Why Working With a Recruiter Is the Smartest Move a Candidate Can Make

Most candidates start their search the same way: scrolling through job boards, submitting applications, and hoping for a response. Some will have industry contacts and approach them directly. But in a market where competition is high and hiring processes are increasingly complex, going it alone often leads to frustration and missed opportunities.

Working with a recruiter changes the experience entirely. A good recruiter doesn’t just “find you a job”, they become a strategic partner who opens doors, positions you effectively, and guides you through the process with clarity and confidence. At Huntsman, we see this every day. The candidates who work with us don’t just secure roles; they secure the right roles aligned with their career and personal ambitions.

This article explains why partnering with a recruiter is one of the smartest decisions a candidate can make and hopefully will give you the confidence to partner with Huntsman when considering your next move.

1. Most Opportunities You Won’t Find Online

Many of the most exciting roles never reach job boards. Our clients often brief us before advertising publicly and, in most cases, instead of advertising at all.

Recruiters have access to exclusive roles, confidential vacancies, and unadvertised opportunities. This gives you a genuine advantage. Instead of competing with hundreds of applicants, you’re being put forward for roles where you have a real chance to stand out.

2. A Recruiter Actively Promotes Your Strengths

When you apply directly, your CV is one of many. When a recruiter represents you, someone is actively advocating for you.

We don’t just send your CV. We tell your story. We explain why you’re a strong fit, what makes you different, and how your experience aligns with the employer’s priorities. This context is often what moves a candidate from “maybe” to “interview” purely based on the trust we have built with our clients.

3. Expert Guidance on Your CV, Interviews, and Strategy

A strong recruiter knows what hiring managers respond to and what they don’t.

We help you refine your CV, strengthen your project examples, prepare for interviews, set realistic salary expectations, and shape your overall job‑search strategy. This isn’t generic advice. It’s tailored, practical, and based on real conversations with employers across the industry.

4. Honest Feedback Instead of Silence

One of the biggest frustrations for candidates is the lack of communication when applying directly.

Recruiters provide constructive feedback, clarity on timelines, insight into what the employer really thought, and guidance on how to improve for next time. This transparency helps you stay motivated and continuously improve.

5. Professional Support During Salary Negotiations

Negotiating salary and package directly with an employer can feel uncomfortable. Recruiters do it every day and know what’s realistic, what’s negotiable, and how to secure the best outcome.

We help you achieve a stronger salary, the right job title, and a package aligned with your market value. You gain the confidence of knowing someone is fighting your corner and has your best interests at hand.

6. A Faster, Less Stressful Job Search

Job searching can feel like a full‑time job. Recruiters streamline the entire process.

We shortlist roles that genuinely fit, manage communication with employers, arrange interviews, chase feedback, and keep the process moving. You focus on preparing , we handle the admin allowing you the time to concentrate on what is important.

7. A Long‑Term Career Partnership

The best recruiters don’t just place you in a role and disappear. They stay in touch, keep you informed about the market, and support your long‑term career development.

We help with career planning, salary benchmarking, future opportunities, and market insights. It’s a relationship that grows with your career, not just a one‑off transaction.

Conclusion

Applying directly puts you in a queue. Working with a recruiter puts you in front of decision makers with someone actively championing your value.

For candidates in the Built Environment who want clarity, confidence, and access to better opportunities, partnering with a recruiter isn’t just helpful, it’s a strategic advantage. When you work with a consultancy that genuinely understands your sector, your ambitions, and your strengths, the results speak for themselves.

We have helped 100s of Quantity Surveyors and Project Managers secure roles across the UK Built Environment consultancy market and have deep-rooted relationships with the clients we represent.

For our latest opportunities, please visit our Live Jobs page here:

JOB SEARCH

Author: James Waissel

Why Everyone Else in the Interview Room Looks Just Like You

You've sent out 20 applications, had two interviews, and walked out of both thinking they went well.

Then nothing. No call, no email, no feedback.
Just silence.

If that sounds familiar, you're not failing. You're blending in.

The problem isn't your CV...

Graduate construction Project Management roles are competitive, but not in the way most people think. The firms hiring you are not looking for the most technically polished graduate in the room. At this level, nobody really has technical depth yet. Everyone has a degree, everyone did a placement year or a few site visits. Everyone can talk about a project they worked on at uni.

The CVs almost look identical.
The LinkedIn profiles almost look identical.
And in the interview, the answers almost sound identical too.

That is the actual problem. Not your grades, not your lack of experience. You are one of fifteen people saying the same things in the same way, and the person hiring has to pick one of you.

What actually separates the person who gets hired?

I have been on both sides of this.

