What is the hiring process like at Oscar Recruit?

Starting my recruitment journey at Oscar, and learning from the managers has massively helped my success! I started at Oscar as a trainee and progressed to a Senior Consultant, learning a lot from my manager during my time there. I’ve moved on from Oscar now, but I definitely value my time there and am confident that it’s set me up well to be successful in my new position. The on desk training by your manager is brilliant. While the initial onboarding training is good, the L&D team were very hard to get proper time and regular training with. They’re nice people but the most worthwhile, consistent training comes from your manager (who is also hands on and doing the same job). The perks at Oscar were excellent. During my time there, there were amazing holiday trips away, lunches, socials which meant if you were billing well, you’d normally spend more time out of the office than in it. There are also a great bunch of people at Oscar (ignoring a few who added little value and took away from the otherwise good culture… It looks like they’ve now realised this and exited most of them)! During my time there, the leadership team often came from a good place but there were too many people doing the same job and repeating each other (which got frustrating, quickly). A few of the Directors have been removed now (which was needed) and with them gone, I’d imagine that Oscar will be getting back to their best. It’s worth saying that Oscar is a undoubtably high performing sales environment where people who don’t get results or don’t pull their weight will very quickly be asked why. It’s definitely not a company for anyone looking to coast their was through recruitment (but if that’s what you’re looking for, I’m not sure why you’d pick a career in recruitment anyway). If you’re willing to work hard, take constructive feedback and put in the effort, you’ll definitely reap the rewards. They’ve got a really good commission scheme, have good progression routes and there’s a level of transparency throughout the business which I personally really appreciated.

Previous leadership at Director level was disjointed which ultimately led to me moving on – I hope that the changes that have taken place (getting rid of dead weight, promoting internally etc.) since I’ve left will get them back to their best. Leadership favoritism created toxic people in the business. Again now that they are gone, looks like the best people are those left!

My time at Oscar was definitely an eye-opening one. Beginning with the positives, the training at Oscar was very good, although I’m not sure that is the case anymore with the whole of the L&D department being made redundant. In addition to this, the Commission scheme was good which meant you can make some decent moneys. Another positive were the majority of the people working there, who were always happy to give advice or go for a drink if needed!

Unfortunately the negatives far outweigh the positives. The unbelievable pressure to do well or face being fired was always looming over everyone, even if you are doing everything you possibly can. If you aren’t getting results and you ask for help, expect them to tell you to just ‘do more’ (despite being the highest that week on outputs) as they can’t think of any actual feedback to give you. This on repeat day after day felt like I was banging my head against a brick wall and majorly impacted on my mental health (which is a taboo subject at Oscar). You will then be criticised for not staying late in the office even when doing extra work at home and over the weekend. The directors of the business are robots and have no clue how to relate to people from working class backgrounds (especially women), and will avoid conversation if they possibly can. If you make any kind of suggestion for things that could add value to the business, expect to be ignored or dismissed immediately. Managers are never at their desks, and can regularly be seen gossiping with each other at the other side of the office which means you’re basically on your own from day one (now that L&D are gone). The benefits are now non-existent, with no working from home allowed, holidays cancelled (even if people have worked their socks off hitting the target), and achiever’s meals cancelled. These benefits are essential for a recruitment company, as the job is a tough grind as it is. However, if Oscar aren’t offering these things, every other recruitment company out there will be, which is one of the reasons why they have lost so many staff recently. You can tell that the recent positive reviews are from employees that have been influenced into writing them to negate all of the honest feedback Oscar have been getting on Glassdoor. Maybe if management spent less time being keyboard warriors and more time on improving the business by listening to feedback, they wouldn’t be in this situation in the first place.

You find some amazing friends in the office, 1pm finishes on a Friday and decent work socials. You will become more resilient from the constant micromanagement. If you require 0 training and support from your managers and are feeling lucky you can earn alot of money.

