In the Autumn of 2021, James decided he was ready to embark on his journey home – this period also marked the beginning of his journey with Robert Walters.
Taking his first step in both of these journeys, he reached out to the Robert Walters team in Hong Kong, where he was based at the time as a Pre-Sales Lead for a multi-national software vendor: “I contacted Carly Adams in October 2021. Speaking with her about my intention to return to the UK after working in Hong Kong for 21 years – she soon connected me with Ben Litvinoff, setting the process in motion.”
He’d been working in technology for his entire career, in particular on projects adopting new and emerging tech to advance new types of business solutions such as IoT, Big Data and AI. “I shared this with Ben, adding that I wanted an opportunity which not only allowed me to further my expertise in IoT and Big Data Analytics, but also provided me with concrete experience in implementing AI.”
Following their introductory call, James felt that Ben – with his over 13 years’ worth of experience recruiting in the London Tech market – understood intuitively what he was looking for in his next move and the type of environment where he could thrive. “We earmarked a shortlist of potential companies to target, but it didn’t take long for C3.ai to rise to the top of this list – for me, they really fit the bill.” Soon, C3.ai offered James the position of Senior Solution Architect.
Being a UK citizen, the relocation process proved relatively simple for James. But Ben knew from experience that James would need additional time to tie up any loose ends and make the move of almost 6,000 miles back to the UK – so, he co-ordinated with C3.ai to negotiate a three-month ‘notice period’ – giving James ample time to get his affairs in order. “This was especially important considering I wasn’t just relocating myself, but my family back to the UK.”
Successfully settled in the South-East of England as well as in his position at C3.ai’s UK Headquarters – James is extremely pleased to have had such a positive experience of the recruitment process with Robert Walters, he took to LinkedIn to reflect on the journey:
“Ben was diligent in his research and preparation, thus providing invaluable insights and guidance to help me navigate an extensive recruitment process. To top things off, Ben was always approachable and enthusiastic, turning what could potentially be a daunting journey into a revealing and enjoyable one.”
He felt that whilst the process had all the advantages that are part and parcel of a large recruitment firm, in terms of brand recognition and reputation – it also retained some of the important qualities that are usually only afforded by smaller firms, such as maintaining a personal touch.
“Ben spent the time to get to know me, as well as my career aspirations, which ensured he found the best suited role.”
When asked about the potential of future collaborations with Robert Walters, James responded enthusiastically in the affirmative: “I won’t hesitate in using Ben & Robert Walters again for my next career move, and will be happy to recommend high calibre candidates to the team in the future.”
