Freedom. Security. Adventure. What a Career at Saragossa Really Means
Tori
Over the past decade, we’ve spent a lot of time asking ourselves: What should a career at Saragossa stand for?
It’s easy to talk about earnings potential and rapid progression. Those things matter – and we deliver on them. But with competition for the brightest talent fierce, we’ve had to distil and articulate what a successful Saragossa career can bring. In a competitive market, where every employer promises the same, we’ve worked hard to define what really sets us apart.
For us, it comes down to three values that underpin everything we do:
Freedom. Security. Adventure.
These aren’t fluffy words for wall posters. They shape how we hire, promote, reward and build teams. They’re the foundation of a culture that helps people not just succeed, but grow.
Freedom
Freedom at Saragossa is about more than flexible working or autonomy over your day-to-day. We want our team to have the voice, resources, respect, and support that allow them to make their own choices, both in their professional and personal lives.
We don’t want our people to feel controlled by circumstances or boxed in by rigid career paths. Instead, we back them to take ownership of their growth, explore new ideas, and shape careers that excite them.
Here’s what that looks like in practice:
One team member relocated away from our offices to work remotely when their partner took a new role and transitioned into a position designed to offer more independence, without stepping off the leadership path.
Another chose to structure their parental leave across the full first year of their child’s life, using our six-week fully paid partner leave policy in a way that worked for their family.
And another joined in a delivery-focused role, but has since taken on more cultural and people-focused work as their interests evolved – a move made possible by the business growing with them.
In most jobs, freedom is something you earn. Here, it’s something you start with.
Security
The best decisions get made when you feel safe to take risks. That’s why security is fundamental at Saragossa.
Security means knowing you’re backed, even when things don’t go to plan. It’s the confidence that mistakes won’t define you, that progress is judged over time, and that your team wants you to succeed.
It’s about a sense of togetherness and a secure platform enable our team to make better decisions, and investing in doing things properly with long-term progress in mind, rather than being driven by quick wins or the fear of making an error. The security of knowing you can make a mistake and not be isolated allows our team to dare to be great.
This kind of support doesn’t lead to complacency – it leads to growth. And it’s rare. A Google study found that psychological safety was the single most imporrtant trait of effective, high-performing teams.
That’s what we try to create here: a foundation where people can push themselves, try new things, and know they won’t fall through the cracks if they stumble.
Adventure
Many jobs can be treated like a means to an end, enduring work so that you can enjoy adventures in your spare time with the wages you earn.
We see it differently. We believe that a great work environment should provide adventure as part of the journey, meeting new people, doing new things and seeing new places.
That might mean:
Moving to a new office in New York, Chicago or London.
Building relationships with clients across Europe and the US.
Being part of new solution launches, internal taskforces, or first-time pitches.
It might even mean just sitting in a meeting you didn’t think you’d be in a year ago… and realising you’ve got something valuable to say!
In short: adventure means your work doesn’t feel like waiting for the weekend. It feels like something that moves you forward.
Bringing it to life: Adam’s story
Adam joined Saragossa in July 2023 as a graduate Associate, fresh from the University of Bristol with a Maths degree. In just over two years, he’s proven himself as a consistent high performer and stepped up to Senior level.
Now, Adam is packing his bag and heading off to our New York office for a new adventure – a move that perfectly reflects our values in action.
Freedom: Adam’s had the space to grow quickly, take ownership of his development, and carve out a career path that excites him.
Security: He’s been supported by his team at every step, knowing that we value long-term progress over short-term gains.
Adventure: And now, he’s about to embark on the ultimate adventure, building his career in one of the most dynamic recruitment markets in the world.
More than a career
If you’re thinking about what you want from your next role, don’t just ask yourself where you’ll earn the most or get promoted fastest. Ask yourself:
Will I have the freedom to shape my career, not just follow it?
Will I feel secure enough to take risks and be myself?
Will I find adventure in the work itself, not just outside of it?
Because those are the things that turn a job into a journey. And they’re what we aim to offer at Saragossa.
If you’d like to speak about opportunities at Saragossa, we’d love to hear from you – get in touch with Sophie Blake or Lily Mugford to find out more.
