Aquent

Much much better than the other guys. Insanely reasonable and fair. The experience was pleasant.

I have worked with several of the big agencies in Seattle (as both a hiring manager type and as creative talent) and I really believe that Aquent is one of the better ones. Some of the differentiators that set Aquent apart are:
1. Attentive, personalized service
2. Core staff of experienced recruiters & on-​site representatives that know what they’re doing and stay with you through your contract
3. Their project offerings are high-​end positions in high caliber companies
4. Benefits and on-​site service
There are some drawbacks, though (discussed below).
P E R S O N A L S E R V I C E
Out of all the agencies, Aquent seems to «get it» the most and really matches people with the positions they want or are well suited for… even if that may take a little more care or you might see less spam and job opportunities come into your inbox. I’ve been impressed that they don’t waste my time with a bunch of «let’s throw a bunch of shit at the wall and see what sticks» random design jobs that, while would probably make us all a quick buck, they know I wouldn’t be interested in. Quality over quantity!
I work directly with Anne, Neiha and Carly and they are wonderful, helpful, and straightforward. Talking to them is like chatting with a pal and I’ve never felt like I was just a number to them. Never used the online tool, so I can’t comment on that (I’m generally the type that picks up the phone or hammers out an email if I see something I like). We’ve been in touch for some years now and it’s great to see the same core names and faces who I have come to know and trust.
C O R E S T A F F
As I mentioned, Aquent has experienced recruiters/​matchmakers/​on-​site reps and is not just a rotating door of young whippersnappers trying something out on the way to somewhere else. Having the same recruiters over the years tells me that Aquent recruiters make careers of matchmaking (and are presumably passionate/​caring about their jobs) and that they probably have some decent connections going.
I’ve also been impressed with the on-​site staff (once I’m on a job) and all of my questions have been answered via email same day.
H I G H — E N D P L A C E M E N T
Aquent also seems to hold the keys to some of the more interesting positions (anything from more conceptual to more technical, production to leadership) in the biggest & best companies, large and small. This is definitely rare for a placement agency, as most people would want their leadership to NOT be a temp gig. I was also impressed that some of the biggest and more interesting names in the world are coming to them for talent, even before opening up new offices for new initiatives.
B E N E F I T S & O N — S I T E S E R V I C E
401K matching… need I say more? No paid time off though. Also, the on-​site Aquent support staff that answers all your on-​job questions is very attentive and helpful. My emails are always answered swiftly (within hours) and helpfully.
C O N C L U S I O N
Yep, I and my friends, who also work through Aquent, found placement at some pretty awesome companies. We’re all very happy with their level of service, compensation, benefits, etc. and some of us have transitioned into full time gigs (if that’s your thing).
I would have loved to give Aquent 5 stars, but there were a few bumps in the road such as giving me the rate for a job and then basically circling back and saying that the original quoted rate wasn’t possible. I wish they had hammered the details of that out before giving me the rate which I assumed was already agreed upon.
Also, their office location, in my opinion, isn’t great. All other creative recruiting agencies have downtown offices which, again in my opinion, are more central and convenient. This office, while very slick and design start-​up-​ish in feel, is a bit off the beaten path (in Fremont), especially if you are a public transit person coming from the Cap Hill area like me. I have only had to visit their office twice, but both times, I had to wait a significant (15 – 20 minutes) amount of time for a bus going to downtown Fremont. Once I got off the bus, the walking directions were slightly confusing (due to all the overpasses and winding streets) and the office is (walking) still about 10 minutes away from Fremont’s commercial area that everyone knows. If you have a car, I imagine it is probably fine, but on foot, one wrong turn can cost a lot of time.
All in all, highly recommend trying this place out. Just be sure to drive there and not take the bus.

