How we work

Structured, transparent and personal — from brief to placement.

The 7-step recruitment process

Role calibration

Not just the job description. We take time to understand the team, the culture, the leadership context and what success genuinely looks like in 12 months. This shapes everything that follows.

Search & market mapping

We identify the right talent pool through direct market mapping and targeted outreach, supplemented by strategic advertising where it adds genuine value.

Screening & assessment

Every shortlisted candidate is thoroughly interviewed. We assess capability, cultural alignment, motivations and long-term fit, and we’re honest about risk.

Shortlist presentation

You receive a clear shortlist - typically 3-4 candidates - with our honest notes and recommendation on each. No padding.

Interview coordination

We manage scheduling, prepare candidates and handle communication throughout. Your time is protected.

Reference checks

Thorough, written reference checks presented in full. Not a tick-box exercise - questions are tailored, we focus on what matters.

Offer & onboarding

We manage offer negotiation and stay involved through commencement to ensure a smooth start for both parties.

Let’s talk

Sectors we recruit for

Not-for-profit

Peak bodies, foundations and community service organisations

Aged care

Residential and community aged care

NDIS & Disability

Disability service providers and NDIS organisations

Education

Universities, independent schools and RTOs

Testimonials

From start to finish, Gabrielle was a joy to interact with—her communication was fabulous, and she brought such enthusiasm and empathy to the table. She genuinely cared about finding the right fit for me and negotiated brilliantly on my behalf. Gabrielle made the whole process smooth and enjoyable, and I couldn’t be happier with the Business Development Manager position she helped me secure.

Justine Terese

Business Development Manager

Gab is a highly professional, committed and effective executive recruitment consultant. All interactions with Gab have been courteous, positive and helpful. Gab takes the time to get to know her clients and prospective employers to ensure the match. I could not recommend her highly enough and I'm looking forward to a continued relationship into the future.

Gaye Wealthy

People & Culture Executive

Gab is a great operator when it comes to recruitment and someone I would absolutely go back to as a trusted advisor in this space. She knows her stuff, is so easy to work with, supported me and the team to get the best outcome on a short turnaround, kept me updated at every step of the way, and is just a genuinely lovely person to work through tricky or technical recruitment matters with. Her people-centric approach, her dedication and her kindness put me at ease that I had the right person on the job.

Grace Oakley

People & Capability Business Partner

Gab is an excellent and highly professional recruitment consultant. My dealings with Gab have been so wonderful, her communication always finding time for you, and expertise has been so valuable to me. The trust was instant and she has a great ability to make you feel valued and supported. I could not recommend her highly enough and would continue to use her as a client of mine if the situation arose.

Jeremy Clark

Head of marketing

Gab spent time listening to the needs of our College and what was required from a candidate. Her work in vetting and finding the best applicant saved me hours of work. We had been looking for a HR Officer for months and upon seeking help from Gab, we had a candidate in days who we have now employed. Gab was terrific in this process and communicated well and kept me in the loop. Thank you.

Nick Moloney

Deputy Principal

Gabrielle’s guidance and insights are invaluable. Smart, kind, Gabrielle has the ability to perfect match the right person with the right organisation.

Ashlea Hogg

Communications & Engagement Officer

Gabrielle's work on behalf of Wildlife Victoria ensured a quick appointment and an overall smooth and easy recruitment process. The calibre of the candidates put forward was of the highest standard and showed her understanding of the role and the organisation. Would highly recommend Gabrielle to other non-profit organisations.

Aleisha Hall

Acting Head of External Relations

We all know that December is not a great time to be looking for new staff. One call and I was convinced that Gab would do her best to help us find the right candidate for our 12 month PR role and she didn't disappoint. Whilst other Agencies closed for a few weeks, Gab worked through and presented us with very high calibre candidates making it a pleasure but difficult to short-list down to 4 for interviews. All impressed us, but in the end one candidate stood out and we were able to negotiate quickly for that important 'we need someone now' date to start. Gab was a pleasure to work with and I highly recommend her to anyone.

