What is the hiring process like at Harnham?

With Harnham for almost 2 years as a contract employee. Hiring process was very easy. Was approached on LinkedIn, had a phone interview with the recruiter, then a phone and onsite interview with the contracting organization. Time from contact to hire was 3 weeks. My recruiter secured a higher hourly rate for me than my initial ask, which was in their best interest, but was a welcome bonus. Recruiter remains my main contact at the organization, and has always been easy to deal with, helpful as can be. They offer some benefits to contractors. The health insurance is super expensive and I skipped it. They offer a 4% match without vesting as long as you contribute at least that much - which was completely unexpected. There is also another match that is vested over time, but you'd need to work there for a handful of years to benefit.

Expensive health insurance, with no HSA option

Let’s start with the one bright spot — the people. I met some truly incredible, smart, and supportive colleagues during my time here. Of course, most of them have already left (go figure), but if you join, I’m sure you’ll find someone to commiserate with in no time.

Long story short: if you value your sanity, run. Don’t walk. Just run. This is a high-stress, high-expectation environment where pressure starts at the very top and cascades down like a leaky pipe — drip, drip, dripping onto your daily life. Leadership thrives on intensity but seems allergic to accountability. If you’re based in the US, brace yourself: there’s essentially no functioning HR, and any concerns you raise will likely vanish into the ether. Managers receive little to no training, which becomes glaringly obvious — and the “career growth” they dangle in front of you during the hiring process? Smoke and mirrors. Turnover is wild — even by sales standards. Instead of examining why people leave in droves, the company shrugs and blames the role, the market, or the individual. Never themselves. And yes, management plays favorites, and no, they’re not subtle about it. If you’re not in the inner circle, expect to be overlooked, second-guessed, or conveniently forgotten. This place will burn you out, then act shocked when you’re not hitting unrealistic numbers in a broken system. Do yourself a favor — keep scrolling. In summary: I don’t know you but, you deserve better.

Recruitment is not for everyone, but this is the best company possible for such a tough job Great, regular incentives if you get stuck in and put effort in. They reward well - Lunch Clubs are excellent Good culture - both perm directors, T and N, are friendly and easy to get on with If you're a hard worker, and have the right positive attitude, you'll be fine

Can be cutthroat - but that's the nature of the job in general If they like you, they really like you. If they don't like you, they really don't Certain teams can micromanage. They track you on stats - number of minutes on the phone, dials - but all recruitment companies I've worked at are similar Hustle mentality that doesn't give you room to have a slow period - contract especially

Will stay friends with my coworkers for a long time. The trauma-bonding is real.

Recruitment is a cut-throat industry. They hire naive, fresh grads, and take advantage of them. Low pay, long hours, impossible promotion criteria. Very mentally draining to see all of my peers outside of this field be promoted while you can be stuck in this job over a year in and 0% closer to promotion. They do not value you as an independent person. You are truly a cog in the machine. At this firm specifically, management looks out for their own self interests, takes credit for others work, and plays favorites. I would specifically steer clear if you are a woman -- the management at this firm highly favors the men at this job! Be prepared for constantly being told 'no' by clients. It can be mentally draining and is a huge part of why the turnover rate is so high in recruitment. During my time here (less than a year) I saw 13 people leave.

People! Some really lovely people if you’re a good fit culturally they will genuinely try and make things work

It’s a shame to see so many people leave when pressure continues to build. Recruitment is a tough job as it is, but being heavily scrutinised for factors outside of your control isn’t a sustainable way to work. The reassurance of “it’s okay, don’t worry, it’s part of the job” can quickly shift to being placed on a PIP when the wider team starts to underperform. There also appears to be a strong sense of favouritism. While having “home-grown” managers sounds positive in theory, the reality is that many have spent 9–10 years at the same company since joining as graduates. This often results in a lack of external perspective, contributing to a culture that feels stagnant, resistant to change, and inflexible. There’s a noticeable sense of dissatisfaction among those who have been with the business for 3–4 years. Many seem undervalued and, at times, patronised, despite clearly being capable and experienced professionals. It’s also disappointing to see instances where managers—who work most closely with consultants and understand their day-to-day challenges—are overruled by senior leadership on how individuals are managed. This can create a disconnect between those on the ground and those making decisions, often leading to outcomes that feel unfair or lacking in context. It’s a real shame, as this group makes up the majority of the workforce and are ultimately responsible for delivering results and filling roles. If nothing changes, it wouldn’t be surprising to see more people leave before the end of the year. Additionally, there seems to be an overemphasis on internal meetings, which can take up a significant portion of the working day. While alignment is important, the volume of meetings often detracts from the core responsibilities of the role, making it harder for consultants to focus on delivering results.

With Harnham for almost 2 years as a contract employee. Hiring process was very easy. Was approached on LinkedIn, had a phone interview with the recruiter, then a phone and onsite interview with the contracting organization. Time from contact to hire was 3 weeks. My recruiter secured a higher hourly rate for me than my initial ask, which was in their best interest, but was a welcome bonus. Recruiter remains my main contact at the organization, and has always been easy to deal with, helpful as can be. They offer some benefits to contractors. The health insurance is super expensive and I skipped it. They offer a 4% match without vesting as long as you contribute at least that much - which was completely unexpected. There is also another match that is vested over time, but you'd need to work there for a handful of years to benefit.

Expensive health insurance, with no HSA option