All they did was ask me to come in to their office to hear what I’m up to and to introduce me to «a few great opportunities.» However, there was never any indication of effort on their part to connect me with a client, and no contract ever came. Aside from wasted trips and having to fill out long, detailed forms at every visit, and aside from empty promises they made, nothing ever came out of this association. They kept inviting me every few months until I realized I was being used – just a check mark in their book.
I am a seasoned pro who has had little difficulty staying employed for the last 8 years. You would do best to avoid Aquent and to seek opportunities elsewhere. Don’t become another check mark.

Almost entirely unhelpful. You are a light bulb that replace another light bulb to them. They work for the companies that hire, not for the applicant.
I have been assigned 3 different representatives in as many months. The last one was assigned to me when I approached them with a job I found in my field advertised as an Aquent led hire. The new rep was introduced to me but never attempted to respond to my emails. The rep presented the wrong material to the client after wasting more than a week’s time, and predictably I didn’t get the job. They have never found anything for me. I worked with them after being hired by a company that insisted on using them. After that, very little contact, even when they promise more communication.
The worst part is that it can take days and many messages and emails sent before Aquent will get back to you. I’m not at all happy with them.
There are a lot of places like Aquent that have better track records with PEOPLE. Go to another agency. You’ll see that Aquent is good with the spear carrier positions, but if you want to have a career, you’ll find another place to rep you.

Very, very flaky. Even with a referral from somebody contracting through them they will not return phone calls or set an appointment. I know I am qualified so I will be sticking with Creative Group or Filter. Do yourself a favor and not waste your time.

Aquent (formerly Sakson and Taylor) employed me for over a year and a half. They worked with me to find work that I was interested and qualified for, and treated me with dignity and respect, a rarity in contract work as far as I can tell.

I’m a v– Microsoft contractor/​consultant working from the Aquent Studios office and I couldn’t be happier. My project managers are super people, very competent and supportive professionals… heck, even the VP treats me like the superstar that I’m really not.
I started working there late Spring of 2008, to work on a seemingly lowly, droll work project. This project lasted about half a year. My background is that I have more technical abilities to offer, and all of the management at Aquent practically bent over backwards to find increasingly interesting and remunerative projects for me to work on.
My opinion of the Aquent office in Seattle? I hope that I can work at this office with these folks until I’m (completely) gray, deaf, and blind.

This creative staffing agency is complete crap.
It looks nice, it feels nice, and they put off a very high-​end, professional image. Don’t judge a book by its cover.
First of all, the website does a HEINOUS job of actually telling you how to find a representative and sign up. You just kind of stumble through the whole thing, and if you’re lucky, you might actually set up a basic profile. The user-​friendliness of this site is so wretched.
I signed up with these people months ago, and have yet to even hear a response to absolutely anything. First of all, the creative rep for the Puget Sound area is located in SAN FRANCISCO. That’s helpful. After several calls to the Seattle office, I was finally told that I should contact her instead (since the Seattle office mainly deals with Microsoft). So I did, and never heard back from her for weeks. When I did get a response from her, we set up a phone call/​interview for the next day at 3pm, and she just never called. Two thumbs sarcastically up!
They constantly have job postings that look like they are up your alley. Don’t get excited. You respond to them, and nothing happens. I fully believe that the listings are simply bait-​and-​hooks to try and lure in prospective hires and grow their database. Because not once have I ever even had a reply, or a simple «no», since I started applying for their positions.
I’ve used 2 other creative agencies in Seattle, and both are 100 000% more helpful and efficient. I have yet to land a position through either of these companies (times of the current economy), but I am at least in touch with them, and they will go out of their way to call me just to check in on me and reinforce that they are on the lookout for me. Even if nothing comes through for a while, that at least helps you keep a somewhat positive attitude.
Aquent, on the other hand, are a complete joke. I removed my info from their system because they don’t deserve to have it.

