We sat down with Luke Thompson, Director of Thurn Partners, to learn what he looks for in Associate Search Consultants.
Check out his top tips for applying and interviewing at Thurn!
What is your role at Thurn Partners, and how are you involved in the Associate Recruitment process?
I started the business in December 2017 and was joined by my business partner, Alex, in March 2019. As a Director, my work centres around leadership, strategy, and operations. I work closely with our leadership team to set the company’s direction, identify new opportunities, and ensure we stay ahead of industry trends. Innovation is a key part of this, whether it’s refining our processes, employing new technology, expanding into different markets, or enhancing the way we engage with clients and candidates.
Our Head of Sales and Team Managers take the lead in making hiring decisions and selecting the right talent for our Associate cohorts, though I usually join part of the final onsite interview. My role at this point in the process is less about assessment and more about sharing insights with candidates, our vision, future direction, and understanding what truly motivates them.
What do you look for when it comes to hiring?
When I look at our most successful hires, a few key traits stand out:
- The ability to tell a story – A large part of our role is communicating people’s stories to others in a candid yet compelling way, so strong verbal and written communication is a must.
- Natural relationship builders – We’re in the people business, where networking is key, so it’s essential that people can form and nurture relationships.
- Confidence in engaging with senior professionals – Our clients are prestigious hedge funds and investment firms, and we engage with their most senior team members. The ability to interact with people, regardless of their perceived level, is hugely valuable.
- Curiosity and accountability – A genuine interest in learning about the market and not stopping at surface-level understanding. Individuals who do what they say they will and ask when they don’t know how to do something - stand out.
- A consultative, commercial mindset – Enjoying the consultative and sales aspect of the role while thinking commercially.
- Intrinsic motivation to succeed – Those who truly enjoy the job and integrate it into their lifestyle tend to be the most successful.
At Thurn Partners, hard work is recognised through growth opportunities, rapid career progression, and, of course, financially via our commission scheme.
We invest heavily in our people, with a strong focus on developing talent from within. We have ambitious strategic growth plans, and our people are central to making them happen - whether that’s moving into management or working up to become a Principal Consultant.
What advice would you give to someone applying or interviewing for a role with Thurn Partners?
Our environment is built on people and communication. In today’s graduate market, we’re not short of applications - but how do you make yourself stand out?
We see countless CVs that show little personality. It’s great that you went to university and did an internship, but that doesn’t tell us what makes you tick.
Our business is about engaging with people, so we want to know more about you. What drives you? Have you set big personal goals - maybe running an ultramarathon, cycling across a country, writing a book, or learning a new skill? This kind of ambition and initiative stands out.
We value life experiences just as much as career-related ones. What did that bar job at university teach you? When have you faced a challenge outside of your degree or internship? When have you stepped outside your comfort zone?
The job is highly rewarding and a lot of fun, but it also requires a lot of hard graft and resilience to push through when things aren’t going your way. Being candid about why this is the career for you is what we want to see.