HarbourVest

HarbourVest, a leading global private markets firm, engaged us for a second time to recruit an Associate for their London secondaries team. Having previously placed an Associate with them, we had deep insight into their culture, technical expectations, and ideal candidate profile. Our expertise in secondaries and precision in identifying and coaching top-tier talent enabled an efficient, targeted search.

The Challenge

HarbourVest sought a highly technical, commercially astute Associate with secondaries or adjacent PE experience. Given the competitive market, attracting top talent required a precise strategy and a strong understanding of candidate motivations. Key challenges included:

• Ensuring candidates understood the nuances of secondaries investing.
• Keeping client and candidates aligned throughout the process.
• Managing a tight yet flexible pipeline to adapt to evolving client needs.

Our Approach

1. Deep Market Knowledge & Candidate Coaching

• Mapped top-tier candidates from investment banks, PE firms, and secondaries platforms.
• Provided market insights to help candidates see their fit in secondaries.
• Conducted targeted coaching, technical prep, and mock interviews to refine their readiness.

2. Strategic Client Engagement & Process Management

• Maintained close alignment with HarbourVest, refining the search dynamically.
• Managed candidate expectations and ensured strong engagement.
• Provided insights on technical assessments and cultural fit to prepare candidates thoroughly.

3. Strong, Agile Candidate Pipeline

• Kept a warm pipeline of top candidates, allowing flexibility in selection.
• Ensured alternative options were ready, preventing delays in hiring.

The Outcome

HarbourVest’s preferred candidate emerged early and remained the top choice, thanks to meticulous preparation and engagement. The firm moved swiftly through the hiring process, securing a top-tier Associate within the expected timeline. With multiple other searches ongoing, this reinforces our position as the go-to search firm for secondaries recruitment.