Careers · Trainee Consultant
REALM
Build a career at the frontier
AI InfrastructureAI PlatformCloud NativeData CentreApplied AI
The REALM team on a night out in London
Who we are

Behind every AI breakthrough is a team. We build them.

REALM is a specialist deep tech search firm, placing the engineers, researchers and leaders behind AI infrastructure, AI platforms, cloud native, data centres and applied AI.

More than a name, REALM is a philosophy. We have built the business around specialist domains, deep expertise and a distinct way of working.

175+Clients worldwide
1Specialist market
20People, London HQ
Why REALM

Why REALM?

REALM is built around specialist markets, deep expertise and a distinct way of working. Here is what that means for you.

01

Learn from day one

Structured training and hands-on coaching from your first week. No recruitment experience needed.

02

Become the expert

Own one technology market and become the person founders and engineers call first.

03

Work globally

Run international searches for the companies building the next era of technology.

04

Learn from founders

Be coached by leaders who have billed millions themselves, and still sit close enough to help.

05

Earn seriously

Commission from 20% up to 50%, at the top end of our industry.

06

Incentives worth winning

Wimbledon, Formula 1, Michelin-starred dining and an annual super trip abroad.

Build your career at the frontier.
Our markets

Build your career inside the systems making AI possible.

Five connected markets. Structural demand, extraordinary investment, premium talent and high-value deals.

AI Infrastructure

The compute, networking and storage powering AI.

$2TAI infrastructure spend projected by 2027
AI Platform

The software used to build, deploy, run and secure AI.

$638BAI software spend projected by 2027
Cloud Native

The infrastructure and tooling behind modern applications.

82%of container users run Kubernetes in production
Data Centre

The land, power, design and build behind every AI cluster.

$6.7Tcumulative global data centre investment projected through 2030
Applied AI

The products, copilots and agents putting AI to work.

$1.2TAI services opportunity projected by 2030

Sources: Gartner · CNCF Annual Cloud Native Survey · McKinsey & Company

Your first year

Your first year at REALM.

Bring drive, curiosity and a willingness to learn. We bring the training, the coaching and a clear plan for your first twelve months.

Level 01 · Week one

Training from day one

Learn the market, the process and the tools alongside experienced consultants.

Level 02 · Month three

Your first deal

Our minimum expectation, with your manager and team behind you at every step.

Level 03 · Month four onwards

One deal a month

The baseline, not the ceiling. Everything above it is yours to build.

Ryan Sampson, Principal Consultant
“Ryan joined as a trainee with no recruitment experience. Today he is a million dollar biller.”
Ryan Sampson · Principal Consultant
Build your career at the frontier.
Leadership

Built by operators, not distant managers.

REALM is founder led. Our leaders have built specialist markets, billed personally and led teams generating millions in revenue. They now lead REALM’s next stage of growth.Close enough to coach. Experienced enough to challenge.

The founders
Leadership team
Robert Craigs
Robert CraigsCo-Founder
View LinkedIn ↗
Cem Baris
Cem BarisCo-Founder
View LinkedIn ↗
Reece Meyer
Reece MeyerHead of AI Platform
View LinkedIn ↗
Cedric Sellman
Cedric SellmanHead of Cloud & Compute
View LinkedIn ↗
Laura Quinn
Laura QuinnOperations
View LinkedIn ↗

We set out to build the search firm we wished we had joined earlier in our careers.” Robert and Cem

Earnings

Exceptional performance. Exceptional rewards.

High-value fees, commission that rises with your performance, and cheques worth celebrating.

Average fee
$37K
AVG $37K$25K$75K

Fees range from $25K to $75K. High-value work means strong earnings without chasing volume.

Commission
20–50%

Start at 20% and rise to an industry-leading 50%. High performers keep a real share of what they create.

Quarterly cheques
£111K+
PAY  You£111,000.00
ONE QUARTER · COMMISSIONREALM

We often pay commission cheques above £110,000 for a single quarter’s performance.

See how much commission you could earn →
Benefits

Rewarded properly. Supported properly.

Alongside serious earning potential, REALM gives you the benefits, flexibility and environment to do your best work.

The REALM team at padel

Apple equipment

The latest Apple kit to do the job properly.

32 days holiday

Including bank holidays, plus one extra day for every year you grow with REALM.

Your birthday off

Every year, on us.

Private medical & dental

Private healthcare with Vitality, from day one.

Wellness support

Support for your physical and mental health, plus longer lunches to fit in exercise.

Hybrid working

In the office Tuesday to Thursday.