Jody Kelly

Manager People Services, Wildlife Victoria

From start to finish, Gabrielle was a joy to interact with—her communication was fabulous, and she brought such enthusiasm and empathy to the table. She genuinely cared about finding the right fit for me and negotiated brilliantly on my behalf. Gabrielle made the whole process smooth and enjoyable, and I couldn’t be happier with the Business Development Manager position she helped me secure.

Justine Terese

Business Development Manager

Gab is a highly professional, committed and effective executive recruitment consultant. All interactions with Gab have been courteous, positive and helpful. Gab takes the time to get to know her clients and prospective employers to ensure the match. I could not recommend her highly enough and I'm looking forward to a continued relationship into the future.

Gaye Wealthy

People & Culture Executive

Gab is a great operator when it comes to recruitment and someone I would absolutely go back to as a trusted advisor in this space. She knows her stuff, is so easy to work with, supported me and the team to get the best outcome on a short turnaround, kept me updated at every step of the way, and is just a genuinely lovely person to work through tricky or technical recruitment matters with. Her people-centric approach, her dedication and her kindness put me at ease that I had the right person on the job.

Grace Oakley

People & Capability Business Partner

Gab is an excellent and highly professional recruitment consultant. My dealings with Gab have been so wonderful, her communication always finding time for you, and expertise has been so valuable to me. The trust was instant and she has a great ability to make you feel valued and supported. I could not recommend her highly enough and would continue to use her as a client of mine if the situation arose.

Jeremy Clark

Head of marketing

Gab spent time listening to the needs of our College and what was required from a candidate. Her work in vetting and finding the best applicant saved me hours of work. We had been looking for a HR Officer for months and upon seeking help from Gab, we had a candidate in days who we have now employed. Gab was terrific in this process and communicated well and kept me in the loop. Thank you.

Nick Moloney

Deputy Principal

Gabrielle’s guidance and insights are invaluable. Smart, kind, Gabrielle has the ability to perfect match the right person with the right organisation.

Ashlea Hogg

Communications & Engagement Officer

Gabrielle's work on behalf of Wildlife Victoria ensured a quick appointment and an overall smooth and easy recruitment process. The calibre of the candidates put forward was of the highest standard and showed her understanding of the role and the organisation. Would highly recommend Gabrielle to other non-profit organisations.

Aleisha Hall

Acting Head of External Relations

We all know that December is not a great time to be looking for new staff. One call and I was convinced that Gab would do her best to help us find the right candidate for our 12 month PR role and she didn't disappoint. Whilst other Agencies closed for a few weeks, Gab worked through and presented us with very high calibre candidates making it a pleasure but difficult to short-list down to 4 for interviews. All impressed us, but in the end one candidate stood out and we were able to negotiate quickly for that important 'we need someone now' date to start. Gab was a pleasure to work with and I highly recommend her to anyone.

Jody Kelly

Manager People Services, Wildlife Victoria

Frequently asked questions about our process

Contact me

What is retained search vs contingency recruitment?

Retained search involves an upfront commitment (typically structured in milestones) and is used for senior, confidential, or complex appointments. It guarantees dedicated attention and a thorough process. Exclusive contingency has no upfront fee but still involves an exclusive engagement — meaning we’re the only agency working on your role, which allows us to invest the time needed to find the right person.

What happens if the placement doesn’t work out?

All permanent placements come with a guarantee period. If the candidate doesn’t work out within that period, we’ll conduct a replacement search at no additional fee. Contact us for specific terms based on your engagement model.

Do I pay anything upfront?

For retained executive search, yes — we structure fees around milestones. For exclusive contingency, no upfront fee is required. We’ll recommend the right engagement model based on the seniority and complexity of your role.

How many candidates will you present?

Typically 3–4 candidates per shortlist. We believe in presenting quality over quantity — each candidate comes with detailed notes and our honest recommendation. We don’t pad shortlists.

Who will I work with?

Every search is personally led by Gab Patterson. You’ll work directly with the founder from initial brief through to placement and onboarding. No hand-offs, no junior consultants.