Our Consultants

Sami Ben-Ali - Location Manager - Leeds

I have been with ATA for six years now and am currently in my fourth role, the opportunity for success and advancement was one of the main reasons I joined the company. I had offers from several other companies but the biggest factor that attracted me to ATA was the unquestionable career progression that was on offer. It has not been an easy ride but as with anything you expect to be challenged, and the company really do reward employees for achieving goals set.

Every role I have taken on has meant having to learn new things and overcome hurdles, but luckily this is backed up by the support and direction of individuals within the business that have actually been through the ranks themselves. This management structure makes things a lot smoother but the main advantage the company has to offer you in terms of your careers, is the clear drive for employees self development.

The culture of the business is based on a successful performance, in terms of your own progression and the job we do for our clients and candidates. I have played competitive sports for a number of years, and this experience combined with my own personal motivation, helped stand me in good stead for working my way up within the organisation. From my initial position as a trainee consultant in 2001, I am now aiming for the next realistic role as a director within the business.

ATA Selection is a company where promotions are not based on length of service but on how well you perform, and I know there are not many other businesses around like that!

Helen Holland - First Line Manager - Newcastle

Having graduated from the University of Reading in 2003 and then going on to teach in Japan for 6 months, I came back hoping to find a company that was dynamic and would give me some direction. Deciding on a career with ATA was an easy decision for me. My sights were set on progressing, being successful and receiving development and recognition within a professional, demanding and exciting environment.

At the interview stage I was told that I could be fast tracked into a management position within 12 to 18 months. After only 9 months I was given the opportunity to prove myself, so I upped sticks from Leeds and went to Newcastle to manage a team. Last year our team was number 1 in the sales division and I was top sales consultant. I now manage the ever growing Newcastle engineering team who are on course for big things both this year and in the next few years.

Andrew Dale - Location Manager - Derby

After having left university in 1994 with a degree in Business and Modern Languages I started employment with ATA Selection Ltd in January 1996 in the Leicester office. The role was very demanding and required that I develop competencies in Selling and interviewing at a rapid pace.With support from colleagues and my line manager I suceeded in becoming a competent Recruitment Consultant and within a year I was starting to earn, what I considered at the time a "Good Wage". The Leicester team changed rapidly as Consultants were promoted to succeed my original line manager which gave him the opportunity to take on more offices and to set up new sales team themselves.

The Enfield engineering office required a new Sales Manager in 1999 and I relocated to sunny Walthamstow to sample the delights of NE London and the bright city lights. This represented a significant challenge with the team having no-one of more that 2 months experience! The autonomy of the role was the perfect opportunity to develop at a pace, concentrating on management and leadership of 5 graduates. At the end of this period I had learnt more than I realised was possible resulting in one of the best teams in the company with a sucessor who took over the managemnt of the team and maintained the top team status.

I moved back to the Midlands to get married and to the Leicester Office to manage the engineering team there. Again, this needed a rebuild but had some very strong team members and good sucessors in place. Within one year, many new recruits ,quick departures and promotions to the two sucessors to First line manager roles, the office pulled itself up to a profitable level with managers who developed it even further and are now running offices and multiple teams themselves. I left to set up a rail contract business at our Derby site.

This was indeed a challenge as I had to start from scratch and build a business from the floor up whilst learning about the Rail industry. By now I was in my early 30's and dived back into text books from my university studies to teach immerse myself in the disciplines of marketing, writing business plans, analysing competitiors and researching the trends in the marketplace. Four years into this new venture it has a management structure, sucessors in place and a business plan to die for!

Little did I realise when I was at university that I would be running a multi million pound business rather than reading case studies on them!

Paul Dickens - First Line Manager, Contract Team - Leeds

I joined ATA four years ago, and since then I have worked within both permanent and contract recruitment. When I started I had no experience of recruitment, but I knew that I wanted to work within a lively, team focussed environment where I could compete on a level playing field with my peers.

This was the case from day one, and although the learning curve was steep, I found the constant challenges rewarding as I quickly felt myself becoming more competent in the role. I think this was helped by the on-going training, regular meetings, and a well-structured appraisal system which constantly rewarded me for improvements in performance, yet helped guide me towards the skills needed to become even better.

I have been promoted twice since joining the company, firstly as an Assistant Manager, and then to a Team Manager within the Contract division. I have always had support in these roles, and it has been great to see that I have not only developed as a consultant, but also that I have had the opportunity to learn so many lessons in management and leadership.

There are always highs and lows with the job and it isn't always easy, but with future career opportunities on the horizon, I don't think there are many companies that could give me the variation and challenges of progression that ATA Selection has offered over the last four years.

Christian Addison - Location Manager - Leicester

Having graduated from Hull University with a degree in Business Management I didn't really know what I wanted from my career. My only focus was to join a business that would allow me to realise my potential.

I joined ATA in October 1999 and was rapidly developed to become competent in the role. As a raw graduate I knew nothing about recruitment and hence the learning curve was steep! However the challenge was one that I relished especially as I was surrounded by like minded individuals who were on the same journey.

Having now spent nearly eight years with the business I have progressed twice and now currently manage 3 teams of highly motivated consultants. People often ask me why I work for ATA and my response is always the same. ATA had the confidence in me to give me my first step into management at 23, not many companies would do that and certainly none of my peers have managed it. Ultimately this business will give me the chance to become a director if I'm good enough! What bigger incentive is there than that?

Sonal Sidpara - Recruitment Consultant

I joined the ATA Group through working with one of its many divisions which was Catalis Training based in Derby 3 years ago. Due to circumstances and personal aspirations to be in recruitment, I was offered the opportunity to transfer into a new business opportunity which was with ATA Selection in London. Joining ATA has enabled me to enhance my knowledge and skills in many fields due to the diversity and opportunities within the group. I believe ATA can fulfil my career goals to move into management and leadership which I am currently aiming for.