The Power of Long-Term Relationships in

Evie Irons: Behind the Desk

In our latest Behind the Desk feature, we sit down with Evie Irons. Evie recently joined Sharp Consultancy as a Consultant within our Leeds office, working as part of our Transactional Temps team.Having made the move into recruitment, Evie brings a strong commercial foundation and a genuine passion for building relationships to her work supporting temporary finance professionals across Leeds.In this edition of Behind the Desk, we spend some time getting to know Evie - exploring her journey into recruitment, the lessons she's learned so far, and the perspective she brings to supporting finance professionals.Getting to Know Evie: Background and InspirationEvie's path into recruitment started with a degree in Business Management and Marketing, chosen because she wanted to understand how businesses operate and how they build relationships with customers. It was during her time at university that the people-focused side of business really caught her attention, and she began looking for a career that let her combine commercial thinking with building genuine relationships. Finance and accountancy recruitment stood out for exactly that reason. "These roles are critical to every organisation, and the market is fast-paced and constantly evolving," she explains. "I enjoy learning about different businesses, understanding their hiring needs, and matching them with candidates."Starting a new career can be a big step, and Evie admits the industry has surprised her in a few ways. She expected recruitment to be mainly about filling vacancies, but has come to learn it's really about building trust, with both clients and candidates. The pace has been another eye-opener; priorities can shift quickly, and adapting to that has pushed her to become far more organised and flexible than she might have expected going in.Industry Perspective: Lessons and Approaches in RecruitmentAsk Evie what she's found most rewarding so far, and it comes back to people. Working with graduates, much like herself, and helping them land roles that genuinely fit has been a particular highlight. "Starting your career can be challenging, so it's great to support people through that process and help them take the next step." The same goes for clients, understanding what they're looking for and finding the right person for their team, knowing that a good match makes a real difference on both sides.The reality of recruitmentIt's also given her a clearer view of what recruitment actually involves. A common misconception, she says, is that the job is just matching CVs to vacancies. In reality it's about building relationships, understanding what both candidates and clients truly want, and finding a fit that lasts, while supporting candidates through a process that can otherwise feel stressful.When it comes to what makes someone stand out in transactional finance, Evie points to reliability, attention to detail, and strong organisational skills, alongside good communication, since the role means working across different teams and managing expectations. A positive attitude, adaptability, and a genuine willingness to learn round it out, qualities she believes matter even more for candidates early in their careers.Where the market is heading?Being at the start of her recruitment career has also given Evie a sharp read on today's job market, and competition is the word that comes up most. Candidates need to stand out through the right skills, a positive attitude, and a genuine willingness to learn, and she's noticed employers increasingly looking beyond experience alone, valuing adaptability and potential to grow within a role.She's equally clear on what candidates value most from a recruiter: honesty, communication, and a sense of being genuinely supported throughout. For Evie, that means taking the time to understand what someone is really looking for and offering guidance, rather than simply putting them forward for any available role. Trust and keeping people updated, she says, make all the difference.If she could change one thing about the hiring process, it would be communication and feedback. Candidates are too often left unsure of where they stand, and clearer updates throughout would make the experience better for everyone involved.Beyond the Desk: Life Outside WorkOutside of work, Evie makes time for the people and places that matter to her. She's originally from near the Peak District and loves getting out for walks there whenever she can, alongside catching up with friends and family and the odd spot of shopping. Her free time has recently gained a new focus too, in the form of a puppy she's spending plenty of walks and quality time with.Given the choice of anywhere in the world, Evie would book a flight to New York without hesitation, drawn by the atmosphere, the landmarks, and everything there is to see and do, from Central Park and Times Square to the food, shopping, and culture the city is known for.Closer to home, the one thing she always makes time for is her friends and family, whether that's a catch-up, a walk, or simply relaxing together. It's her way of switching off and keeping a healthy balance outside of work. Since joining the business, Evie has brought energy, curiosity, and a genuine care for candidates to the team. Her people-first approach and eagerness to learn make her a valuable addition to the Leeds office.We're pleased to welcome Evie to the team and look forward to seeing her desk continue to grow in the months ahead.--At Sharp Consultancy, we're committed to giving our people the support and platform they need to build a rewarding career. If this sounds like the kind of path you'd like for yourself, take a look at our Careers page to find out more.

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One of our core values at Sharp Consultancy is Relationships, and recently I was reminded exactly why that matters.

A man wearing a green sweater stands against a vibrant purple wall, creating a striking color contrast.

We recently won a competitive recruitment tender with a key client across the region. Whilst our experience and market knowledge played a huge part, I genuinely believe the deciding factor was something much harder to replicate – trust.

I've known the senior finance leader for several years before there was ever a recruitment project to discuss. During that time, we've met regularly for coffee, shared market insights, talked about the finance landscape and discussed the challenges businesses were facing. Most of these conversations didn't lead to a recruitment assignment, and that was never the point.

A man and woman engaged in conversation while seated at a table in a cozy coffee shop.

For me, relationship building isn't about waiting for someone to have a vacancy, it's about being present, staying relevant and adding value over time. Sometimes that's sharing insight into the market, offering a different perspective on a hiring challenge or simply taking the time to understand what's happening in someone's business. These conversations build credibility long before there's a commercial opportunity.

So, when the recruitment opportunity came around, I wasn't introducing myself or trying to prove we understood the business in a single meeting. We've already built that understanding over years of honest conversations and consistent support. We knew what was important to them, the challenges they faced and how they wanted to approach recruitment.

Winning the work was a fantastic result, but more importantly, it reinforced what I believe great recruitment is all about.

The best recruitment partnerships aren't built when a role becomes live, they're built in the months and years beforehand. Trust develops through consistency, honesty and a genuine interest in helping people succeed, not through one conversation or one successful placement.

That's why Relationship is one of our values at Sharp Consultancy. Because when trust comes first, opportunities tend to follow. The piece of recruitment may have been the outcome, but the relationship was the foundation that made it possible.