Resources

Recruitment has a reputation problem. Most people have a story where they felt like a number, a CV was sent without permission, or a conversation suddenly turned pushy the moment money was involved. If that’s been your experience, you’re right to be cautious. But here’s the honest truth about how we’ve built Hawthorne-Finch Talent Solutions: I’d rather lose a fee...

You hand in your notice. You’ve rehearsed the conversation. You’ve been respectful. You’ve done it properly. And then your employer comes back with: “We’ll match it.” Same salary. Sometimes a title tweak. Maybe a promise of flexibility. So why does it still feel… off? This is one of the most common moments candidates describe to me, and it’s rarely because...

Counteroffers are one of those moments where leadership gets tested. Handled well, they can save a key person and reset trust. Handled badly, they can create a bigger problem than the resignation itself: pay resentment, a wobble in team confidence, and a culture where people learn they only get valued when they threaten to leave. This guide is a practical,...

In recruitment, both sides can feel like they’re the one with the power, right up until they don’t. The recruiter’s value is making sure neither side overplays their hand. It sounds simple. It rarely is. I’ve been doing this long enough to watch the same dynamic play out repeatedly, across legal sector hiring, accountancy recruitment, and just about every salary...

Why Your Job Ad Isn’t Converting (and the 6 Lines to Fix First) If your job advert is getting views but not the right applications, it’s rarely because “there aren’t any candidates”. Most of the time, the advert is missing clarity in the first few lines. Good candidates skim. They decide in seconds whether a role is worth their time....

Hybrid Working:  What Candidates Mean vs What Firms Hear Hybrid working should be simple. In reality, it’s one of the biggest sources of frustration I see on both sides of the market, because “hybrid” isn’t a standard term. In this guide, I break down what candidates usually mean when they ask for hybrid working, what firms often hear, and how...

Offer drop-outs are one of the most frustrating parts of hiring. You do the hard work, you find someone good, everyone agrees they’re the right fit and then it wobbles at the last moment. The good news: most drop-outs aren’t random. They’re usually the result of avoidable gaps in process, communication, or expectations. Here’s a practical guide UK firms can...

Are These Killing Your Ability to Hire? Most hiring issues are not “a candidate problem”. They are process problems. If you are struggling to land the people you actually want, here are three common culprits I see in professional hiring markets (legal and accountancy included). Use these as credible internal conversation starters, not as hard promises externally. 1) Speed wins...

Why tailoring your CV matters (and why good candidates get ignored) If you’re applying for roles and not getting traction, there’s a good chance it’s not your experience. It’s how your experience is being presented. We recently advertised for a Recruitment Consultant role and received 109 applications. A few people told us in messages or cover notes that they had...

Personal Branding – Forget the Noise (David Did It!) Starting the year off with a topic that’s a bit left-field for me: personal branding. Yes, it’s a little “me, me, me” (what do you expect from someone who named his blog and business after himself? 😂). But stick with me, because this one’s for anyone navigating legal, accountancy, or recruitment...

I get asked a lot by clients about their offer, how does it stand out against the market. A lot of the time people are still trying to pitch a standard benefit such as Pension (and I mean standard pension not enhanced pension) as a lucrative benefit. Thankfully we have seen less fruit baskets and team pizza days in the...

It was Dec 2023 that I decided to make a career move and sat down to think what that would look like. That decision launched my career forward and now I have a business I am excited to work at every day (mainly thanks to my team, clients and candidates). The festive season is upon us, and while most people...

Why December is the Best Month for a Career Move (and Why Waiting for January Could Hold You Back) December. For most, it’s a time of mince pies, Christmas jumpers, and winding down. But if you’re thinking about a career move, especially in the legal or accountancy sectors, this is the golden window you shouldn’t ignore. If you want to...

Last week, I swapped CVs and interviews for something completely different: building new pages on the H-FTS website. No, I’m not rebranding as a web developer any time soon. But I did spend my evenings writing content, adding images, and even getting stuck into the HTML. And honestly? I really enjoyed it – especially knowing it will help more people...

If you’re in recruitment and have faced job rejection, or you’re considering internal recruitment vs agency partnerships, this story reveals why rejection often redirects us toward better opportunities. Sometimes the door that closes leads you to a better window – and occasionally, you get to prove exactly what they missed out on. The “Perfect” Internal Recruitment Opportunity That Wasn’t A...

In the fast-paced world of legal and accountancy recruitment, timing isn’t just important—it’s everything. At Hawthorne-Finch Talent Solutions, we’ve identified a critical gap in the market that’s costing our clients the very best candidates. Today, we’re proud to announce our industry-first 48-Hour Feedback Guarantee, a game-changing commitment that puts our clients ahead of the competition. The Problem That’s Costing You...

Today brought one of those moments that perfectly encapsulates why we do what we do at Hawthorne-Finch Talent Solutions. An email landed in my inbox from a law firm client that made me pause and reflect on the stark difference between transactional recruitment and true consultative partnership. The Email That Started It All “Another recruiter contacted me today who knows...

Another tale from the UK recruitment trenches where professional courtesy in legal hiring seems to have gone on extended leave… Well, well, well. Gather ’round for another episode of “David Did It!” – where I spill the tea on legal and accountancy recruitment realities that would make your nan clutch her pearls. So picture this: one of our legal and...

When I first heard about the four day work week legal sector trend, I’ll be honest – I was skeptical. Traditional industries like law and accountancy have always been built on billable hours, client demands, and the “always-on” mentality. But over the past few months, I’ve witnessed something remarkable that’s completely changed my perspective. The Reality Check That Changed Everything...

By David Hawthorne-Finch, Managing Director After over a decade in recruitment and building Hawthorne-Finch Talent Solutions from the ground up, I’ve witnessed countless market shifts. But 2025 has brought some of the most significant changes I’ve ever seen in legal and accountancy recruitment. Let me share what I’m observing from the frontlines. The Great Salary Surge: What’s Really Happening David...

Why Your Pay Structure Is Blocking Your Growth If you’ve ever been shocked by a candidate’s salary expectations, don’t worry you’re not alone.I had a conversation with a client recently (a brilliant Accountancy Practice in Leeds) who nearly fell off their chair when I shared the market rate for a highly skilled candidate they were interested in. “That’s way above...

Let’s talk money.I was working with a brilliant candidate recently, the kind that makes you do a smug little desk dance when they accept the offer. We’d done our due diligence: market mapping, salary research, and real conversations with real firms. We knew the candidate’s salary expectations were in line with the going rate. So, I was a bit surprised...

Let’s set the scene: You’re a hiring manager or Partner, you’ve got a role to fill, and you’ve dug out the job spec from five years ago that someone once used and thought, “That’ll do.” Maybe you’ve even Googled a few others to cut and paste something together (no judgement, we’ve all been there). But here’s the kicker – that...

Let’s be real, hiring in today’s market is tough (hence I have a job). Roles sit open for months, candidates ghost interviews, and businesses are left scrambling to fill the gaps. But what if I told you there’s a whole pool of experienced, UK-based professionals who are being overlooked simply because of one word? Visa. Yes, visa candidates already in...