Meet Tony
Q: What's your background in recruitment?
A: 10-years in the industry straight out of university. I cut my teeth finding Python and C++ devs for FinTech and Prop Trading firms. Latterly I’ve been focused on Data Specialists and SREs. I particularly like the challenge of seeking out technical leaders.
Q: Why did you join Workonomics?
A: The opportunity to work with Jon again made it a no-brainer. He’s someone who has my utmost respect as a professional and as a person. The timing wasn’t perfect (I had just started a part-time law degree!) but it felt too good to say no. I’m glad I didn’t.
Q: What do you enjoy most about recruitment?
A: It's still the satisfaction of seeing someone you've helped really thrive. It usually comes years after the actual 'recruitment' bit. Once in a while you’ll find someone a job that will genuinely change their life and set them on a path to achieve great things. In turn they become essential to the success of the company. Seeing them both prosper together never gets old.
Q: What’s your recruitment style?
A: Direct. I keep it low on salesmanship and high on accurate information and support.
Q: What’s your biggest achievement in recruitment?
A: I took on a retained search and found a Technical Trainer who was working at a tiny private university in Pennsylvania. I relocated them to a well-known FinTech firm in New York and he is now Global Head of Tech Training there doing awesome things, redefining the company’s technology curriculum for their graduate software engineer intake. I’m so proud of them and we’re still regularly in touch.
Q: What’s the greatest challenge(s) you face in recruitment?
A: The preconception that all recruiters are dishonest or invested in their own success at the expense of others. Admittedly, some are. But a really good one can still offer a huge amount of value to a growing business; the best recruiters are so much more than people brokers.
Q: What advice would you give someone looking to find a recruiter to help them to change jobs?
A: 3-part test. Check out their:
LinkedIn bio - how do they come across?
LinkedIn recommendations - at least 10 is a good sign.
Company website - what are their values?
Q: What are you interested in outside of recruitment?
A: Travelling. I was fortunate enough to take 2 months off at the end of ’19 and visited Japan, NZ, Singapore and Malaysia with my wife. I love cricket; I’m a member at Surrey CCC. I enjoy baking bread - I make a mean Focaccia.
Q: What new skills have you picked up during lockdown?
A: For work, I’ve completed 5 different Diversity & Inclusion workshops and attended 3 Leadership webinars. When I get interested in something I tend to obsess over it. The prevalence of unconscious bias throughout the recruitment lifecycle is something that needs to be taken seriously. Outside work, my wife and I are trying to learn to speak Italian and play tennis (occasionally at the same time).
Q: What would be your ‘death row’ meal - starter, main and dessert?
A: Starter would be these incredible chilli prawns I had in a tiny shack restaurant on the beach in Mauritius. It’s called Wapalapam. Main I’d find it hard to look past a pizza. Freshly-baked Margherita with a sourdough base and buffalo mozzarella. Pudding is hard because I don’t have a huge sweet tooth. If a cheese board was an option I’d probably go for that. If not, sticky toffee pudding.