I found a job that I was perfect for. I updated my resume and got it submitted online. It’s so hard to get the resume updated to move on (especially if one is currently employed), so I was pretty proud of myself. I took the time to meticulously set up my profile online, to make sure that if they did search their application database for other jobs, I would have a good shot at them (especially with my fantastic resume!).
Days later, no movement on the online system status. I mean nothing that indicated I was under consideration or no longer under consideration. I figure that most firms are smart enough to at least call potential contractors before submitting their resume to their clients — the fact that I hadn’t heard from anyone or seen my status indicate that I was being round filed after a few days of waiting led me to one belief. They don’t use their own online system, do they?
I called the firm to talk to a recruiter. I left the recruiter a phone message with my phone number TWICE. I got an email back (meaning, they do know HOW to find candidates using their online system. Considering I hadn’t actually left my last name makes me think the system did «ping» her to let her know that I had applied for one of her open requisitions). I called her during the time we agreed upon the next day, but she was busy. I get another email back — hey, sorry I don’t have your phone number. Uh — it is on the candidate profile online lady!
The phone left me feeling neither warm nor fuzzy. Not only was I told that because I didn’t have any MS experience I was likely to not get any bites, but when I asked the recruiter what the best way to submit for a job was, she told me to just send her the req #s via email and that «no one uses that online system, it’s such a pain…» Seriously?! The best part though was when she asked me to send her a copy of my resume, because she knew nothing about me.
Maybe you should learn to use your online tracking system. And I will be looking elsewhere for my next engagement.

Awful and Deceptive!
I tried for two years off an on to get this company (Aquent/Sakson&Taylor) to at least look at my resume and they blew me off. Every single time I submitted my resume to a listing they had on Craigslist, they would refuse to consider me – even though I was working as a tech writer for Boeing.
In late May 2008, they bizarrely accepted one of my resume submissions and I met with one of their «reps» for a face-​2-​face interview. The guy dressed like he was 18-​yr-​old skater. It was weird. Anyhoo, it went well and he made some good suggestions about my resume.
Right after that, I got a short, one month contract as a tech writer w/​a different vendor. Sakson&Taylor encouraged, naye INSISTED, I call them as soon as it was over so they could «start sending my resume to contacts» at MS.
After the contract, I contacted them. «Skater dude» had moved on to «another position in the company» and was no longer available. My file was shuffled off to a belligerent and clueless woman who called me up one day and proceeded to tell me she couldn’t possibly send my resume out for tech writing jobs because I «had no experience». Unbelievable! Turns out she not only had not read my resume but didn’t even have a copy of it in front of her when she called. She made comments like «you seem upset» and «I’m getting this antagonistic vibe». Again, UNBELIEVABLE!
I’m now working back out at MS with another vendor. This one did not promise me glorious benefits or paid sick leave. They’ve only offered me a paycheck.
I really believe that S&T is pulling this in an effort to actively waste applicants time so their submissions won’t have so much competition from other vendors.

Signed on with this firm when it was Sakson & Taylor… the problem was– I signed on as a digital artist & photographer. But every job they sent me was for computer programming or coding that I had no training or experience in.

In January I was contacted by an agent at Aquent for a brief conversation that ended 2 hours later. We met the next day to meet in person and ran over our scheduled 1-​hour meeting. I was introduced to the client the next day, and by Monday of next week I had a full-​time contract position. My agent and I had a terrific professional relationship, we would meet once a month for lunch to talk about the work and how things were doing.
The Golden Age is never long enough, y’know?
Aquent had acquired Sakson & Taylor, a staffing agency known mostly for staffing tech people with Microsoft. If the address for this place makes you ask, «wasn’t this Sakson & Taylor once?» now you know. My agent called me one morning to say that the time had come to leave Aquent. The company was moving in a different direction than what made it so great in the beginning. In the end, these decisions are best for everyone, right? Right.
I was paired with the other Aquent agent who helped build its brand in Seattle. We rarely spoke since my contract was so easy to maintain it was able to manage itself – the credit really goes to the awesome synergy that developed between myself and the team of people I work with on a daily basis. Then, one day, my agent went on paternity leave and I was paired with a new guy who was one of the recruiters for S&T.
He seems nice.
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