O Brian tells how to woo the crowds

14-May-2008

Following in the footsteps of Marcus Brigstocke and Ed Byrne, Dara O Briain took the helm of hosting the Recruiter Awards at the Grosvenor House Hotel.

Speaking to Recruiter before the event, O Briain claimed he had never had to use a recruitment agency in the past — unless, of course, he could find one that could get him “somebody just to be my pal on the road”.

O Briain said he had heard that recruiters could be a difficult audience — but that as a former children’s TV presenter, he knew all about tough crowds.

“You can’t get kids drunk. It’s against some sort of regulations. Also kids aren’t trying to impress each other in the hope of scoring later, which I would imagine would be the dynamic here.”
An experienced compère who has won awards for his public debating, the affable Irishman also offered his advice on what budding public speakers in the recruitment industry should do to ensure they give a memorable presentation.

“Talk like you normally talk — that’s the most important thing you can do. If you put on any airs and graces it’ll be spotted.

“Watch The Apprentice — they do it really badly every week. You can surely pick up the bad tips from them.”