Profiles

Tony Howell joined Penta in 2005 through a personal recommendation.  With no previous experience of recruitment his first two weeks on Penta’s training desk were a huge wake up call.  As he explains, “the first two weeks were a huge learning curve as Penta has a very structured learning programme, but it was good for me, as for the first time in my life I felt like I had a career rather than just a ‘day job’ and that was a great feeling. It also helped that I did my first deal at the end of my first fortnight so that really encouraged me.

The great thing about working for Penta in the international telecoms division is that it is so varied with different technologies, this is very good for personal development and for understanding the market you are working in. Penta provides you with the knowledge on how to run fully compliant business on a global basis. I began working on voice and data but for the last two and a half years have been more focused towards the mobile sector with Ericsson which is proving to be a fantastic opportunity for me.

The key to success for me has been all about watching and listening to the people I work with, particularly those who have proven success.  But it’s not just about listening it’s about putting new ideas and methods into practice and never being too proud to ask if you aren’t sure because there is always someone on hand who can help.  Penta treat its entire staff as the individuals that they are which means that they care about you and you count.

Earlier this year I was promoted to Account Manager for one of our key global accounts that I had been working for as a delivery consultant.  Although I knew the client and how it operated I am learning new things on a daily basis and for me that’s where Penta’s ongoing training and development works so well in helping with this transition.

Through the years I can honestly say that working in telecoms is like being part of a family, the team pulls it off every time even if it means working 24 hours to do so. Over the years I have made a lot of very good friends within my team.  People often ask about targets and whether they are impossible to reach and my answer is that at Penta we aim high which means we achieve good results, to be successful you have to set high standards.  If I had to sum up three key qualities to be successful at Penta I would say dedication, passion and honesty. 

Danielle Weston

 started her working life in retail in Wallington but with a flair and interest in finance she began a part-time accounting course.  Keen to use her new skills she decided to look for another job and on the recommendation of a friend sent her CV into Penta.  As she explains:

“I was already working in Wallington so Penta’s location was ideal for me and I was thrilled to join such a key local business and be offered a role in the accounts department as the Timesheets Administrator.  I’d never worked in such a big office – there are 70 of us here – so it was a bit overwhelming to start with but from the word go I was made so welcome and I soon felt that I’d been here for ever.

My career is also progressing really after a year I began working on one of our largest international accounts, I was then appointed Accounts Assistant and towards the end of 2011 I became Management Accountant. I am learning so much and it’s helping me with my studies which is a real bonus.  

Working at Penta is good fun and I have already been on fantastic incentive trips to Marbella, Dubai and a ski trip in the Alps.  I’ve also made a successful referral to Penta, so not only have I got one of my friends working here, but I’ve earned an extra £1,000 so I’m very happy and I couldn’t recommend it more highly! 

              

When 23 year old Gareth Watts left Cardiff University with a 2:1 in Biology he had a completely open mind in terms of a career.  He knew that he was prepared to work hard but equally was looking for an opportunity that would reward his efforts and offer him the chance to learn and develop his talents.

Whilst recruitment didn’t seem to feature as a career option at university Gareth’s own internet research highlighted the opportunities and the rewards graduates could enjoy in this industry.  This combination of positive earning potential combined with fast track career progression immediately appealed to Gareth and he began to search in earnest for a recruitment company that was going places.

Penta Consulting, which is very high in the Google ranking, immediately caught his eye as not only had it won several high profile awards and was making a healthy profit but its Wallington location enabled Gareth to return to his roots.  Gareth joined Penta’s executive search and selection division in November 2005 and spent his first three months getting to grips with the basics of recruitment and head hunting through Penta’s intensive induction programme.  

“When I started I didn’t know anything about the business at all so there was a great deal to learn.  My induction programme was designed exclusively for me so it took into account my strengths and weaknesses, my skill set and my experience.  Not only did I need to learn all about recruitment and sales but I also needed to have the requisite skills for building rapport with senior executives and getting their trust.”

Gareth is the first to admit that it was and still is hard work but having secured his first deal within his first eight weeks he went from strength to strength and his performance has been rewarded with an all expenses trip to Marbella and to Ascot.  No longer the newest member of the search and selection team, Gareth is enjoying mentoring the latest recruit.

