Irreverent approach to HR puts Pareto among the prizes: Graduate‐recruitment firm achieves national success

Abstract

Purpose

The paper aims to highlight the policies that helped Pareto Law, a “slightly wacky and highly sales driven” graduate‐recruitment organization, to win the 2005 Sunday Times Best Small Company to Work For award.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper explores the background of the company's founders and how this influenced the Pareto Law business model. It also describes the successful model in detail.

Findings

The paper describes Pareto's “high earnings, high achievement” and extremely open culture. Emphasises the importance of setting challenging but achievable goals, the generous incentives scheme, and gives examples of the practical support offered by the company's founders.

Practical implications

The paper highlights a business model that has succeeded in getting the best out of today's graduates.

Originality/value

The paper shows how being open with people, stretching them, rewarding them well and ensuring that work is a fun place to be has helped to achieve a dynamic and committed workforce.

Citation

Longden, K. (2006), "Irreverent approach to HR puts Pareto among the prizes: Graduate‐recruitment firm achieves national success", Human Resource Management International Digest, Vol. 14 No. 1, pp. 6-8. https://doi.org/10.1108/09670730610644016