The Recruiter Who Really Listened
The People Behind Property | Issue 004

Sometimes the best career conversations happen before someone has decided they are looking for a new job

"I'm not really looking."

It is a phrase recruiters hear all the time.

And quite often, it is completely true.

Someone can be doing well in their role. They might be earning good money, performing strongly and working with people they like.

There may be no dramatic reason to leave.

But that doesn't necessarily mean they would choose exactly the same role, company or working environment if they were making the decision again today.

Sometimes they simply haven't stopped to think about it.

That is where a good recruitment conversation can make a difference.

Recruitment Should Start With Listening

There are questions every recruiter needs to ask.

What are you earning?

What is your OTE?

How long is your notice period?

Where are you prepared to travel?

What sort of role would you consider?

They are all important.

But there is another question that can tell us far more:

"What would you actually want to be different?"

The answer isn't always more money.

In fact, after speaking to property professionals throughout their careers, we regularly find that salary is only one part of the decision.

Someone might want greater autonomy.

They may want a manager who trusts them.

They might miss being part of a genuinely supportive team.

Perhaps they want better career progression, stronger leadership or simply to work somewhere they can imagine themselves staying for the next few years.

Those things rarely appear on a CV.

But they can be the difference between making another job move and making the right job move.

Not Every Candidate Is Actively Job Hunting

Some of the strongest candidates we speak to aren't applying for jobs.

They haven't updated their CV.

They aren't spending their evenings scrolling through vacancies.

And they certainly aren't desperate to leave their current employer.

They are simply open to a conversation.

That distinction matters.

When somebody isn't actively looking, recruitment shouldn't be about trying to convince them that they need to move.

It should be about understanding what would genuinely make an opportunity worth considering.

Sometimes the outcome of that conversation is:

Stay exactly where you are.

And that's absolutely fine.

But occasionally, we hear something that makes us think of a particular company, manager or opportunity.

Not because the job title matches.

Because the person does.

 "I've Got the Perfect Job for You"

It's probably one of the most overused phrases in recruitment.

And it's something we try very hard not to say.

How can we possibly know that a role is perfect for somebody before we understand what they actually want?

A job description can tell you about responsibilities, salary, location and experience requirements.

It can't tell you everything about the manager.

The atmosphere in the office.

How much autonomy somebody will have.

Whether the team genuinely supports each other.

How the business treats its people when targets aren't being hit.

Or whether somebody will still feel challenged, valued and happy there in three years' time.

Those are the conversations that matter.

Sometimes the Right Opportunity Isn't the Obvious One

A candidate may initially dismiss an opportunity because it isn't what they imagined their next move would look like.

Perhaps it's a different type of estate agency.

A slightly different location.

A smaller independent rather than a large corporate.

Or a role with a title that doesn't immediately look like progression.

That's why we often say:

"Don't decide whether you want the job. Just meet them.

An interview doesn't have to mean you have decided to leave.

It doesn't even have to mean you particularly want the role yet.

Sometimes it is simply an opportunity for two sides to meet and see whether something clicks.

And when the conversation moves beyond targets, commission and numbers to how someone actually wants to work, a role that wasn't obvious on paper can suddenly make complete sense.

Great Recruitment Isn't About Convincing Someone to Move

Recruitment has a reputation for being transactional.

Find vacancy. Find candidate. Send CV. Arrange interview. Make placement.

But careers are more complicated than that.

People have different motivations at different stages of their lives.

The ambitious negotiator who wanted the biggest possible OTE five years ago may now value leadership, flexibility or stability more highly.

Someone who once wanted management may realise that what they really love is selling property.

A person who thought they needed a promotion might actually need a different environment.

You only discover those things by asking questions — and then genuinely listening to the answers.

At People 4 Property, we believe the best recruitment conversations don't begin with:

"I've got a job for you."

They begin with:

"Tell me what you're looking for — even if you're not quite sure yet."

Because sometimes the most important part of a successful placement happens long before the interview or the offer.

It happens during that first honest conversation.

Listen first. The opportunity comes second.

Thinking About Your Next Move in Property?

You don't need to have made the decision to leave your current role before speaking to us.

Whether you're actively looking, quietly considering what comes next, or simply curious about the property market, we're always happy to have a confidential conversation.

Sometimes we'll have an opportunity that makes sense.

Sometimes we'll tell you that staying exactly where you are sounds like the right decision.

Either way, it starts with understanding you.

If you're ready to have that conversation, we're ready to listen.

Get in touch with People 4 Property and let's arrange a confidential conversation today.

Or if you're ready to take the next step, submit your CV here submit-cv and we'll be in touch.

About The People Behind Property

The People Behind Property is an editorial series by People 4 Property — exploring the real people, conversations and decisions behind careers in the property industry.

Each issue covers a different theme drawn from real conversations with property professionals across London, Surrey, Sussex and the Home Counties.

Other issues in this series:

- Issue 001 — The Journey Before Someone Starts Looking for a New Job 
- Issue 002 — Why Great People Leave 
- Issue 003 — The Interview Isn't a Test 

About the Author

Hanya brings 15 years of experience in Residential Property, including roles as a Lettings Director, and holds ARLA qualification. Hanya has spent 10 years recruiting Finance and Property professionals across sales, lettings, and property management.

People 4 Property. Creating careers, not just placements.