The overall management and business structure at Oscar has changed significantly from top to bottom in the last 12 months causing instability and lack of attention to trainees. The interview process is far too long, "Condense the interview process" is always preached, but expect a lengthy 4-5 pointless identical conversations about how money hungry you are if you want to work at Oscar. Support from management is only really given if you are one of the top billers, or alternatively, a resource consultant under them who will make them money. It is Frowned upon and often used against you if you don't stay at least an extra hour or two per day. I have never worked in such a toxic work environment and cannot believe how most of us put up with it for so long. During my exit interview I got told that “nice guys don’t succeed at Oscar”. If you want to sell your soul and compromise your morals and core beliefs then you have a half chance at being “successful”… that’s if being successful in life means earning money and constantly being on edge about the security of your job. First 3 months are ok, but as soon as you get promotion you are actively let known by management that you are replaceable. How much money the company spends on you per month to be there is widely known and rubbed in your face which makes you feel worthless and just a number as many other reviews have shared.

I've worked for Oscar a number of years now and like a lot of companies recently, we've gone through some changes and have made tough decisions as a result. The one thing that's always remained true is their intentions to best support us, looking at new initiatives, asking our opinions etc. Given the nature of our job in a target driven role and what we stand for as a company, there are high expectations naturally, but management are supportive of people who might be struggling, and do what they can to help people be their best. There are no strict kpi's whatsoever, no one looking over your shoulder asking how many minutes you've spent on the phone etc - this is the case in many recruitment businesses. There's a lot of freedom to discover also especially in new markets, what good looks like for you. Attitude, intentions and actions go a long way rather than just numbers - I have personal experience being in situations where my numbers haven't quite been where they should be. Commission & incentives have been great - added extras like 10k bonuses, shopping sprees and more have been much appreciated. Flexible hours and permanent half day Friday means we can work 4.5 days a week, which is pretty unheard of and a huge benefit.

Unfortunately like most recruitment agencies who hire inexperienced people, there's often a bit of change in the employee numbers with some realising it isnt for them etc. This is something most agencies also experience. We're now back in the office 4.5 days a week which has been an adjustment, but having said that, the difference this has had amongst the challenges we've dealt with has been great. It's been great to see the great culture we've always had flourishing again, and it's improved our collaboration and communication.

My time at Oscar was definitely an eye-opening one. Beginning with the positives, the training at Oscar was very good, although I’m not sure that is the case anymore with the whole of the L&D department being made redundant. In addition to this, the Commission scheme was good which meant you can make some decent moneys. Another positive were the majority of the people working there, who were always happy to give advice or go for a drink if needed!

Unfortunately the negatives far outweigh the positives. The unbelievable pressure to do well or face being fired was always looming over everyone, even if you are doing everything you possibly can. If you aren’t getting results and you ask for help, expect them to tell you to just ‘do more’ (despite being the highest that week on outputs) as they can’t think of any actual feedback to give you. This on repeat day after day felt like I was banging my head against a brick wall and majorly impacted on my mental health (which is a taboo subject at Oscar). You will then be criticised for not staying late in the office even when doing extra work at home and over the weekend. The directors of the business are robots and have no clue how to relate to people from working class backgrounds (especially women), and will avoid conversation if they possibly can. If you make any kind of suggestion for things that could add value to the business, expect to be ignored or dismissed immediately. Managers are never at their desks, and can regularly be seen gossiping with each other at the other side of the office which means you’re basically on your own from day one (now that L&D are gone). The benefits are now non-existent, with no working from home allowed, holidays cancelled (even if people have worked their socks off hitting the target), and achiever’s meals cancelled. These benefits are essential for a recruitment company, as the job is a tough grind as it is. However, if Oscar aren’t offering these things, every other recruitment company out there will be, which is one of the reasons why they have lost so many staff recently. You can tell that the recent positive reviews are from employees that have been influenced into writing them to negate all of the honest feedback Oscar have been getting on Glassdoor. Maybe if management spent less time being keyboard warriors and more time on improving the business by listening to feedback, they wouldn’t be in this situation in the first place.

Starting in recruitment with very little experience was daunting, but the support I received from managers and directors was very encouraging. You receive full on the job training that has given me the confidence to achieve my first step up from resource consultant to running my own desk as a recruitment consultant.

Hours are long, but that is to be expected in a sales role, you get out what you put in!

