Joining Athona in November 2012, James has played a vital role in the development of our Acute Doctors team that recruits for a vast number of specialties such as Medicine, Pathology and Radiology consultants across the UK and overseas. From originally joining Athona as a Resourcer for our A&E desk, James quickly began to rise through the ranks and climb the career progression ladder before eventually now becoming the Business Manager for our Acute Consultants team.
We sat down with James to discuss his career progression over the last 11 years, what he enjoys about Athona, future goals and aspirations and even a fun fact about himself!
So James, why did you choose to get into recruitment and what do you most enjoy about it?
I first heard about recruitment when I was studying my A-Levels and got the opportunity to speak to Athona’s Founder, Stewart London. I chose to get into healthcare recruitment because I enjoy speaking to people from all different backgrounds and also helping doctors attain their first job in the UK by building strong relationships with all my candidates. I also thoroughly enjoy finding out about new cultures through my candidates and hearing about their experiences exploring different parts of the world, where they have been working and living.
What are some of the best memories you have since joining Athona?
From placing doctors as an SHO in A&E, to now placing them as Neurology Consultants and watching them progress throughout their careers whilst achieving their goals has been very rewarding for me. As well as this, watching the teams around me grow and seeing the resourcer’s I’ve trained transition into billing recruitment consultants has been fantastic for me to see.
What does your progression route through Athona look like?
I started Athona in December 2012 as a resourcer and soon made my way up to a trainee recruitment consultant in March 2013. After consistently growing the A&E desk and hiring more recruitment consultants to join the team, I then moved to recruiting Radiology Consultants in February 2017. Whilst I was working on this desk, I was able to build up the highest month the Radiology team has ever achieved. Due to Covid in 2020, the teams restructured and I joined the Medicine Consultants team where I was fortunate enough to be a part of the highest ever medicine team figures. Following on from this, in August 2023, I began my newly appointed position as the Business Manager for the Acute Consultant’s team.
What do you enjoy about Athona and why have you stayed for so many years?
Working for Athona gives me the opportunity to help new recruitment consultant’s grow and progress within their role and career. As well as this, I enjoy building strong, long-standing relationships with clients and assisting doctors with finding them the jobs they desire.
Do you have any future goals or aspirations for your career?
My future ambition is to build the best billing team in Athona and to be recognised within the healthcare recruitment industry.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself!
I enjoy taking inspiration from my doctors that I speak to and make the conscious effort to travel to their home countries and finding them off the grid local-only places without tourists!
Are you a Medicine Consultant looking for your next position? Get in touch with James, or check out our current vacancies on our website.
T: 01277 245863
