Looking for a new role is never straightforward, especially when you don't know exactly what you want, and your inbox is swamped with unsolicited messages from recruiters. However, I'm glad I made the decision to reply to Stephen's message. The role he had in mind for me piqued my interest, and following several very honest & insightful calls with him, I interviewed for the role and ultimately accepted it.

Throughout the entire process, Stephen was on hand to deal with all of my questions & concerns, both professional & personal, allowing me to make a fully informed decision. I would have no hesitation in recommending Stephen to all my friends & colleagues, and would happily work with him again in the future.

From the beginning, it was clear that his approach is different compared to many other recruiters. Unlike others who would rather ask for your expectations first and then try to prettify the job description to fit into your expectations, he first presented the company and the open position as it is, and then asked me how I felt about it. It was clear he wanted to make sure that I am fully committed as well before proceeding with the interview. That gave me the impression that he earned the respect and trust of his clients by recommending only the best candidates who fit into the company’s culture and open position. Because of that I felt confident that I will not be just another candidate, but one of few who will actually get the full attention of the interviewers and be able to present myself as who I really am and demonstrate my skills. He was there throughout the whole process of employment and called me as soon as possible every time he got new information. Stephen’s experience and reliability made the entire process completely stress-free.

I've never enjoyed the recruitment process. It takes up a lot of time and it's frustrating dealing with endless recruitment agents trying to sell you the next 'superstar' developer at some crazy rate, only to then find that the candidate didn't quite match up to the description.

I've dealt with a lot of recruitment agents and worked directly with a fair number also. The number of recruitment agents that I have found to competent at their job was very small. The number that I would also trust was smaller still.

Steve was firmly in that small number. Steve combines a seemingly rare set of qualities in this industry. He is very good at listening, understanding and finding the right people. He also negotiates hard, but never unfairly.

It is a testimony to Steve that some of the best people I've worked with were recruited through him.

I think the biggest compliment that I can pay Steve is that I always found him a man of his word, which meant I trusted him, which made so many things that much easier. In any industry and in any role, I think Steve's integrity alone would count for a lot. 

I would like to take this chance to say thank you to Steve, who helped me to lend in my current contract. He clearly went above and beyond what was required of him and helped me to navigate sensitive conversations successfully. Steve, I appreciated bouncing off ideas with you in Black Sheep Coffee and excited to hear more of what you are up to next. Thanks for everything.