When I was a graduate PM trying to break in, I lost count of all the interviews I went to. I remember one in particular where I turned up in jeans. Everyone else wore a suit.

I didn’t get the job and I didn’t deserve to get it.

This taught me a very important, yet simple, lesson: Every room has a standard, and you must meet it before you even open your mouth. The people in that room would have already formed an impression of you, based on how you're dressed, whether you arrived on time and how you walked in.

But meeting the standard is not enough on its own.

The job I actually landed came from an interview where I had to present a case study. When they asked me what I would bring to the company as a graduate, I spoke confidently, and I worked in a joke about being very good at making tea.

It got a laugh.
It also got me the job.

I’m not saying you should crack jokes in every interview. I am telling you what hiring managers in construction consultancy won’t say out loud: they are picking the person they actually want to sit next to for the next five years. Technical skills can be taught. Confidence, personality, and the ability to hold a room can't.

When fifteen graduates are equally qualified on paper, the one who comes across as a person, rather than a rehearsed answer, wins every time.

Three things to take into your next interview and your next application.

So what do you do?

First, start by getting the basics right, not because they'll win you the job, but because getting them wrong will get you rejected.

▪️Wear a suit to in-person interviews unless you have been specifically told otherwise.
▪️Arrive ten minutes early.
▪️Know the name of the person interviewing you and one or two of the projects the firm has recently delivered.

None of this wins you the job, but it shows that you paid attention before you walked in the door.

Second, have one thing about you that is memorable. Not a gimmick, something unique to you. Something memorable. It might be a project you genuinely care about, a hobby that says something about how you think, or your personal perspective on the industry. After the interview, when the interviewers are debriefing, they should be able to finish the sentence "the one who..." with something specific about you. If they can't, you're forgettable. The forgettable doesn't get hired.

The third and last one is the most important and the hardest to fake. Let your personality through. Construction is a people business. Project Managers spend their days managing clients, contractors, designers, and internal teams. If you sit across the table looking terrified and giving textbook answers, you're quietly telling the interviewer you can't actually do the job.

Make eye contact. Smile naturally. React if something is funny. If you have an opinion, say so. The graduates who get hired aren’t the ones with the perfect answers, they are the ones the interviewer can picture in next Tuesday’s site meeting.

The market is not against you. Your competition is just better at being themselves than you are right now.

Fix that, and the interviews will start converting.

Are you coming out of university and trying to land your first construction Project Management role?
Send your CV to Huntsman Consult.

We'll give you an honest read on where you stand and what to work on.

Author: Jonas Rajackas

Senior Quantity Surveyors: Why the Best Roles Are Moving, And Why You Should Pay Attention

Senior and Associate Director‑level Quantity Surveyors are among the most in‑demand professionals in today’s construction and consultancy market, yet many remain hesitant to explore new opportunities. If you’re in that position, you’re far from alone; staying put often feels like the safer option, even when the market is signaling that stronger roles may be available.

Demand for senior commercial talent continues to outstrip supply across residential development, infrastructure, and major programme delivery. Multiple businesses are often competing for the same individuals, offering higher salaries, equity potential, and clearer progression pathways, yet many of these roles still go unfilled. For employers, this shortage is a strategic challenge. For candidates, it represents leverage, choice, and the opportunity to shape a role rather than simply step into one.

From a recruiter’s perspective, the biggest barrier isn’t the availability of opportunities but the perception of risk. Many senior professionals assume that moving roles brings uncertainty, questions about culture, delivery expectations, or long‑term stability. These concerns are understandable, especially for those who have built credibility where they are. But the market has shifted. Businesses are becoming more flexible, more transparent, and more willing to tailor roles around the right person. Some of the strongest opportunities never reach the open market at all; they’re discussed quietly with a small group of trusted candidates who are open to a conversation. In reality, the best roles are often invisible unless you’re already in the room.

Even if you’re not actively looking, staying informed puts you in a stronger position. Conversations aren’t commitment, they simply help you understand your value and the direction of the market. It’s also worth benchmarking your current role, as gaps in salary, progression, project exposure, and autonomy often appear gradually over time. Being open to informal, confidential discussions can be valuable, as many senior‑level moves begin with a low‑pressure exploratory chat rather than a formal application. And thinking long-term is essential: consider where your current role is taking you versus where the market could take you in the next three to five years.

The market is moving, whether you are or not, and senior QS talent has more influence and choice today than at any point in the last five years. The only real risk is assuming that staying still is the safest option. If you’re open to a confidential conversation about what’s happening in the market and where you might fit within it, taking that first step could be more valuable than you think.

