I am the partner in every career journey.

With a background in recruitment and talent acquisition, Athena wanted to explore other avenues and possibilities in her career. Being headhunted by Robert Walters allowed her to see that her calling is still aligned with the noble profession of recruitment.

Athena recounts her journey below:

My college journey and internship were both centered on recruitment, so it wasn’t surprising that I became a recruitment consultant after graduation. That experience introduced me to the intricacies of executive search and RPO, giving me a strong foundation early in my career.

After three years in consulting, I reached a point where I wanted to reassess the direction of my career. I decided to explore an in-house talent acquisition role with a multinational commercial real estate company, where I was able to strengthen my end-to-end recruitment experience from a different perspective. After almost three years, I made a conscious decision to take a step back and reflect on what I truly wanted to do next. That short pause became an important crossroads in my career. Then, Robert Walters reached out with an opportunity that aligned with my experience while offering new challenges that genuinely reignited my passion.

My transition into the company was smooth, and I appreciated how quickly the business equipped me with the support and resources I needed to succeed. The role requires more than recruitment expertise—it also involves business development and a deep understanding of the market. As a consultant in the Industrial team, tenacity, patience, and curiosity are essential. It's not just about understanding a client's business, but also the wider market landscape that shapes it. My role goes beyond filling positions. I aim to connect the right people with the right opportunities and the right organizations, creating meaningful and lasting matches.

“"For me, recruitment is a noble profession. It's fulfilling because I know I have the opportunity to make a difference in people's careers while helping my clients build stronger teams through the right hires.”

 

Of course, being a consultant isn't an easy role. Every day involves balancing the needs of both clients and candidates, often at the same time. To manage this, I make it a point to plan and prioritize my schedule while staying flexible enough to respond to urgent concerns. I also value meeting candidates and clients in person whenever possible, as these interactions help build trust and strengthen long-term relationships.

Face-to-face engagements also allowed me to learn from people with different backgrounds, experiences, and expertise that I wouldn't normally encounter outside my role. Working within the industrial sector makes this even more rewarding, as I continue to deepen my understanding of highly technical industries and the businesses that drive them.

One of the biggest lessons I've learned is that becoming a good recruitment consultant starts with mastering the fundamentals. I'm grateful that Robert Walters gives me the autonomy to explore new ways of growing my role while encouraging creativity in how I approach my work. At the same time, our leaders constantly remind us of the importance of building a strong foundation first—to always "sharpen the saw" before pushing the boundaries. 

Beyond the autonomy, I also appreciate how the company recognizes and rewards hard work. More importantly, I'm surrounded by leaders and teammates who genuinely encourage my professional growth and challenge me to become a better consultant.

There are still areas of the role that challenge me, but that's also what keeps the work exciting. I'm eager to continue learning and growing with Robert Walters, and I look forward to developing into a more senior role while contributing to the firm's continued growth and helping create opportunities for future recruitment consultants.

“Being a consultant isn't an easy role, but if you're open to learning, growing, and expanding your capabilities, Robert Walters is a place where you can thrive. The company provides not only the resources but also the leadership and support to help you build both your skills and your career."

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