Meet the Team: Abi

As Recruitment Consultants, the VWA team spend A LOT of time asking other people questions. We are naturally curious beings and this is why we love what we do!

We use our honed interview techniques to really get to know our clients’ companies, cultures and ethos and we listen carefully to our candidates so we can advise and match the right talent with the right companies.

We thought it might be time we flipped things around a bit and asked the team some questions for a change! Kicking off our Meet the VWA Team series, let’s find out more about Consultant Abi.

What is your role at VWA and how long have you been part of this awesome team?

I’m a Trainee Consultant on the permanent team and I joined VWA in May 2022!

Can you please briefly describe a day in the life of a Consultant?

 I’m going to be cliché here and say no two days are the same! My role is currently split between resourcing and client work. On the resourcing side – I align with the Consultants on their priority roles and reach out to candidates accordingly. This could be actively searching for candidates on platforms like LinkedIn, Secs In The City or Reed, responding to ad response or liaising with people who phone/e-mail in directly.

Then it’s scheduling calls with them and potentially booking them in to register with VWA depending on whether we can help them. Regarding client work – I could be taking a client brief via VC, liaising with candidates about a new role, sending shortlists to clients, or managing interview processes.

I’ve realised recruitment is unpredictable so you’re constantly having to adapt to changing situations whilst maintaining strong communication with colleagues, candidates and clients.

What is your favourite thing about your job?

I love how people-centric my job is. I really enjoy building strong working relationships with candidates and colleagues and understanding their motivations/drivers. I also recently placed someone in their first career job and that was an amazing feeling!

What is your least favourite thing about your job? Careful ha ha!

Due to it being so unpredictable, there can be some ups and downs and some situations are out of your control. I’ve realised resilience is key!

What were you doing before you joined VWA?

After graduating from University of Bristol with an MSc in Anthropology in 2021, I joined a pharmaceutical PR firm and worked as an Account Associate in the Advocacy Relations team. After realising it wasn’t quite the path for me, I applied for a role through VWA and ended up joining the team instead!

That’s enough of the work questions. Let’s find out more about the non-working you!

Do you have a favourite restaurant in London?

I love Flour and Grape in Bermondsey. It’s an amazing walk-in Italian restaurant and I recommend to everyone.

Can you please describe your perfect Sunday?

My perfect Sunday is a quick workout/yoga class, pancakes for breakfast and then meeting my friends for a walk and coffee/lunch. We usually meet up in Battersea and go for a walk along the river. Then maybe finishing the day off with a roast dinner and a film in the evening.

Which is your favourite season and why?

That’s a tough one but I’d have to say Autumn. I love the cosiness of it and wrapping up warm!

Dog? Cat? Neither?

Dogs! I have a 1 year old Cockapoo called Willa who I am completely obsessed with.

If you could jump on a plane to anywhere in the world today, where would you go?

Sydney in Australia – it’s one of my favorite places in the world.

Do you have any special talents?

Hmm I don’t think I do... how boring!

What is your favourite cocktail/mocktail?

I love a Mojito or if I’m on holiday somewhere hot a Pina Colada.

Do you have a favourite movie?

About Time! It’s my go-to feel-good film.

Do you have any hobbies?

 I love yoga and have been doing it (when I can!) for the last 7 years – I love it for re-setting or chilling out at the end of a busy day.

What was the last TV box set you binged on?

Break Point – I love watching tennis so I binge watched this in like a day!

Do you have anything you’d like to learn? For example DJ’ing or a musical instrument? Karate? Line-dancing?!

Ooh I’d love to learn how to ski properly (I’m at the constant snow plough stage at the moment) or how to speak Spanish.

Finally, do you have a fun fact that might surprise us about you?

I’ve skydived over the Great Barrier Reef!