Recruitment guidance.
Attracting talent into the sector.
What are graduates looking for in their careers? How do career returners react to roles in the sector? Get to know your audience.
Five principles for effective recruitment
-
Different audiences engage through different channels. Effective recruitment starts by showing up in the right places.
School leavers → TikTok, Instagram and social-first content
Graduates → University careers services and graduate job boards
Career returners → Return-to-work programmes and flexible work networks
-
Candidates are more likely to apply when they can clearly picture themselves in the role.
Every job opportunity should include:
A real person and authentic voice
A “day in the life” story
Clear progression pathways
Transparent information on salary, hours and working patterns
-
The words used in recruitment matter.
Where possible:
Move beyond problem-focused terminology such as “waste”
Emphasise positive, future-focused themes including:
Resources
Sustainability
Innovation
Circular systems
This helps position the sector as modern, purposeful and impactful.
-
Recruitment is not just a communications challenge - it is an opportunity design challenge.
Different audiences need different pathways:
Graduate schemes → Clear development and progression structures
Returner programmes → Supported and flexible re-entry routes
Apprenticeships → Strong identity, earning potential and progression opportunities
-
Salary is about more than income alone.
Across all audiences, pay communicates:
Value
Recognition
Progression potential
Professional credibility
Transparent and competitive salaries help candidates see the sector as a serious long-term career choice.
“I think the job titles are really convoluted, you don’t want to spend 30 minutes trying to work out what the role is.”
Christine, research participant
Our research revealed one clear insight: people are not rejecting the sector they simply do not see themselves in it.
The organisations that succeed in recruitment will not be those that shout the loudest, but those that make it easy for people to think: “That could be me.”
To support employers across the UK waste and resources sector, we have developed practical recruitment guidance tailored to different talent groups, including:
School Leavers
Graduates
Career Returners
These downloadable guides provide actionable recommendations to help organisations attract, engage and retain new talent.
Cross-sector recruitment guidance
Download the recruitment guides
Explore our audience-specific recruitment guidance to help your organisation attract the next generation of talent into the UK waste and resources sector.
Be part of the movement.
Think Again is bringing together forward-thinking organisations committed to reshaping perceptions of the waste sector and attracting the workforce of the future. We are calling on companies across the industry to sign a pledge and commit to five practical actions that our research shows can significantly enhance the sector's appeal to a broader and more diverse pool of job seekers.
By working together, we can build a stronger, more inclusive, and more attractive industry. Click the link below to learn more about the campaign and how your organisation can be part of the change.