms such as ourselves and the cases featured on the programme sparked a lot of interest in this area of work.
Opportunity to Experience Probate Genealogy
Internships are a really useful way for people to find out if the field of probate genealogy is for them. At Finders, we pride ourselves on our no-nonsense, fast and friendly service which we carry out to the highest standards.
It helps if people have a good knowledge of history and geography, as probate researchers will need to be able to take into account issues such as public records and how they were recorded, and to know of key events which can have had an impact on people living at that time. Geographical knowledge helps too, as Finders has a world-wide reach and an idea of where you can start when you look for potential heirs outside of the UK is extremely useful.
Common Sense is Number One
Common sense is an absolute requirement for probate genealogy work. It may seem obvious, but why is this the case? You must be able to look at records and work out what will be worth while pursuing, because research takes time and we are often working against the clock. A lot of the time as well, you will be second-guessing what might have happened to a family so being able to use your knowledge and common sense to work out the avenues that should be pursued is a bonus.
One trait we also look for is communications skills. When you work with families, you are often conveying sensitive information or you can be dealing with people who have lost touch with each other either because of the passage of time or because of family fall-outs. Sensitivity and discretion are an absolute must.
Fantastic Opportunity
The purpose of the intern role we are offering is to support our case managers and internal staff. It is a fantastic opportunity for someone who is enthusiastic and motivated, and who is also very willing to learn. We want someone to:
- research records externally;
- write letters;
- carry out general administration work, such as scanning, photocopying and filing;
- deal with post;
- prepare marketing packs;
- and make refreshments for staff and our guests.
Interns are employed for an initial six-month probational period, with a view to long-term employment but please note that this is not guaranteed.
Our regional representatives also have a valuable job to do. Our main office is London-based, but of course our work takes us all over the UK and beyond. We need regional representatives who can work for us in different parts of the UK tracing beneficiaries and carrying out research which can only be done on the ground.
If you think you have what it takes to work with Finders UK, you can read more about our vacancies here, and we look forward to hearing from you.
