The 10 Core Principles That Drive Oakstone's Success

Fast-moving software companies require trustworthy partners in every aspect of their business to ensure their growth strategies have the highest chances of success. One crucial partner that can make or break a growth strategy is an external recruitment partner. Securing top talent quickly and efficiently is critical to a business's success, especially when hiring key decision-makers and leaders.

At Oakstone, we've honed our approach to finding high-performing leaders and creating results-driven teams for our clients. Our success is built on our people and experience, and we maximise effectiveness to deliver exceptional results for both candidates and companies.

Our consultants not only excel at finding top talent but also ensure that the hiring process is smooth, efficient, and successful for both candidates and employers.

1. Speed & Urgency: Moving with Purpose

A great recruiter understands the importance of acting quickly. In a competitive job market, hesitation can cost you the perfect candidate. The best recruiters move swiftly and purposefully, engaging with prospects, scheduling interviews, and streamlining the recruitment process. Their ability to act promptly ensures that top talent doesn't slip through the cracks or they are lost to competitors.

This is why Oakstone's average time to placement is just 12 weeks from briefing to contract signing.

2. Accountability: Taking Ownership of Outcomes

Top recruiters take full responsibility for the results of their efforts. They are accountable for meeting the needs of both candidates and employers, ensuring a successful match. By owning the outcome of every recruitment process, they build trust and credibility, fostering long-lasting relationships with both parties.

Oakstone's relationships span over 30 years. We have worked with individuals for their entire careers, helping them build teams in every company they have worked with.

"I've used Oakstone when I was an operator, when I was running international sales organisations, when I came out of full-time work, and now I am in a plural role as a board member/ chairman/ investor. They've always been consistent in being able to help me. That's why I come back to Oakstone an awful lot because I know that I can rely on the work that they do and the quality of the CVs and the people they put in front of me." – Martin Moran, Advisor at One Peak Partners.

3. Listening & Empathy: Understanding Stakeholder Needs

Great recruiters excel in listening and empathy. They take the time to understand the needs, concerns, and aspirations of both candidates and hiring managers. By genuinely caring about the individuals involved, they can make more informed decisions and facilitate better matches that satisfy everyone's goals.

"I had never previously used recruiters or believed they had my best interests at heart. They took the time to understand my career goals and preferences, ensuring each opportunity they presented was a perfect fit. Oakstone prioritised communication and transparency throughout the process, keeping me informed and supported. Thanks to their guidance, I've secured a job aligned with my aspirations." – Candidate placed by Managing Consultant Arran Campbell.

4. Challenging & Calling Out BS: Being Honest and Direct

Honesty and directness are critical traits for a successful recruiter. They're not afraid to challenge assumptions or push back when something doesn't seem right. By being straightforward and calling out any potential issues, they help ensure that the recruitment process is transparent and that all parties are aligned.

5. Hunger & Tenacity: Relentlessly Pursuing Top Talent

A great recruiter is driven by a relentless hunger to find the best candidates. They don't give up easily, even when the search is tough. Their tenacity ensures they explore every avenue, overcome setbacks, and ultimately secure the right talent, no matter what challenges they face.

Oakstone conducts thorough executive search strategies for every role we work on. For every role, Oakstone targets 100-200 people, aiming to have a conversation with every one of these individuals. We then qualify and shortlist around 50 of these and put forward a maximum of 10 highly qualified profiles to our client, meeting their original brief.

6. Impatience & Persistence: Balancing Urgency with Follow-Through

Balancing impatience with persistence is key to a recruiter's success. While they are eager to achieve results quickly, they also understand the importance of seeing the process through to completion. They don't abandon a search at the first sign of difficulty - instead, they persist until the project is completed satisfactorily.

Before speaking to any potential candidates, Oakstone's consultants often spend 1-2 weeks conducting vigorous searches using our optimised search methodology. This is why our delivery record is 100% across all retained roles.

7. Relationship & Rapport Building: Cultivating Strong Networks

Building strong relationships is at the core of great recruiting. Top recruiters know how to cultivate rapport and trust with candidates and hiring managers. By developing and maintaining these connections, they create a valuable network that helps them consistently find and place the best talent.

Our feedback speaks for itself:

"I felt valued and cared for, which is not true with many other recruiting firms."

"Most recruiters are quick to build a false relationship and let it die faster. Oakstone were not that."

"An incredibly talented team that deeply understands the candidate and client touch points. One of the best I have worked with."

8. Industry Knowledge: Leveraging Expertise

Exceptional recruiters possess deep industry knowledge. They understand the specific landscape they're working in, whether it's sales, tech, finance, or another field. This expertise allows them to identify top talent more effectively and provide insightful guidance to both candidates and employers.

Oakstone specialises in SaaS and FinTech, with each consultant specialising in their own vertical. This creates strong, knowledgeable networks and enables our consultants to quickly and accurately identify top performers.

9. Adaptability: Adjusting to Evolving Needs

The recruitment industry is constantly changing, and great recruiters are adaptable. They can adjust their strategies and approaches as market conditions shift or as client needs evolve. This flexibility ensures they remain effective no matter how the landscape changes.

Oakstone understands that search requirements change. One example of this was our Revenue Leader search with HCM SaaS company Rungway. The initial search targeted revenue leaders at HR software companies in EMEA, however, the search changed when Rungway realised that start-up experience was more important.

The collaborative, ongoing refining of the specification caused the search process to be longer than normal, as different candidate profiles were required for the change in criteria.

Oakstone successfully assisted Rungway in hiring a revenue leader who had worked with two previous HR-focused UK SaaS start-ups at a similar growth stage to Rungway.

10. Planning & Metrics: Driving Success Through Data

Finally, a great recruiter uses planning and metrics to drive success. They set clear goals, track progress, and use data to optimise their efforts. By relying on metrics, they can identify areas for improvement and ensure that their recruitment process is as efficient and effective as possible.

Oakstone uses scorecards and a measure quality matrix to ensure we effectively qualify clients and people to maximise and optimise the whole recruitment process. 

The traits of a great recruiter go beyond just filling roles. It's about speed, accountability, empathy, honesty, tenacity, and adaptability. By embodying these qualities, recruiters not only excel in their roles but also significantly impact the success of both candidates and companies.