Consult Mythbusters: Setting The Record Straight

It’s come to our attention that there are a few urban myths about Consult that have been doing the rounds recently.

We’re kind of proud to be the owner of a few urban myths (because it means that we’ve sufficiently scared our competition into having to create them), but we thought we should set the record straight.

In no particular order, here they are:

1. CONSULT IS A CUTE LITTLE AGENCY (AWW!)

Yep, we were small back in 2008, and for a few years thereafter. I started Consult at my kitchen table, with a burning desire to do things differently to the corporate agencies I came from. Initially, it was just me. Then I managed to convince Steve that joining me at the beginning of a recession was a great idea! After that, we hired another recruiter we’d worked with in the past, and who also had accounting recruitment experience in the Auckland market. Then we hired another, and then a couple more…always focusing on the quality of people we hired over growth for growth’s sake.

Consult’s employee growth was a ‘two steps forward, one step back’ kind of deal during those recession years, but we kept at it and really focused on finding ‘our people’.

Fast forward to today and we have a team of 21, and all we do is focus on but accounting and finance recruitment, all day every day. If you can find a larger team of specialist accounting and finance recruiters in New Zealand, I’ll shout you lunch. 

What does this mean for you? Simply put more reach. More engagement with the talent pool, and a better selection of accounting and finance career opportunities than any other agency in New Zealand.

2. NOW THAT CONSULT’S GROWN, THEY’RE JUST LIKE THE REST

Every day, new candidates and clients tell us they were expecting a very different experience from us now that we’re a bigger agency. They walk through our doors resigned to receiving the same unremarkable or downright awful quality of service they’ve come to expect from the large ‘bums on seats’ outfits.

But the thing is, we have worked very, very hard to stay true to our kitchen table vision. We know we are nothing without great people. We stay close to our community, actively seeking and acting on their feedback at every step. And we think it pays off.

Here’s what our people have to say about the Consult difference:

“I am so glad I met with Consult. They are no ordinary recruitment agency. They are real and experienced.”

“I was in touch with several agencies during my job search. The team at Consult were by far better than all others. The shortest way to explain why is to say ‘they really care’.”

“I have never come across agents like you. Real people investing in real people.”

“The rumour says it all but experiencing it totally is a different story. Consult’s team are professional, reliable, honest, and expert.”

“Consult is a fresh, modern take on the recruitment industry. The consultants I dealt with were real and professional and offered great advice.”

“The best recruitment agency I’ve ever dealt with.”

We hate to blow our own trumpet (no, really!), but if it means reaching people who have been disillusioned by the state of the recruitment industry and showing them how good it really should be, then it’s totally worth it.

3. CONSULT ONLY RECRUITS ON THE NORTH SHORE

We started out in Takapuna simply because that’s where most of our early employees lived. But the thing is, we can travel! Because, you know, cars and stuff.

Since the day we started, we’ve met with people all over Auckland, and placed accountants into great roles from Waiuku to Whangaparaoa. In recent years we’ve served clients in Tauranga, Hamilton, Queenstown and even as far afield as Spain.

So earlier this year we opened an additional office in Newmarket. And we love it!

Now people can choose where they’d like to meet us, and we’ve been able to hire some great South and East Auckland-based recruiters. Hopefully, this will mean the end of this particular urban myth once and for all.

4. WE’RE BORING AND STUFFY

Weirdly, something about the combination of ‘accounting’ and ‘recruitment’ doesn’t really set people’s worlds on fire.
I mean, accounting doesn’t exactly have a sexy rep (say what?!). We think that image is actually massively outdated (and so does Ben Affleck). We work with some pretty cool accountants, from DJ’s to world adventurers. We like to shout loudly and often that the new breed of accountants are a totally different breed from the cardigan-wearing stereotype of the past.

And as for recruitment…well, sadly it’s often pretty stuffy. It’s all frosted glass waiting rooms, forms, forms and more forms, 5-inch heels and a ‘what can you do for me?’ attitude.

That ain’t us. From the cafe vibe of our offices, to our slightly swear-y team values and our talent specialists who strive to make a human connection above all else, we aim to make dealing with Consult not only effective but kinda fun.

5.  WE THINK WE’VE GOT IT ALL FIGURED OUT.

Perhaps this is the biggest myth of all.  Yes, we have had some wonderful success and we are super stoked that we have been able to help so many great people and clients in our industry.  We know, however, that we still have a lot to learn, a lot to do and a lot to improve on.  

And we are working pretty damn hard to reach our next goals.

Any more myths floating around out there that you think we need to debunk? Let us know in the comments below!