What’s in a name

Call me a snob but I hugely dislike Attic being referred to as a Recruitment Agency. We are without a doubt a Recruitment CONSULTANCY! Jumping off my soapbox for a moment, I do have a genuine point to make.

Agency by definition is ‘a business or organisation providing a particular service on behalf of another business, person or group’.

Consultancy on the other hand is ‘a professional practice that gives expert advice within a particular field’.

Being described as an Agency (whether recruitment agency or temp agency) conjures up images of dozens of CVs being fired out to clients, forcing square pegs into round holes and running as fast as you can in the opposite direction, hoping the placement lasts. We’ll pass on that thanks.

We are not psychologists or psychiatrists (although sometimes it does feel that way) but we do have an abundance of experience of understanding why people behave the way they do.

For a permanent placement or temp job to go the distance in London, we need to understand the culture and values of an organisation – both the official definition in their company charter and whether this is actually adhered to in the work place.

We ask the right questions to understand how the role fits in an organisation and how (or if) the position will develop. Only after all the relevant information (which never appears on a job spec) has been gathered, are we then in a position to suggest avenues previously not explored by our clients. Having a genuine understanding of business needs and expectations enables us to properly advise on the best fit for their business.

At Attic, we consult. We are paid a fee to offer our expertise on a subject we know a lot about – People.

Kirsty Miall

Director