My Initial Perception

Even though I’ve only been working in the recruitment industry for two weeks, I’ve already realised that it’s very different from how most people perceive it. I assumed it would be straightforward: review some CV’s, interview a few candidates, and fill a role, but the reality is far more complex.

Recruitment Process – Client

Here at Thompson & Terry Recruitment, we do operate differently to a typical recruitment agency, in that we apply a headhunting approach to every role that we work on from graduate level to board level.

Our commitment is that we vow to only send candidates to our clients that we would personally employ ourselves and as a result 81.9% of the first CV that we submitted to our clients in 2025 successfully got the job compared to the significantly lower national average of circa 5%.

We are proud of our four specialist divisions within Office Recruitment, Graduate Recruitment, Biotech Recruitment and Executive Search Recruitment.

In terms of how we work with clients, more can be found here.

Recruitment Process – Candidate

Recruitment is about much more than matching skills to job descriptions and just filling the role. Instead, it’s about understanding each candidate’s motivations, strengths, and ambitions, and how they align with the specific needs and dynamics of a team. It’s about filling a role while also ensuring there is genuine alignment, to ensure a long-term fit. To achieve this, it’s vital that employers, hiring managers and recruiters are transparent throughout the whole process.

We understand that the biggest cost to recruitment is getting it wrong, so it’s important to ensure you leave no stone unturned when you are hiring. For candidates, this is no different. It’s important that candidates are prepared for interviews to ensure they can put their best foot forward. While we can coach candidates, the drive needs to come from them. Find out more about our work here.

My Takeaway

I’ve quickly learned that pairing the right person to the right role requires careful observation, patience, and attention to subtle details that often go unnoticed. From what I’ve experienced so far, successful recruitment isn’t about shortcuts, it’s about creating the right match long-term, and even in my first two weeks, I’ve seen how much thought, care, time and behind-the-scenes effort this requires.

If you’re a business looking to successfully recruit or a candidate looking for their next role, reach out to our expert team today.

E: jobs@thompsonandterry.co.uk

T: 01235797177