Sharp Resources
Executive Search Associate (Graduate role)
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Executive Search Associate, GTM Practice
Location: London (with travel to Austin) | Open to: Recent graduates
About the Role
I'm recruiting on behalf of an executive search firm specialising in advising high-growth startups on their most critical hires: go-to-market leaders who determine whether a company scales or stalls.
The firm works with Series A to C tech businesses across North America, including sectors like AI, fintech, and medtech, placing key roles such as:
- VPs of Sales
- CROs
- Heads of Growth
Notable achievements include helping a client grow from zero to $100M in revenue. Hires at this level are the firm’s most significant work.
This is a rare opportunity for a recent graduate to enter executive search while gaining exposure to one of the market’s fastest-growing and highest-value verticals—a field that operates at the top end of the market in terms of quality.
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You’ll learn executive search as a craft, working directly alongside Principals and Partners and engaging with senior leaders and founders from the outset. The expertise you develop in GTM leadership will be immediately valuable in a commercial and specialised field.
Responsibilities
• Mapping high-growth tech’s GTM leadership market across North America • Identifying and engaging senior leaders, building enduring relationships • Running full-cycle search processes alongside Principals and Partners • Developing deep specialisation in executive talent acquisition
Progression & Compensation
The role starts at:
- Base Salary: £30,000
- OTE (On-Target Earnings): £45,000
Advancement is performance-based, not tenure-dependent. Excelling Associates often progress to Senior Associate within their first year, earning:
- £45,000 base with an OTE of £80,000.
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Requirements
Applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Degree: 2:1 or above (or equivalent)
- Commercial Awareness: Deep interest in how high-growth companies are built and scaled
- Senior Engagement Skills: Comfortable networking with CROs, VPs, and founders
- Communication: Strong verbal and written expression
- Research: Ability to map markets and identify high-potential talent
- Resilience: Persistence in securing commitments— top candidates respond less eagerly
- Ownership: Self-directed, with ability to drive processes autonomously
- Attention to Detail: Exceptional credibility relies on precision and accuracy
- Start-Up Enthusiasm: Genuine curiosity about how startups grow and leaders impact scaling
Contract: London-based (with opportunities in Austin)
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