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About H.W. Anderson

Over the last 10 years HW Anderson have grown into one of the largest global front office buy side search firms. We partner with the world’s leading hedge funds and merchant trading platforms to identify, assess and secure investment, trading and analytics talent. H.W. Anderson’s unique environment combines the intellectual challenge and compensatory potential of top-tier management consulting with the dynamic, growth-oriented culture of a start-up.

Early Career Programmes Available:

Executive Search Consultant

We are seeking individuals with 0-4 years of experience (in any field) and a degree from a top University. We are a boutique executive search firm offering impactful work in a small team environment. Prior financial market knowledge is not required – intellectual curiosity is!

Based in our award winning Charlotte Sq offices in Edinburgh we are offering an opportunity to join a rapidly expanding international executive search consultancy. We offer a starting base of £30,000 plus bonus and benefits.

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The Role

The role of an executive search consultant is to identify exceptional talent that enables our client firms to build or maintain an edge over their competitors in the market. More often than not, our best candidates have to be successfully extracted and incentivized to leave leading platforms.

A great search consultant develops the skills necessary to discern the difference between average and exceptional candidates and approaches each individual they engage with both empathy and an honest pragmatism that creates mutually beneficial scenarios for both clients and candidates alike. Developing these skills requires patience and effort. In our entry level consultant role you will be:

  • Working directly alongside our Vice Presidents, Directors and Managing Directors you will be responsible for delivering on a range of mandates across the globe in your position of “Consultant.”
  • Developing and maintaining relationships with key individuals in the market.
  • Creatively map out teams and build out org charts across leading companies.
  • Proactively “head-hunt” senior level executives to generate candidates for your clients.
  • Building subject matter expertise across our core buy side markets.
  • You will work closely with our global offices.

Hear from the team.

What attracted you to apply to HW Anderson?

I was attracted to the fact HW Anderson is a relatively small firm and I was interested in the markets that we operate. I had no concept of executive search as a career. It was more market driven. This combined with the fact it was a smaller company and tight knit environment gave me the feeling that I would be more seen in a smaller setting versus a large consultancy.

What do you wish you knew before joining?

I went into the process knowing very little. I spent time trying to understand executive search and the day to day and found that helpful. Ive always viewed it as a process of evolving and understanding the business organically. I had an interest in the market and felt my skill set lined up quite well with what the business needed. One thing to point out is that we do quite a lot of research/mapping, I thought it would be more surface level, but the depth of research has been a very positive surprise.

What have you enjoyed most about your role?

The research side of things. I enjoy starting a search – we have a few pieces of the puzzle but the challenge is to do the research and also go out and speak to people to get a fuller picture. Learning and understanding the market, what individuals do within a business, how desks with businesses are split, etc, and understanding that within the context of what our clients actually want. I also enjoy the longer term relationship aspect of things. Having been here a few years, revisiting talented senior candidates is very enjoyable because of the way we work, the level of trust and understanding builds over time.

What three pieces of advice would you share with applicants?

  1. Its always good to learn as much as you can about the company itself. Do your background research and figure out if you would like the work. Also, the more info you have the better you can interview.
  2. Ask interesting and engaging questions when you interview rooted in the research you have done. It shows a level of engagement which is something we look for. We want people who both ask and answer questions well.
  3. More general but dont be too disheartened with processes overall on a broader level. You will go through a lot of applications and a lot of processes. Put the work in and you will find the right role for you.

What attracted you to apply to HW Anderson?

I found HW Anderson through quite a diverse job search. What stood out to me was that it was a boutique firm and then upon further research on linkedin I could see graduates had progressed right through the business.

What do you wish you knew before joining?

You don’t have to come from economics or financial background because the markets are so well trained here. If I knew that I would have been more confident in my abilities coming from a good university and I held back a little to begin with. This is an environment that allows you to grow and learn without judgement.

What have you enjoyed most about your role?

Its exciting because any interaction you have with top talent can provide you with the ability to make a really impact. I speak to people all over the world. It’s exciting when you go from a junior on the desk to a position where you can inform our understanding of parts of the market – this can happen very quickly.

What three pieces of advice would you share with applicants?

  1. Thoroughly research what we do. Research HWA and our markets pre interview.
  2. Demonstrate interest and enthusiasm in the work that we do. You will speak to leadership or senior people quite quickly in your process.
  3. Prepare interesting questions because we like sharing what we do on a daily basis.

What attracted you to apply to HW Anderson?

I think that after research I decided to apply because of the proactive nature of executive search. I wanted to use my communication skills within consulting. I also liked the challenge of the role and really focusing on finding the right talent for a client.

What do you wish you knew before joining?

The main is that I did not have to be an expert in the market HW Anderson covers. I thought I would need to come from more of a financial background but looking back I realize its more important to have willingness to learn and a general interest in how the market works.

What have you enjoyed most about your role?

Personal development. Reflecting on the change and growth i’ve made in a year is very exciting. The responsibility i’ve been given and the learning curve that has resulted is really rewarding. Having new grads join the business, sharing my knowledge and mentoring people is also a big motivation.

What three pieces of advice would you share with applicants?

  1. Be yourself – dont come in trying to be who you think we want you to be. Show your actual personality and be your genuine self.
  2. Make sure you are applying because you are genuinely interested in being a headhunter. You don’t need to have a pre-existing passion for the market but you do need to be interested in the job and field we work in.
  3. Having a willingness to learn and openness to develop.

What attracted you to apply to HW Anderson?

Coming out of university I was drawn to the fact that HW Anderson had a small team environment that emphasized collaboration and a collective approach. I also wanted something that was structured and offered a clear progression path so that I could build my skills and grow. As the company hires graduates it was easy to speak to them and get a feel for what the transition would entail.

What do you wish you knew before joining?

Financial markets knowledge is not as important as softer skills. Being a clear communicator, well organized and a team player is valued higher here than having prexisting markets knowledge. We have people with diverse educational backgrounds – International Relations, History, Law etc.

What have you enjoyed most about your role?

 I like the fact that no day is the same and that both the work and the workload is constantly changing. I like that I have lot of autonomy in my role – if you find something interesting or see a lead you are encouraged to go down that path. As such you are building these skills from an early stage in your career which gets you up the learning curve quickly.

What three pieces of advice would you share with applicants?

  1. Research the firm and what headhunting entails and that aligns with what you want.
  2. Prepare for interviews – make sure you have questions to ask and you can get most out of the interview.
  3. Speak with people you know in the industry to learn what progression and day to day looks like.