Yes, I’ve used Optimal to source several candidates. I’d like to roll all those experiences together and give you some general feedback about “the pluses”.
My Account Manager at Optimal is extremely professional and well-prepared. He understands our business objectives and “selling points”, so he represents the Bank with both professionalism and enthusiasm. His working style is very proactive. He responds quickly and sources high caliber candidates. He also has good sector-specific knowledge.
After placements are complete, Optimal always follows up to be sure things are going OK. All the candidates we’ve placed through Optimal have been good—and they’ve been fairly and accurately presented.
In terms of attitude, their desire to understand our business and our objectives, and their professionalism and work ethic, Optimal distinguishes itself.
You always want to work with a recruiter who is professional and ethical, has access to good candidates, presents the Bank well and understands the opportunity. In addition to all that, Optimal seems to attract great talent and has helped us close deals with difficult candidates. And they’re very easy to work with.
With a smaller firm you get flexibility, but it often comes at the expense of market knowledge. Optimal combines the flexibility, work ethic and quick results you get from a smaller firm with the market knowledge, professionalism and ethics of a top-tier retained search firm.
I have strongly recommended Optimal, and would recommend them again without reservation. I’ve used them on the majority of my searches in the last few years and will continue to do so in the future.
Actually this was for a job that didn’t even exist. One of the Optimal principals had identified a junior candidate with very strong skills. So I took a look based on that recommendation, even though we didn’t have headcount. The candidate was such a hot product that I put together an off-cycle opportunity and brought him in.
Because this recruiter at Optimal is primarily an FX specialist, he was already pretty well known internally when I arrived. In fact, the head of FX thought our Optimal recruiter was the best on the Street.
Because it’s so specialized, Optimal has a deeper footprint in FX than most agencies. Agencies are usually too generic, recruiting across a variety of products and types of people. But my Optimal recruiter is very selective—about the candidates he selects as well as the assignments he accepts. He’s also highly ethical. And he doesn’t lie. I’ve seen other agencies lie.
Since he was already well-established when I arrived there was no need. I did recommend him to another firm, however, and they are considering using him when their headcounts open up.
My Account Manager at Optimal is extremely professional and well-prepared. He understands our business objectives and “selling points”, so he represents the Bank with both professionalism and enthusiasm.
Because this recruiter at Optimal is primarily an FX specialist, he was already pretty well known internally when I arrived. In fact, the head of FX thought our Optimal recruiter was the best on the Street.
I was very happy with the candidate, and I have to say that Optimal represented the Bank well and also the candidate.
They listen…really listen…to your requirements. Lots of other recruiters think they already know what you need.
Optimal worked with me when I hired an institutional sales person for my team. I was referred to this recruiter by my prior boss, who had used him before. Frankly, I was a little skeptical since I’m in London and Optimal is in the U.S. But this recruiter is very good over the phone. His personal stamp comes over strongly, and he builds credibility and rapport quickly.
I think two things are really key in this process:
A recruiter needs to fully understand the company and the role—and that’s not just the black & white job specs and parameters. What’s more important, I think, is the culture—the environment of the organisation. My Optimal Account Manager did a really good job. He took the time to listen. What are your objectives? What type of person will work in this organisation? Other agencies literally throw CVs at you—so as to provide material evidence straightaway, I suppose. But this recruiter was a lot more considered in his efforts.
My Optimal recruiter is genuinely working for me as an individual. You never feel like you’re just “on his list”. You’re in his mind at all times. And I must say that I never had to chase him.
On the other hand, you don’t want someone in your face, either. Optimal uses all the mediums well, like e-mail and phone. They’re on the case 24/7 without being too intrusive.
My former boss was pretty particular in terms of who he works with, and since he referred Optimal to me, that’s a testament to how highly he thinks of this recruiter. Although I already had my own London-based people (recruiting agencies), he suggested I give Optimal a try.
I was the hiring manager in this situation. The HR people to whom I introduced the Optimal recruiter found him to be positive and enthusiastic, and liked his follow-up and attention to detail. I was very happy with the candidate, and I have to say that Optimal represented the Bank well and also the candidate.
There’s real consistency there in the follow-up and attention to detail. I’ve worked with a lot of recruitment agencies—the majority of them take a scattergun approach to see
what sticks. Optimal is more guided. There’s an emphasis on building a sound rapport with the hiring managers and taking the time to understand the culture and environment. Optimal is also focused on finding someone who’s not just “hired”, but who will stick around as well. It’s important to me to have someone sort the wheat from the chaff at the CV stage, and only put through people who have a really good chance of being successful applicants.
They’re not trying to be all things to all people.
I felt that they went the extra distance so as to harness the relationship with me. It’s a growing business, so they invest the time to build close relationships with the hiring managers. The focus is not just on filling current mandates, but also on those down the line. I found them to be very effective.
Yes, I have recommended Optimal to individuals looking for a placement—in other words, to potential candidates. In my upcoming role I will certainly recommend Optimal within the FX space and would definitely use them again.
In the past I’ve worked with one of the Account Managers at Optimal on currency based assignments. Last year I had another firm on retainer to find someone for Fixed Income. When the other firm failed after several months to fill the role, I gave it to Optimal. It was a long shot since Fixed Income was not Optimal’s specialty, but my Account Manager found a fantastic candidate for me. I was most impressed!
They listen…really listen…to your requirements. Lots of other recruiters think they already know what you need.
For the currency based roles, I was looking for a combination of strong quantitative as well as personal skills. My Optimal Account Manager really took the time to understand what I need. He also didn’t waste my time with inappropriate candidates. Other recruiters will deluge you with CVs for people who are irrelevant. Instead, they spend the time to find a smaller and more appropriate pool of candidates. They’re very focused, so the process I think is speedier and more efficient.
Their size is an advantage. The bigger firms are arrogant and complacent. Optimal is very responsive and flexible…and I think I get much better service.
I have recommended them highly internally.
