not for everyone, there are better recruitment agencies.

“not for everyone, there are better recruitment agencies.”

Written on: 24/07/2012

Ok I will be straight up and honest I didn't get picked but I wasn't too upset because I have had a number of interviews and I have plenty more interviews lined up. I was more upset that I wasted a whole day and a load of petrol. Firstly I'd like to say that I thought that the people from Pareto were very nice, sometimes appearing a little superficial but very nice for that basic customer interface.

The recruitment process was to me, rather strange and pointless. I actually got told I was too nice which from just a 15 min phone call was firstly a bit odd and secondly I never thought that being nice was an issue.

The assessment day wasn't really for me, lots of "group exercises" so that they could psychoanalyze you to see if you perform to their liking. They really like BOLD characters who put themselves forward. These are not necessarily the best characters but it's what they are looking for. They leave the interviews and presentations to the end of the day so you've worked yourself up all day, become super nervous. They also don't like people who want to go into a specific area of sales. I personally am only interested in chemical sales and this played against me.

The majority of people who attended were public school educated straight out of uni after gap year. So if you have a little bit of worldly experience it also seems to play against you. It's as if they want to mold you into what ever they want which they actually said to us. I know some people have done really well out of Pareto but to be honest it's not for me.

I think it would have been better if they had done the interviews/presentations first and sent half the people home and then done the team building instead of having the "rejectees" hanging around for over 6 hours.

Overall the whole thing is very "apprentice." Rather cheesy, rather superficial, focused on competitiveness and bigging yourself up. Which I know for a fact having worked in other companies this isn't just what the companies are looking for it's just what Pareto are looking for. My advice is, go to the assessment day but don't get upset if you get rejected. There are plenty of other recruitment agents out there. Just remember they are JUST recruitment agents don't let them make you feel bad about yourself at least you are not one of them. If you pass the recruitment process. Fantastic but do what my friend did and leave them as quickly as possible as you'll make more money with out them taking a HUGE cut.