Finding the right recruiter can make a real difference to your career. Not just someone who sends opportunities, but someone who understands your strengths, your ambitions and where you will genuinely thrive.
That is exactly what Gareth Ward found when working with Andy Parke of Parke Lane People.
Gareth’s story is particularly interesting because his relationship with Andy started from the other side of the table. Before becoming a candidate himself, Gareth had already worked with Andy as a client, using Parke Lane People to help grow his own team.
That experience gave him a clear understanding of Andy’s approach before he ever needed recruitment support himself.
When Recruitment Becomes a Trusted Partnership
As Gareth explains in his testimonial, one of the biggest differences in working with Andy is trust.
Gareth Ward “Finding a recruiter that is on your side and works really hard for you and opens doors… this is a powerful resource.”
This idea of being on someone’s side is central to Andy’s approach as a recruitment consultant. Rather than operating as a traditional transactional recruitment agency, his focus is on building long term relationships where understanding the person comes before the placement.
Gareth had already seen this first hand when Andy supported his previous organisation with hiring. That experience meant that when Gareth began thinking about his own next move, the conversation already started from a place of trust.
Understanding the Person, Not Just the CV
One of the advantages of working with a specialist recruitment consultant who invests time in relationships is the depth of understanding that develops over time.
As Gareth explains, Andy already knew him professionally, understood his strengths and had a clear picture of the local Oxfordshire market.
That combination proved powerful.
Rather than approaching the process as a cold job search, Gareth worked with someone who could connect his experience, personality and ambitions with the right opportunity.
“He knows me, he knows the local market, he was able to find the perfect fit.”
This is where consultancy led recruitment differs from volume based approaches. It is not about sending multiple roles and hoping one sticks. It is about identifying the right environment where someone can genuinely add value and grow.
A Recruitment Process Built Around Clarity and Communication
Another theme Gareth highlights is the quality of the process itself.
Too often, candidates describe recruitment experiences where communication drops off after interviews or where expectations are unclear. Gareth’s experience was different.
He describes a process that was:
- Supportive
- Clear
- Well communicated
- Structured from first conversation to offer, and beyond
That ongoing contact continues beyond the offer stage, with regular check-ins during the first few months to ensure both candidate and client are aligned and settling in well.
“The process is supportive, clear, interview support, lots of communication. Clear all the way through to my new role, and up to three months after I started”
This level of communication is often what separates consultancy led recruitment from traditional agency models. It is not just about securing interviews. It is about helping candidates prepare properly, understand what success looks like and navigate decisions with confidence.
The Outcome: A New Leadership Role at The MGroup
Gareth has since secured a new position as Head of Business Development at The MGroup, a move that reflects both his experience and his ambitions.
For Andy, outcomes like this are not simply about placements. They are about helping people take the right next step in their careers and ensuring organisations gain leaders who are aligned with their growth plans.
When recruitment works properly, both sides win.
As Gareth puts it simply:
“Happy days.”
Marketing Recruitment in Oxfordshire: Why Local Knowledge Matters
Gareth’s journey also highlights the importance of working with someone who truly understands the local employment landscape.
As a specialist in commercial and marketing appointments, Andy works closely with businesses across Oxfordshire to support growth through the right hires. This includes helping organisations identify the skills they need as well as supporting professionals looking for their next challenge.
If you would like to learn more about how Parke Lane People supports businesses and candidates in this space, you can read more about their approach to Marketing Recruitment Agencies Oxfordshire here:
Recruitment Done Properly
Gareth’s experience reflects something simple but important. Recruitment works best when it is built on relationships, understanding and honest conversations.
Whether supporting a business as a hiring partner or supporting an individual as a candidate, Andy’s consultancy led approach remains the same: understand first, advise honestly and focus on long term fit.
Because the right recruiter does not just help you find a job.
They help you find the right one.
A word from Andy Parke
Andy reflects:
“For me, recruitment has always been about people first. When you really take the time to understand someone properly, their strengths, what motivates them and where they will thrive, the right opportunities tend to follow. Gareth is a great example of what happens when recruitment is built on trust and long term relationships rather than quick transactions.”
