Rather than telling you what we think makes VANRATH a good place to work, we asked someone who has experienced it first-hand.
Six months ago, Lara McGlinchey joined VANRATH after working in sales recruitment and made the move into tech recruitment. We asked her what surprised her, what those first few months were really like, and what she would say to someone considering joining the team.
From having the freedom to run her own desk to the support she received while learning a new market, Lara shares her honest experience of her first six months at VANRATH.
How does VANRATH differ from any other recruitment agency you've worked for?
"The main difference I initially noticed was the level of trust and freedom you have at your own desk.
Agencies always talk about giving you the freedom to “run your own little business,” while simultaneously layering you with 1-to-1s and targeting you with KPIs by the hour. That just wasn’t my experience at VANRATH. They genuinely let me figure out my own pace, trusted that I wanted to put the work in, and ultimately, the results have always been there.
The management here is also some of the strongest I’ve experienced. Managing people in recruitment takes a completely unique set of skills and qualities, that goes beyond just being a top recruiter. At VANRATH, I can genuinely say that the managers and anyone in a position of authority are deserving of that position. They’re fair, approachable and actually know how to get the best out of people.
That goes hand-in-hand with having goals. Obviously, we all have targets we want to reach, and it’s in my own interest to hit mine. But there’s a big difference between being motivated by your own goals and being micromanaged into hitting them. At VANRATH, I’ve always felt trusted to take ownership of my own success."
What is the support and culture like at VANRATH?
"Coming into a new company, and moving into tech recruitment when I’d previously specialised in sales, was definitely daunting.
What made such a difference was that I was given the freedom to do my own research, work in my own way and find my feet, but there was always someone there to support me. Everyone was approachable. There was no fear factor, and there weren’t KPIs and criticisms constantly being dangled over me.
It was very much, “This is what we do and it works for us, but if that’s not how you work, we’ll figure out what you’re comfortable with and take it from there.”
They adapt their management style to the individual rather than taking a completely flat, one-size-fits-all approach. Who manages you has a massive impact on whether you’re able to flourish in your career, and I’m really grateful for everything my team have done for me so far.
The culture is a massive part of it too. There’s always a bit of imposter syndrome when you start somewhere new, especially when you’re surrounded by brilliant recruiters who have years more experience than you. But I’ve always felt like I’ve been welcomed and valued.
The wider team are brilliant as well. The operations team make everyone feel really special and seen. Birthdays never go unnoticed, and everything gets celebrated like someone has just bought a new house, a new car or a new puppy. A lot of that comes from the culture that our Managing Director, Barbara, has created. I’ve never met someone so established and successful who is still so genuinely down to earth. She knows everyone so well, takes a real interest in our lives outside of work, and is really at the heart of so many of the fun things that happen here.
There’s basically a revolving door of babies and puppies in the office, most recently Emma Hall’s new pup Teddy in the boardroom, whose photo still makes me cry because he’s so cute. I’ve made some genuinely great friends here, and that says a lot about the culture."
What would you say to someone considering a move to VANRATH? What should they expect, especially in those first 90 days?
"I’d say expect to be supported, but also expect to be trusted.
My first three months were very much about being eased in rather than being thrown in at the deep end. I was consistently reassured that my head was in the right place and that I was making the right decisions.
And I asked so, so many questions, and not one of them was ever dismissed. It was always a cup of tea and a brainstorm. Someone would sit down with me and say, “When I had this problem, this is how I went about it,” rather than just telling me what I should have done.
I had so much support from my own team while still having the freedom to learn and develop for myself.
When you join VANRATH you're not starting from scratch, we have an established client and candidate base and have been building relationships with NI employers for over 25 years. I was introduced to key clients early on, encouraged to properly research my sector, and regularly asked if there was anything I needed done differently or anything else I needed from the team.
So, if you’re considering a move to VANRATH, I’d say expect a genuine learning curve, especially if you’re moving into a new sector or coming from a different background. But you’re not expected to know everything on day one."
The Big Takeaway
For Lara, the biggest difference has been the balance between trust and support. She has had the freedom to build her desk and find her own way of working, while knowing there is always someone around to ask a question, challenge an idea or help work through a problem.
That’s what we want new recruiters joining VANRATH to experience. You won’t be expected to know everything on day one, and you won’t be left to figure it all out alone.
You’ll have an established client and candidate network, experienced people around you and the autonomy to build your own success.
If you’re an experienced recruiter considering your next move, we’d love to talk to you about what your next six months at VANRATH could look like.
Check out our open opportunities here or reach out to us directly: rebecca.jama@vanrath.com / 028 9033 0250 - everything is fully confidential.