From boutique firm to global recruiter

Following five very successful years at a small boutique recruitment firm in London and a stint at a national recruiter, Katie Drewitt joined Robert Walters as a specialist consultant in the secretarial and support sector. We asked Katie why she decided to leave her London boutique to pursue a career at a leading global recruitment firm, and why she’s never looked back.

Greater autonomy

One of the greatest differences between small and large recruitment firms is the amount of autonomy you have to manage your own workload. In the small world of boutique firms, every part of your day is micromanaged. At Robert Walters, we are given the freedom to personally manage our own network of clients and candidates, so consultants have full control of their daily activities.

“The working environment in smaller firms is more KPI driven and you are frequently micromanaged – the working environment at Robert Walters is more ‘grown-up’ than my previous role.”

Career progression

There is a clear structure for progression at Robert Walters, with excellent scope for growth nationally and internationally. I have the freedom to develop my own style of working and have a real impact on the business. It’s the ideal firm to work for if you’re looking for a long-term career.

The development and internal training programmes have helped me reach where I am today, as has the support I’ve received from managers and team members.

Anyone considering a position at Robert Walters should feel confident in the support and guidance provided by the company to help propel your career forward.

Marketing & events

Consultants are regularly encouraged to explore new ideas to help build client relationships and encourage new business. The tools on offer at Robert Walters make growing your personal portfolio of clients much easier compared to smaller firms.

We have the opportunity to host a range of activities to engage and network with clients, from large UK-wide events to smaller, more personal ‘round table’ sessions. Our day-to-day is not simply ‘cold calling’ our clients as it was in my previous role, we focus on building quality, long-term relationships.

Hard work and perseverance are recognised and very well rewarded at Robert Walters. Although each day comes with new challenges, I really enjoy my job and would recommend anyone considering a large recruitment consultancy to go for it, the opportunities are endless.

Interested in a career with us? Please send an up-to-date CV to joanne.hunter@robertwalters.com or call +44 161 214 7432.