Witan Jardine is a well established recruitment agency having been around for about 25 years. They specialise in Financial Services (mainly on the operational side), and Media and Commere jobs. This review will be focusing on the Financial Services side of the recuritment as this was the field I was working in at the time. In the same way I can only comment on the service I received looking for a permanant position as I have never had experience of looking for a temporary position with them.
I had been in my job for about three and a half years and was beginning to hate it so decided it was time to find a new one. This had been my first job in the Financial Services industry and I had gotten that through being the receptionist
so I wasn't too sure where to look. I asked around (discreetly of course!) and got the names of two agencies Prime Banking and Witan Jardine. I sent my cv to both of them and received calls from both of them to come in for a meeting.
My first meeting was with Prime Banking (I realise this review is supposed to be about Witan Jardine but this will serve to highlight the difference.) I went to meet the agent after work (much to his chargrain that I wouldn't use my annual leave to meet him) Throughout the interview he made me feel very small, like I didn't know what I was talking about and kept saying well you know you didn't go to University.....YES I KNOW, however had a slight inkling that 3 and a half years experience might satisfy some people. I came away from this meeting feeling very down about myself and almost resigned to staying in the job I hated.
After speaking to my Dad and Friends decided to give Witan Jardine a go anyway, after all it couldn't be any worse! I was to meet them again after work, which they had no problem with. I was even running late and they didn't mind.
I was greeted by a very friendly receptionist in their very professional offices in Southampton Place. I was shown through to a meeting room, offered a choice of drinks and given some forms to fill out. After leaving me alone for five minutes or so to fill out the forms I was greeted by a smiling Gavin my recruitment consultant.
We chatted away so we could get to know each other and it transpired that he knew by boss. I was slightly disturbed by this as it was coming up to bonus time and I didn't want my company to know I was leaving before I got my bonus. I needn't have worried though as he remained very professional throughout the whole experience and the first my boss knew of me leaving was when I handed my notice in.
The meeting went very well and he assured me there would be no problem getting me a job, he confirmed that I was underpaid and suggested the salary I should ask for. I felt very happy with the service when I left the meeting.
Gavin kept in contact everyday even when he had nothing to report, he would send me an e-mail saying that. When he needed to talk to me he would send me an e-mail asking me to give him a call, allowing me to go somewhere I could talk freely and would always call me back when I phoned so I wasn't using my phone bill. Likewise if I ever phoned and he wasn't there he was very effcient at returning my calls.
In less than three weeks I had an interview with a job that was everything I was looking for, he phoned me before the interview with tips and after the interview with feedback. I was offered this job and still received phonecalls during my probabtion period
Now I'm not stupid I realise they don't get their commission until I've completed my probabation but the service felt very personal and I didn't feel like I was another number on their books.
Witan Jardin can be approached in two ways, by telephone and via their website (contact details at the bottom of the review). The website has both specific job vacancies and the option to send your cv through without applying for a specific job. If you apply for one specific job they will also suggest to you other similar vacancies. They will never send your cv through to a company without your consent.
I found them to be very professional and friendly. I felt they offered me an excellent service and if I was ever looking for another job in London would definitley be approaching them again. Obviously only suitable for those applying for a jobs within the industries covered :0) They also sent me a diary in the new year which came with a little note wishing me the best of luck.
Advantages: Very helpful and efficient staff when trying to place potential commission earners Disadvantages: One late payment, unhelpful staff after leaving employment, slightly aggressive
Delicate_Orchid 07.08.2004 (26.07.2005)
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Review of Witan Jardine Recruitment
Advantages: Very helpful and efficient staff when trying to place potential commission earners Disadvantages: One late payment, unhelpful staff after leaving employment, slightly aggressive
Delicate_Orchid 07.08.2004 (26.07.2005)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Witan Jardine Recruitment
Nov 18th, 2005
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