Profile banner
Kristian James

Kristian James

Founder Hawkwood; Co-Founder Bycatch; People & Talent Specialist

London
Miami Beach, FL, US
Joined July 2025

Network

17K connections
๐Ÿ’ก
Startup Founders & CEOs
๐Ÿค
Talent Acquisition Leaders
๐Ÿ“ˆ
Business Development & Client Leaders
๐Ÿ”
Recruitment & Executive Search
๐Ÿ‘”
Executives & Executive Assistants
๐Ÿš€
Founders & Business Leaders
๐Ÿง 
Tech Ldrs

Summary

Kristian James is an experienced founder in the recruitment and talent sector, having established Hawkwood in 2016, a specialist agency focused on building People & Talent teams for innovative growth companies across the USA and EMEA. He also recently co-founded Bycatch in 2024, a software tool designed to protect recruitment teams from inadvertently contacting off-limits candidates. nitter+3
With a strong background in recruitment consultancy, Kristian James spent several years at Michael Page in various roles, including Associate Consultant, Consultant, Managing Consultant, and Manager, starting in 2012. This experience provided him with a foundational understanding of the recruitment industry before launching his own ventures. linkedin+1
Kristian James is a prolific writer on recruitment, HR, and talent acquisition topics, sharing his insights on Medium and LinkedIn. His articles cover subjects such as the impact of AI on the workplace, hiring strategies for startups, and the nuances of talent acquisition, demonstrating his thought leadership in the industry. medium+1
Academically, Kristian James holds a 2:1 in Business Management with Chinese from The University of Manchester (2007-2011) and engaged in a Mandarin Language Exchange at Sun Yat-Sen University (2009-2010), indicating a global perspective and strong language skills. rocketreach

Work

Education

Writing

A software tool to ensure your Recruiters donโ€™t approach candidates working for off-limitsโ€ฆ

January 1, 2024

Discusses Bycatch, a Chrome extension that integrates with LinkedIn to help recruiters avoid headhunting candidates from off-limits companies.

Favicon imagemedium.com

How AI companies are reshaping the workplace; through their products and cultural playbook

August 1, 2023

Explores how AI-driven productivity gains are impacting hiring strategies, leading to a shift in preferred cultural playbooks among AI scale-ups towards a 'hardcore' working style.

Favicon imagemedium.com

Hiring your First Internal Recruiter; a Guide for Start-ups

September 1, 2022

Provides guidance for start-up founders on the process of hiring their first internal recruiter.

Favicon imagemedium.com

Bringing Recruitment In-house. Why do it?

October 1, 2020

Examines the reasons why businesses choose to build internal recruitment functions, such as reducing costs and enhancing efficiency.

Favicon imagemedium.com

How to move from Agency Recruitment in to HR

May 1, 2020

Offers insights and advice for recruitment consultants looking to transition into internal HR roles.

Favicon imagemedium.com

What Talent Acquisition professionals can expect from this current job market

April 1, 2020

Analyzes the prevailing job market conditions and provides expectations for talent acquisition professionals.

Favicon imagemedium.com

Founders want to control you. For how long will you endure and will it be worth it?

April 1, 2020

Discusses the dynamic between founders and employees, and the compromises required in a growing company.

Favicon imagemedium.com

How to hire your Head of People; a Free Guide for Founders

March 1, 2020

A guide for founders on the crucial steps and considerations when hiring a Head of People.

Favicon imagemedium.com

The parallels between dating and employer branding

April 1, 2019

Draws comparisons between the strategies and perceptions involved in dating and employer branding.

Favicon imagemedium.com

Embracing our Weirdness at Work

March 1, 2019

Explores the importance of individuality and unique traits within a professional work environment.

Favicon imagemedium.com

We're 2 years old!

January 1, 2018

A reflection on the two-year journey of Hawkwood, including challenges, growth, and the company's ethos.

Favicon imagelinkedin.com