Ardent consultant Jon Kennedy has been with the business three years, so we took the chance to ask him about his experience at Ardent.
What have been the highlights being part of the Ardent team over the last 3 years?
I’ve thoroughly enjoyed working alongside people I like and trust. I know we all want to achieve the best outcomes for our clients and candidates, and we root for one another. As our business has grown, it’s been validating to see how many household name US & UK law firms turn to us as a matter of course when they wish to hire, and the valuable service we can provide to our clients as a result of these flourishing client relationships throughout the market. Recent months have been particularly enjoyable – getting back to seeing colleagues, clients and candidates in person and spending time together with people!
How do you think Ardent’s approach differs from others – and how does that benefit clients and candidates?
I believe we treat our clients and candidates as individuals, with their own specific goals and needs. One size certainly doesn’t fit all, and we can utilise our market knowledge and coverage to provide the right solutions, as opposed to the only solutions to which we have access! The lawyers we interact with have different life experiences, and we would like our advice to be as holistic as possible. We’ve all become Mental Health First Aid trained, for example, and we recently joined up with Global Butterflies to improve our understanding of LGBTQ+ issues, so we can do our best to appreciate individual candidates’ own personal circumstances.
What’s your view on the market for clients and candidates in 2022?
Wider events have had a dramatic impact in recent years, and ongoing, which has led to major changes in short and long term planning for both candidates and clients. It’s so challenging to plan for the mid and short term when circumstances intervene and change the landscape entirely. We will continue to support our clients and candidates in their decisions as major political, economic and humanitarian issues provide one test after another. Significant, successive salary increases across the board over the past 12 months, and widespread acceptance of hybrid working models, have had a major impact on the marketability of certain roles and firms.
What are your plans for 2022?
Our business is all about long term relationships, and I look forward to continuing to support those firms and candidates with whom we have fostered loyal bonds over the years. On a personal note, we thoroughly look forward to our first cruise holiday as a family. Our daughters are really looking forward to seeing several new countries in one go. I’m also excited to the children and teens I coach enjoying their first athletics competitions.
To discuss your next opportunity connect with Jon, via our website or connect with him on LinkedIn.
