Ed Smith-Oakey: Fast-Tracking a Career in Recruitment

Ed Smith-Oakey joined Client Server in December 2022 as a Trainee, bringing with him around a year of previous experience in tech recruitment. Since then, he’s been on a fast track, earning two promotions in quick succession and stepping up into roles with more responsibility, including mentoring and managing key accounts. "Since joining, I’ve been promoted twice, which has opened up loads of new opportunities for me, like mentoring others and running accounts. It’s been a great way to keep learning and growing."   Growth with Real Support What’s helped Ed accelerate his career? Support and structure from day one. "My manager (Nick Heath) has been great at giving me more responsibilities as I’ve developed, which has kept me moving forward. We have weekly catch-ups that really help me understand what I’ve done well and where I can improve, so I’m always learning." Beyond one-to-one coaching, Ed’s also benefited from multiple training sessions with senior team leads and external trainers, giving him fresh perspectives and actionable insights to keep building his skills. Career Highlights For Ed, hitting performance targets and promotions are always key milestones—this is sales, after all! But there’s one achievement that really stands out: "Being awarded Rookie of the Year was a huge highlight. It was amazing to have all the hard work recognised. It really motivates you to push even further."   What Makes Client Server Different? For Ed, it’s the team culture that sets Client Server apart. "The team environment here is brilliant. Sure, we’ve all got our individual targets, but we’re always working together towards the bigger team goal. There’s loads of cross-team collaboration, which makes every win feel like a shared success." That team-first mentality means that no matter your level, you’re never on your own—you’ve always got people around you working towards the same goals.   Advice for Success in Recruitment Ed’s got two big pieces of advice for anyone looking to build a successful career here: Learn your market inside-out. Spend time understanding what makes a great candidate in your space. The more knowledgeable you are, the more value you’ll bring to both clients and candidates. Learn from the best. Talk to the top billers. See what’s working for them and apply it to your own approach. "Listening to what the top performers are doing and implementing it will seriously fast-track your progression."