Author: Claudine Gilbery-Phillips

Q1 2026: Exceeding Targets and Looking Ahead

By James Waissel, Founder & PM Recruiter

Q1 is done, and honestly, it's been a brilliant start to the year.

We set ourselves a target coming into 2026 and we've finished the quarter having delivered 100% above it. That's not something we take lightly. It reflects the trust that both candidates and clients have placed in us, and we don't underestimate that for a second.

To every project management and quantity surveying professional who came to us with their career in their hands, Thank You. And to every consultancy client who has partnered closely with us to find the right people for their businesses, we genuinely appreciate the confidence you've placed in Huntsman Consult. The results speak to what happens when both sides of the relationship are fully committed and aligned.

What the Market is Telling Us

It would be easy to just celebrate the numbers and move on, but the more interesting story is what we're seeing on the ground.

Demand within the commercial office space remains strong. Cut and carve, Cat A and Cat B fit-out, these are all areas where we're seeing consistent appetite for experienced talent. The hospitality sector continues to hold up well too.

The real headline, though, is residential. It's starting to come back. We're increasingly seeing clients in both the QS and PM space looking for experienced professionals to support build-to-rent, PBSA and co-living schemes. There's also a growing thread of change-of-use work coming through - office to hotel, office to residential - which is creating its own set of requirements for skilled, adaptable people who understand the complexity of those conversions.

What Q2 Holds

We're heading into the next quarter with momentum and a clear direction.

Beyond the sectors we're already active in, we're exploring new verticals, some of which we'll be sharing more on in the coming weeks. Huntsman is growing, and we're being deliberate about how we do that.

For candidates, our focus remains exactly what it's always been: understanding where you want to go and helping you get there, not just filling a role, but building a career.

For clients, we're doubling down on the quality and speed of our search. The market is competitive for talent right now, and the businesses that move with purpose are the ones winning.

We're looking forward to a strong Q2 and beyond. If you're a candidate thinking about your next move, or a business that needs the right people to deliver, let's talk. Get in touch with the Huntsman team today.

Get in touch with the Huntsman team today.

Here's to a successful quarter ahead.

Here is what James Waissel had to say:

A Memorable Work Experience Day at Gardiner & Theobald

Written by: Claudine Gilbery-Phillips

On Monday, I had the absolute pleasure of visiting the Gardiner & Theobald office in London with my 13-year-old twin sons for a work experience day – and what a day it was!

As a recruiter who works in a small office with just one colleague, I initially had no idea how to give my boys a meaningful or engaging insight into the working world without them being bored senseless. But after chatting with one of my lovely clients, they kindly offered for me to bring the boys into G&T - and I’m so grateful they did.

We took the train into London, and the twins spent the journey researching what a Quantity Surveyor does and even looked up the origins of the Gardiner & Theobald name. When we arrived, we were warmly welcomed by one of the lovely PA's I've exchanged countless emails with but had never met in person. She took us onto the main floor where we were introduced to Jemma, an apprentice Quantity Surveyor, and Dan, an Assistant Quantity Surveyor - our fantastic guides for the day.

Dan and Jemma gave us a brilliant tour of the office, showing us various floors and aspects of the company, which helped bring the profession to life. Back at their desks, Jemma brought out CAD floorplans and set the boys the task of counting chairs, tables, and other elements - a challenge they took very seriously, turning it into a fierce (but fun!) competition to see who could be the fastest and most accurate.

Next up, Jemma gave them some cost plans to work through - calculating total costs from quantities and rates, and even working backwards to figure out the quantities needed. The boys had loads of questions, like “What happens if you get the cost completely wrong?” - Dan and Jemma answered everything with such patience and enthusiasm.

After the hands-on tasks, we moved to a meeting room where Dan presented one of their flagship projects. It was fascinating to see the transformation of a building I remember from years ago into a spectacular new space with restaurants, offices, and entertainment venues - not to mention the impressive infrastructure behind it. We’re already planning a visit once it’s completed later this year!

While I was there, I also took the opportunity to finally meet some of the clients I’ve been working with but had only connected with remotely. It was great to put faces to names and have real conversations with the people behind the emails - a rare treat in today’s virtual world.

Personally, it was an amazing opportunity to see firsthand how my Huntsman Consult clients operate day-to-day. But more than that, I was deeply impressed by how engaging, patient, and inspiring both Jemma and Dan were with the boys - especially when Dan mentioned his passion for drag racing, which happens to be a lifelong interest of their dad’s!

