Why Penrocs?
After 16 years in an education recruitment agency, I decided it was time for change.
I started Penrocs to deliver a personal, transparent and responsive service. I want Penrocs to be recognized as an ethical, forward-thinking agency. I have a long way to go but am confident in my ability to deliver a service that is unmatched. The name Penrocs derives from 2 words, Pen, which reflects my love for education and journalling, and Roc (looked better than Rock on paper) to represent my love for mountain trekking and strength in the body.
One of the key lessons I learned is that recruiters need to be good at looking after themselves.
For me, that became much clearer when I started investing more in my own development and health. The better I was doing personally, the better I was able to serve the people I worked with, especially my clients. And that matters, because candidates are clients too.
The truth is, my clients have taught me a huge amount about what it means to be a good recruiter.
I believe customer service is one of the most underrated parts of any business. Good listening is a superpower. Long-term relationships take time. Trust is earned, and value is something you have to prove.
Accountability, Discipline, Organised, Creative, Urgent, Honest and Consistent are mantras I now live by.
I also learned that referring a school to another agency when you don’t have the right person costs you less than you think. Yes, it can feel like a lost placement in the short term, but in an industry with a reputation for being money-hungry, it builds credibility, trust and camaraderie, and that lasts longer than a single placement.
“Do the hard things and everything else will seem easier". (advice from a multi-academy trust CEO). Be prepared, respond quickly and always be honest in your approach. (advice from a CEO of home interior design)
Healthy competition is welcome, and in my case it played a key part in becoming a successful recruiter. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to be the best at what you do.
Yasin Aziz
Founder of Penrocs