I'm working on a new "About Us" page for Aquent.com. As part of that process, we asked a lot of the staff what they tell people when asked why they work at Aquent. My favorite response was the simplest, "Because it's awesome."
Still, as much as I would like this page to state, "The only thing you really need to know about Aquent is this: It's awesome," I feel a distinct pressure to be somewhat more specific and elaborate. To that end, we also asked people to provide us three words they use to describe this place. The sorts of words they came up with, and I had asked them to do so "off the cuff," were: Unique, Passionate, and Caring; Fun, Exciting, and Global; Creative, Inventive, and Friendly; Wicked Smart, Holistic, and Entrepreneurial [technically, that was four words, but you get the picture]; etc.
I dig all of that, and think that these words do indeed capture what Aquent's about, but I was concerned that they were too "internal." To get an external perspective, I started looking through my notes from various interviews I had conducted with Aquent Talent. Of course, these were people for whom we'd found work, so I understand that they would be positively disposed towards us, but I thought their thoughts would help lend a deeper sense of what we're about. So here's what I found.
One copywriter I spoke to said, "Aquent seems more personal [than other agencies] - I felt like it wasn't just a factory." Likewise, a web designer who came to us looking for gigs said, "Aquent really had the exact jobs that I was looking and Susie (the agent he worked with) knew exactly what I was doing and gave me good feedback on my portfolio." A designer who worked with us in San Diego and later Montreal said, "Aquent got me the best job I ever had."
I think a lot of people who end up working with us have similar experiences (at least I hope they do), but the one comment I found most telling came from a woman who works as a project manager out in Los Angeles. On the one hand, she also said nice things like, "I love Aquent. Aquent is fun and fair. I love the emails from Tim Donnelly. They really seem to care." And so on. But then she said something that I found even more impressive.
She explained that, as a project manager, sometimes it's hard to get companies to look at your resume and really understand what you're capable of. "To Aquent's credit," she said, "they saw a different resume [an older version she wasn't particularly happy with] and still saw something in me that made them want to talk to me."
I'm not exactly sure yet how to package and communicate that last sentiment, but it seems to sum up something important about Aquent: Because we are creative, inventive, experienced, and connected, we're able to truly appreciate your abilities. Not only that, thanks to this appreciation, we can match your skills and experience with the needs of our clients in ways that others cannot.
Or something like that. It's still awkward, but I think I'm onto something.
What do you think? is that the sort of thing you'd be interested in hearing "about us"?
Sorry, I have not found Aquent to be awesome. I have been registered with Aquent for over four years. And I was registered with MacTemps in San Diego about 14 years ago too. And I have not received a single job from them, apart from one jokey go-see, where there was no work to be done, so I departed amicably after two days and did not even bother with a timesheet (I liked the client and didn't want her to be billed).
I am completely baffled and mystifed by Aquent. My background and skills are stellar. I see a few people here and there who do get work through Aquent. But there really aren't that many jobs around when I go searching for them.
What's going on? Is there some secret mantra I should know? I don't know how far to take this, but I suspect there is a story in this.
Margot -
Thanks for commenting, though I'm sorry your experience with Aquent was not awesome. Not knowing anything about your particular situation, I do think that there is a "story" in your comment. I'm going to address it on the blog proper.
Matt
I, unfortunately, have found Aquent to be not that awesome as well. They talk a good talk, but at the end of the day in ANY temporary agency, the talent comes last. If Aquent has a use for you, you will get call backs, otherwise you sit on their books forever. Upper management doesn't train agents how to properly handle talent, and if you happen to move from one area to another, your prior experience at Aquent means nothing. You will be treated as if you walked in off the street. 9 years I worked for Aquent in one market, then moved to another and can't even get an agent to call me back when I leave a message. This has gone on for 2 years now. You are cubbyholed into what the agent THINKS you are capable of, not based on your actual experience or abilities. You will not be able to move into new fields, as you are permanently cubbyholed by the agents. So much of what you read on their site is marketing talk.
Chris - I'm sorry that you had a disappointing experience with Aquent. It is certainly not the case that you should be cubby-holed into a particular role and kept there regardless of how much time has passed or the kind of experience you have accrued. I also think that you point out a weak spot that we are addressing organizationally: making sure that "Aquent" remembers who you are and what you are capable of no matter where you are located geographically.
Thanks for taking the time to comment here. If you would like to discuss this further, I can be reached at mgrant@aquent.com.