In a world where big businesses are often too busy to pause, it’s incredible to see a company like Gardiner & Theobald take the time to welcome young people into their environment in such an age-appropriate, thoughtful way. My boys still don’t know exactly what they want to do “when they grow up” (aside from becoming professional footballers, of course!), but after this experience, they realised there are other exciting and interesting career paths out there too. They genuinely enjoyed their time, were fully engaged throughout, and came away with a new appreciation for how the working world functions.

It also highlighted to me just how important it is to encourage younger people to explore construction as a career. It's a fantastic and often overlooked industry, full of opportunities for creativity, innovation, and progression - and clearly capable of capturing young imaginations when presented in the right way.

Thank you so much to everyone at G&T who made the day possible - especially Dan, Jemma, and the kind client who offered us this opportunity. We won’t forget it.

Photos by: Claudine Gilbery-Phillips

James Waissel’s Real Talk on Building Huntsman Consult

Let’s be honest: most founder stories are sugar-coated. But not this one.

In a refreshingly candid episode of The RAG Podcast, James Waissel - Founder of Huntsman Consult - sat down with Sean Anderson from Hoxo Media to unpack the highs, lows, and gritty middle bits of building a specialist recruitment business in the UK’s built environment sector.

This wasn’t just another feel-good startup fairytale. It was a raw, detailed, and often hilarious play-by-play of how a bloke who once flogged Pokémon cards from his mum’s car boot built one of the most credible boutique agencies in construction recruitment - in under a year.

The Leap: From Comfortable to Calculated Chaos

After years in the game (Oyster, Archer, you name it), James hit that crossroads every high-performing recruiter secretly thinks about:

“Am I building someone else’s dream... or am I finally going to build mine?”
The decision? Triggered the day after his wedding.

Backed by sheer conviction, client trust, and a wildcard investor who believed in James before he even believed in himself - Huntsman Consult was born.

His first-year target? £125,000.
His actual billing in the first nine months? Nearly £300,000.
In a down market.

That’s not luck. That’s proof of what happens when preparation meets grit.

Behind the Scenes: What Most Founders Don’t Tell You

James didn’t just plug in a laptop and “go self-employed.” He spent his six-month post-resignation cooling-off period building systems, mapping the entire industry on LinkedIn, and literally buying and flipping antique toy trains to bankroll the company. (Yes - you read that right.)

Why? Because recruitment is easy to start but hard to sustain. And he wasn’t going to let sloppy planning kill his momentum.

His guiding rule? "Minimise risk. Maximise delivery."

The Model: Quality Over Quantity, Every Time

Forget chucking CVs at clients and hoping something sticks.

Huntsman’s approach is rooted in precision. A 95% CV-to-first-interview rate. Deep market mapping. Real pre-screening. And a relationship-first, 360° strategy that clients actually remember.

As James puts it:
“This isn't about building the biggest agency. It's about building the most profitable, reliable, and respected one.”

And that’s not just talk. It’s reflected in every hire he’s made - from experienced talent like Claudine Gilbery-Phillips, who now leads Quantity Surveying, to carefully selected support in South Africa helping scale operations intelligently.

Growth Without Bloat

While most recruitment founders chase fast headcount and burnout, James is laser-focused on growing lean, profitable verticals. That includes exploring a partner model - giving high-performers equity and true ownership, not just commission and KPIs.

It’s built for smart recruiters who could go out on their own - but don’t want to. Because they’ve got the autonomy, investment, and buy-in without the lonely grind of solo startup life.

AI, Authenticity & The Future of Recruitment

AI came up (as it always does), and James didn’t dodge the hard truths. He’s bullish on using AI for what it's good at — automation, admin, and efficiency — but draws a hard line:

“AI will never replace trust. It can’t take your client for a pint or truly understand what keeps them up at night. That’s human.”

For Huntsman Consult, AI supplements the system. Not the soul.

Why This Podcast Hit Different

This wasn’t about “growth hacks” or empty motivational fluff. It was two industry leaders dissecting the real anatomy of a recruitment business - with war stories, swear words, and strategic gold woven in between.

If you’re a recruiter thinking of going solo, or a consultancy looking for a partner who gets the market beyond just buzzwords - this episode is a must-listen.

Your Move

At Huntsman Consult, we’re not playing the volume game. We’re playing the long game.
We work with built environment consultancies that value relationships, rigour, and results - not just resumes.

Ready to speak with someone who understands the QS and PM market inside and out?

Get in touch.

PM's get in touch with James Waissel
👉 Save details
📞 07554 884592
✉ james@huntsmanconsult.com

QS's get in touch with Claudine Gilbery-Phillips
👉 Save details
📞 07968 119661
✉ claudine@huntsmanconsult.com

Check out the full podcast episode here.

Video: The Rag Podcast