Testimonials

Michael Pickup provides a unique service to his clients. His approach is fresh and dynamic and he goes out of his way to ensure that there is a perfect match between the law firm and the lawyer. At first, it takes you by surprise that someone should be so interested in getting to know your aspirations and long term goals; rapidly, it becomes clear that his methodology is what has made him a success with lawyers seeking to explore their career options.

The first reaction of many in the legal industry when approached by recruitment consultants is to put down the phone. When contacted by Oyster Search and Selection I found their approach to be refreshing and different. They were non-pushy, helpful and not simply concerned about getting the deal done. Instead they focused on what was important; that changing jobs is a huge decision and ultimately is made by the individual concerned. I found Oyster to be very supportive in the process. They gave insightful feedback and let me decide how to progress matters. I would definitely recommend them to others.

Oyster Search are a professional search firm who helped me to secure a high level role in London. I was moving from Australia and throughout the process they were always available and their support through the transition of moving roles and countries was invaluable

I was not actually looking for another job when I was contacted by Oyster's Michael Pickup in connection with a very attractive position abroad. This came at just the right time for me, with my children having grown up and so I initially explored matters with Michael and the prospective employer. This ultimately led to my accepting the position.  Throughout the process Michael was supportive, very easy to talk to and always ready to assist in smoothing the discussions and to obtain and provide clarification where necessary. What particularly impressed me was the lack of any pressure from Michael, who let matters take their course successfully. Very professional.

Oyster Search and Selection and especially Michael Pickup provide recruitment services with all the added extras. For a potential candidate no stone is left unturned to not only find a role but to find the right role which will be the perfect fit. Recruitment, career advice and mentoring all in one. I cannot recommend them enough.

Michael came highly recommended by the law firm that I worked with in Sydney and when I arrived in Cambridge as an Australian qualified solicitor looking for employment, Michael did not disappoint! Within one month of being in the UK, Michael had found me an “in” with one of the firms we had decided to target (despite there being no jobs advertised) and a couple of weeks later I was happily employed by that firm at the right level and with the right pay.

Michael was a pleasure to work with and he made what is a daunting process feel very easy!

Michael’s contacts were incredible and he commands respect and trust from his clients through his professional and matter of fact approach. He is a refreshing change for both job-seekers and employers alike.

After arriving in London from Australia and speaking to various agents, Michael's knowledge of the market, contacts and personable approach stood out from the pack.

Unlike others in the industry he treated me like a real person and not just another candidate looking for work.  He was available anytime a question needed to be answered and always provided unbiased advice. 

I would highly recommend Michael for any lawyer looking for work in the UK.

I found Michael to be knowledgeable about the opportunities in the market and he helped me find the perfect job for my skill set.  The whole recruitment process was managed with a minimum of fuss and I now happily work with Michael as a client.

I recently arrived in the UK from Australia and was fortunate to be referred to Michael Pickup at Oyster Search & Selection. Michael very quickly became my trusted advisor - he clearly had established and unique relationships with the most senior HR professionals in the legal industry. He invested time in finding out what I was looking for in my next role and used that knowledge to engage his contacts in speculative meetings for me. Throughout the process, Michael kept me informed and gave me confidence in how he was representing me in the market. I have no hesitation in recommending Michael to prospective candidates, and am very much looking forward to working with him again from a client perspective.

It is without hesitation that I recommend Michael Pickup for professional business services recruitment.

Michael differentiates himself from the pack by operating as a true business partner, not a transactional recruiter. He has an intimate knowledge of his client’s businesses, a sound knowledge of the marketplace, meaningful relationships with directors and hiring managers and offers candidates frank, considered advice.

Michael is professional, efficient, and above all, he takes the time to get to know his candidates so he can best represent them. Whether you are a client or a candidate, I have no doubt you will be thoroughly impressed by Michael.

Refreshingly easy to deal with and well-connected to the market – what I particularly like is that Oyster assess your needs (with you), build a relationship and then offer only quality candidates who fit those needs.

Michael’s extensive experience in the professional services sector means he really understands ‘fit’. We’ve interviewed nearly everyone he’s shortlisted, and have hired some excellent people through him – including a high-performer into my own team. Critically, candidates always give great feedback on him – it’s reassuring to know that he’s as effective with them as he is with his clients.

Birketts LLP have utilised the recruitment services of Michael Pickup at Oyster Search for a number of years and have always been impressed with his approach and professionalism. As a growing law firm people are a critical element of our business and it is essential that we have the right skill set and specialist experience to succeed.

We have always been delighted with the calibre of candidates Oyster has submitted and have particularly valued Michael's to access high quality candidates from well regarded city or regional firms.

I am very happy to recommend Oyster Search and they will remain Birketts' go to business for important search and selection assignments or indeed advice on general recruitment matters.

I have worked with Michael as both a client and a candidate for more than ten years and find him to be an outstanding search professional.

He has in-depth experience across professional services, and within the legal sector in particular, and his understanding of the markets in which he operates is excellent. He provides a bespoke and refreshingly straightforward service that as an HR director operating in a world of too much choice I have come to value greatly. I implicitly trust his judgement in respect of candidate choices and the various options that he invariably offers in his quest to always do the best he can for his clients.

He works extremely hard to get to know his clients and understand what makes them tick and where he can add value. His style is personable and attentive, he follows up when he says he will and his feedback is always honest, detailed and insightful. I recommend him highly.

I have been impressed by Michael’s excellent candidate management. Candidates have also confirmed this to us. In addition, the thoroughness of his initial research into particular markets (which included identifying overseas candidates) was particularly helpful