“A lot of people are surprised that I’ve come into recruitment with a degree in Biology but in my view it’s a great qualification to have.  Not only is it recognised as a tough degree but as with any academic degree it also proves I’ve got good analytical skills, I can keep to deadlines, have good verbal and written communication skills and that I’m self motivated.  And these are the skills that you need to have to be successful in this industry,” Gareth explains.

As with so many of today’s fast moving sectors Penta is more concerned with competencies for success such as attitude to work, drive and interpersonal skills than previous experience and skills.  Building the best team in the industry is the company’s number one objective.  “It’s great to be part of such a friendly team and I know I can count on my colleagues for support and advice.  The training has been superb and there are lots of rewarding aspects of my job both on a day to day basis and on the long term. Coming in on a graduate training scheme has enabled me to progress very quickly and I am now Sales Manager specialising in the Middle East, which is great experience". Gareth added.   

 
Phil  Hunter joined with an IT degree having cut his teeth in a Telesales role and says he never considered recruitment as a career option.  “It’s just not on the agenda when you’re at university which is a real shame as it means people are missing out,” Phil explains.

Whilst the It market is very buoyant at the moment it’s still a real challenge building up business and getting to know the right contractors but Phil says that the training both theoretical and practical has been excellent.  Not only that but Phil reckons he’s really benefited from having a great mentor who has given him lots of hands on coaching and as Phil says “it’s brilliant being able to listen and observe people who’ve been doing the job successfully for some time as you can pick up all sorts of hints and tips that don’t come up in training.”

So, it’s so far so good for Phil who says that his five year plan is to stay with Penta and go places with the company.  “Personally I’ve progressed from a trainee candidate consultant then to a Sales Consultant and now to Team Leader and company wise we’ve won some fantastic awards over the last year and the business is growing at a phenomenal rate. Penta’s a really happening place, it’s a young company that’s expanding quickly and that’s the sort of company I want to grow with,” Phil adds.

  
Kyle Rashid joined Penta with six months sales experience and is proof that you don’t need ‘recruitment know how’ to succeed because within his first year he is running his own niche operation overseas.  As he explains:

“I joined as a consultant in the telecoms perm division working as part of the product and strategy team. To begin with my focus was on getting to grips with everything I needed to learn in my induction training both about working as a Penta recruiter and about the telecoms market and take it from me there was a lot to take in.  I was assigned a mentor and that really helped and gave me more confidence and within my first three weeks I signed up a new client which was a real boost.  From then on I made steady progress, I’ve continued to develop clients and I’m now heading up our operation in the Benelux region travelling regularly to meet clients.  It’s fantastic to have my own area to focus on both in terms of my own career development and for the company and I have high hopes that it will become a significant part of our European business.”

Kyle says that it’s a job that demands a lot but corny as it sounds, the more you put in the more you get out, and that includes very attractive commission and incentives such as overseas trips.  “I think to enjoy working in recruitment you need to be able to pick yourself up when you get knocked back, have good communication skills, ambition and be prepared to go the extra mile for your clients and team mates.  It can be a long day, particularly as I get in early to be able to speak to overseas clients, but it’s a great working environment.  There’s lots of support and help along with healthy competition and banter to get you through the day.  We’re professional and committed but we also know how to have a good time and enjoy playing sport and socialising together.  For me working at Penta is like belonging to a big family where I know what I do is appreciated and recognised and I’m looking forward to staying and building up my career.

When experienced recruitment manager Ian O’Neill, MIRP CertRP, reviewed his career options at the end of last year he found Penta a compelling choice.  Not only has the company managed to increase its profitability over the past year, despite difficult trading conditions, but he was very impressed by the focus and energy on the sales floor.  As he explains:

“I’ve got 12 years’ experience in this industry now, so I know a good recruitment company when I see one. I already knew people working at Penta and over the past few years, I have watched the company grow and mature into one of the most successful technical staffing companies in the industry and I was intrigued to find out what might be on offer for someone with my experience.