I started at Oscar in 2022 as someone with only 6 months prior recruitment knowledge. When I was offered the role to join Oscar, I knew what would be expected of me. They're well known brand across Tech Recruitment and their standards have always been set high. It was known that if you had a career at Oscar, that you wouldn't struggle to find work else where in the future as you are taught to be the best, from the best. I had a rough start to my career when it came to BD, but I came into work each day and give 110%, yes the core hours are between 8:30-5:30. But if you want to succeed in this job you have to be willing to put in the time, whether thats coming in early/staying late. Taking calls on your way home, at the end of the day this could be the difference between your base rate, and £££ in commission. I was fortunate enough to be given a different role after 6 months in the business to focus purely on Candidate Development, this was the best decision I and the company could of made for me. Since then Ive received 3 promotions, been on countless Achievers Meals to some of the best restaurant's in Manchester, and went on a all expenses trip to Monaco earlier this year. I got into recruitment with the same goals as most people, but the main one for me was to pay off my debt I accrued from university. Ive done this and for the first time since I was 18, I'm finally debt free. I have also managed to save £££ to afford my trip travelling across the world which is the reason I'm leaving the business. The company has really good core values, and these have not changed over the 3 years ive been in the business, work hard and be rewarded (this is the same as any other recruitment company you go). Oscar has the resources to really develop your career, if you really want to succeed, earn money, and make friends for life then this is the place to be.

5 days a week in the office - some people may see this as a con but to me, this isn't as I actually like coming into the office and being around other consultants, especially when people do deals, it creates a really good atmosphere. Ive had flexibility to attend doctors appointments etc and they're accommodating of this.

I've worked for the business for a little over 2 and half years now and on the whole I've had a great experience. Admittedly, I struggled at first, not due to the company, but the job itself. Recruitment is tough and at times very draining. Throughout all my struggles I always felt I had the support of the senior leadership team. I had excellent hands on desk managers and always felt I had the backing of those in directorship roles. However, despite all the struggles, when you keep going and finally reach a point where you are performing to the levels you want to be at and making the money you are looking for out of the job, then there is no better place to be! Oscar gives you the platform to quite honestly change your life. As a post-grad who didn't know what to do after university I somewhat fell into the role and through 2 and half years of hard graft I now have the opportunity to travel the world and relocate to Australia, which has been a personal goal of mine for a very long time. Not only do I have the opportunity to this, but I have also developed as a person and feel that I've gained heaps of life experience to go with it. There is a wide range of reasons as to why I would recommend working at Oscar to any aspiring recruiter or someone like me who didn't/doesn't know what they want out of their career. Firstly, the money, you can earn some serious £££, I’ve saved more than enough money to travel for 6 months and relocate without needing a job In Australia for another few months, all due to the commission you can earn here. I've travelled to places through the business that I most likely would never have had the opportunity to go to such as Monte Carlo. I've been wined and dined by the business after high performing months in exclusive restaurants and bars, whilst also being picked up off the ground after those not so high performing months. The social side is also a major highlight as I've made friends for life here. The 'socials' that the business put on are a nice variety of drinking and not drinking, we've done all sorts from big games of rounders on a sunny summers day to clay pigeon shooting. The company appreciate that not everyone likes a drink and they cater to everyone in business. In terms of progression you can work your way up the ladder rapidly with clear company wide targets in place so you know what you need to do to get to that next promotion. I've had 2 promotions in my 2 and a half years but I've seen a number of people reach that milestone in a little over 12 months.

The job is tough, no matter which agency you work for recruitment is not for the faint hearted nor for those who aren't willing to put the yards in. It is a job that is simply not for everyone. There is limited flexibility in terms of working from home. Whilst I prefer to be in the office myself, having the option from time to time would be nice.

off at 1 pm on fridays

-Don't be tricked by fake 5 star reviews made by current employees, they hire recruitment consultants to help get them leads then fire them without reason -NO COMMISSIONS until your first promotion after ~6 months -Forced to work extended hours -Don't expect management to let you use your PTO -No WFH option until 1-2 years in I promise it is not worth working here. Reading other reviews issues seem to be company wide

Being a boutique recruitment agency, Oscar has a family like culture while also being flexible and genuine in business practices

No black and white success, your hand will not be held through your responsibilities. You need to be a self-starter