Conferences & global travel

The opportunity to travel Europe and the US with work.

Charity days

Time to give back to causes you care about.

Industry-leading tech

The best recruitment and AI tooling in the market.

Incentives

Performance should be enjoyed.

We work hard, perform at a high level and have plenty of fun along the way. When our people deliver, we do not hold back.

Annual super trip

All expenses paid, five-star treatment. Previous trips include:

  • 01MykonosGREEK ISLANDS
  • 02IbizaBALEARICS
  • 03Las VegasNEVADA
  • 04SkiingON THE SLOPES
Quarterly incentives
WimbledonTENNIS
Formula 1MOTORSPORT
Michelin-starred diningFINE DINING
Little Venice, Mykonos
Mykonos
Sunset over the coast of Ibiza
Ibiza
The Las Vegas Strip at night
Las Vegas
The team at sunset in Mykonos
Mykonos
The team at the British Grand Prix, Silverstone
Formula 1
The team in Amsterdam
Amsterdam
The team at a pool bar in Ibiza
Ibiza
The team at a lunch club dinner
Lunch club
The office

A brand new home at Liverpool Street.

Paxton House, E1. Between the City and Shoreditch, beside Spitalfields Market.

2 minWalk from Liverpool Street
3 daysIn the office together, Tuesday to Thursday
2 daysWork from home, Monday & Friday
E1Between the City and Shoreditch
On the doorstep

Spitalfields Market, Brick Lane and some of London’s best food, from Dishoom and Hawksmoor to Gunpowder and Brat.

Paxton House, 30 Artillery Lane Open-plan office floor Kitchen and breakout area Meeting room
Ryan Sampson
RYAN SAMPSONPrincipal Consultant
Career story

From Trainee to Principal Consultant.

You’re empowered to run your own desk, but there’s always a collaborative team around you when you need support.

I’ve developed through hands-on training, international conferences and clear progression, going from a trainee with no recruitment experience to Principal Consultant. Hard work is recognised and rewarded, and you’re supported at every stage.

2022Joined as a trainee
3Promotions since joining
4 yrsAssociate to Principal
VIEW ON LINKEDIN ↗We invest in our people. It is not a numbers game for us.
Kiera Helsey
KIERA HELSEYManaging Consultant
Career story

Senior Consultant to Managing Consultant.

New ideas are encouraged, curiosity is welcomed and everyone has the opportunity to make an impact.

REALM has a genuinely collaborative, supportive and transparent culture. Since joining as a Senior Consultant, I’ve progressed to Principal and then Managing Consultant, leading sessions, contributing to the leadership team and building my own team.

2024Joined as Senior Consultant
2Promotions in ten months
Feb 26Managing Consultant
VIEW ON LINKEDIN ↗Exceptional people do not wait for an annual promotion window.
Progression

Progression moves at the speed of performance.

A clear path with no waiting periods, and management is not the only way up.

Shared foundation
  • Associate Consultant YOU START HERE
  • Consultant
  • Senior Consultant
  • Principal Consultant

Then choose your route

Commercial excellence

For top billers who want to stay on the desk

  • Executive Consultant
  • Partner
  • Senior Partner
Leadership

For those who want to build and lead teams

  • Managing Consultant
  • Manager
  • Senior Manager
  • Associate Director
  • Director
  • Managing Director
Build your career at the frontier.
Our values

High standards work both ways.

01TENACITY

We keep going when a search gets hard, and we finish what we start.

02MASTERY

We know our markets better than anyone, and we keep getting sharper.

03PASSION

We care about the people we place and the companies we build with.

What you can expect from REALM
A specialist market with genuine headroom
Transparent progression and commission
Serious investment in learning, technology and market access
Autonomy, direct feedback and room to build
A collaborative, inclusive culture where performance matters most
Interview process

Our interview process.

Three steps, honest feedback and plenty of time for your questions.

Step 01

First interview

Video call

An informal call with one or two of our managers or founders. We get to know you, your experience and what you are looking for, and introduce you to REALM and the role.

Step 02

Second interview

In person · Liverpool Street

A structured interview with our managers and directors, built around scenario questions and a role play. You will meet the team and have plenty of time to ask questions.

Step 03

Feedback or offer

Phone call

Everyone who interviews with us gets feedback. If you are successful, we will call you to talk through your offer and next steps before welcoming you into onboarding.

Build your career at the frontier.
How to apply

Build your career
at the frontier.

Want to build your career in the markets defining the next industrial era? We would love to hear from you.

Join us → realmgroup.io