Amongst Penta’s many awards and accolades is the Queen’s Award for International Enterprise, this (and the fact that they were ranked as the 33rd best SME to work for in the UK by The Sunday Times now we are 14th), really impressed me, and I was keen to see what life was really like on the inside.  From the moment I walked through the door I felt a real sense of focus and purpose, and the constant success of the company provides exciting career opportunities for everyone. These factors made the opportunity a pretty convincing proposition. 

From the moment I joined I could see that Penta delivers on its promises both to its staff and to its customers. It is rare in this industry, to be able to recruit and retain experienced recruiters, and I still find it amazing, yet reassuring, that in the team of 8 people that immediately surround me, there is in excess of 100yrs recruitment experience!

For me the timing is great.  Not only has Penta offered me a fantastic opportunity to use all my skills and experience to move my career forward and earn a great package but Penta is at a very significant point of its own development and I’m looking forward to playing my part in Penta’s future.

Karen  Eels first joined Penta in January 2000 as Contracts Administrator but was soon promoted to Contracts Manager thanks to her natural abilities and Penta’s training programme. She soon became a key member of the Penta support team so it was with some dismay that her colleagues wished her well in November 2001 as she started her maternity leave. Karen decided to extend this leave and didn’t return to Penta until March 2003 when she opted for a part-time role.

As she explains, “I was really pleased to come back to Penta but knew that I wouldn’t be able to be Contracts Manager on a part-time basis as the company had doubled in size and it was a much bigger job. So I went back to being Contracts Administrator which worked really well for me until I had my second baby in the Summer of 2006. This time I just took my nine months maternity leave and came back in March 2007.

It’s always a challenge getting back into the swing of work but I love it here and what makes this such a great job for me is not only can I work part time but I can be flexible with my days so I can fit in with my husband’s commitments and we can share the childcare which is the icing on the cake.

Andy Crouch started his working life training to be a golf pro and after ten years at Penta was appointed to the board of directors - proof of his determination, drive and ability along with Penta's commitment to growing their own senior people. And this is his story.

“After three years off enjoying myself, I’d decided I needed to join the real world.  There wasn’t much money in golf and somehow the fun had gone out of it for me. Someone suggested that I would be perfect for recruitment and pointed me in the direction of Penta.  I had no previous experience at all but I was determined to make a success of it and I received excellent training and support which was vital,” Andy comments.

Andy joined Penta ten years ago as a trainee consultant and specialised in permanent placement.  Within two years he was promoted to a senior consultant and he now heads up our Perm Telecommunication Division.

“It’s fantastic to have been given this opportunity because it’s like running my own mini business.  I’m responsible for recruiting staff, managing a team, running my own P&L and building the business my way. Now I am on the board I am looking forward to helping Penta to continue to move forward successfully as well as honing my mentoring and coaching skills to being more people on.” Andy added.

Andy’s success at Penta is proof that you don’t always need qualifications and relevant experience if you have the motivation, determination and ambition to make it happen.

Aminesh Patel joined Penta in 2003 having cut his teeth in sales at the Carphone Warehouse. Despite not having any recruitment experience Aminesh excelled as a consultant in the international telecommunications division and over the past seven years has seen his career rise dramatically. As he explains:

“Penta’s very comprehensive approach to training and development along with the company’s commitment to the value of mentoring and coaching meant that I got a fantastic start to my recruitment career.  It was hard work and there was a lot to learn and I had to build up my business from scratch but in the first year I exceeded my financial and business targets.  This was a great boost to my confidence and meant that I earned very well from the start.

Penta is a company which recognises and rewards performance and after a couple of years I was promoted to Senior Consultant with the opportunity to begin building up a team around me.  My next big break was moving into account management with responsibility for a very large international telecoms vendor and eighteen months later I was tasked with setting up and running our managed services division. Currently I have project teams located across five countries delivering global technical remote services which is a huge challenge but one that I relish.

In 2008 I was invited to become a shareholder in recognition of the contribution I have made to the company and that for me was fantastic acknowledgement from the senior team.  Being a shareholder means that I benefit directly from the company’s success and I find that hugely motivating.  Yes, it’s hard work, the hours are long but the people I work with are brilliant and it’s a great working environment.  And of course the rewards are excellent and by realising my earning potential it enables me and my family to enjoy a high standard of living.  I think the key to succeeding at Penta is confidence, ambition and a drive to succeed.