If you are searching for jobs in Portsmouth and want a career with clear earnings potential, real progression, and a supportive culture, you are in the right place.

Astute is growing in Portsmouth and we are hiring people who enjoy speaking with others, solving problems, and delivering results.

This page explains what makes Portsmouth a great place to build your career, the roles we are hiring for, how recruitment works day to day, the training you will receive, earnings and benefits, hybrid working, and how to apply.

Throughout, you will find clear calls to view and apply for our live internal vacancies.

Why Portsmouth is a smart place to build your career

Portsmouth is a compact waterfront city with quick commutes, a lively food and coffee scene, and strong transport links.

The office is easy to reach from Southsea, Fratton, Gosport, Fareham, Havant, Waterlooville, and Chichester.

Portsmouth Harbour and Fratton stations connect you across the South East, the M275 and A27 make driving straightforward, and island getaways are a short ferry ride away.

If you work from our Portsmouth HQ at Lakeside North Harbour, you can stay on campus at lunch and still get a proper break.

Here is what is on your doorstep.

Lake walk and fitness trail: a 2.36 km route around the lake for a quick reset or a brisk walk at lunch.
Table tennis: Outdoor static tables with bats and balls available, great for a quick game.
Coffee: a full Starbucks on site, open weekdays from early.
Grab-and-go: Co-op for hot takeaway food and essentials.
Subs and salads: Subway at Central Square.
Hot meals: The Hub café serves fresh, locally sourced dishes and salads.
Street Food Thursdays: rotating street-food traders on campus every Thursday.

After work there are gyms, five-a-side pitches, and plenty of places to catch up with friends.

The city is big enough to offer variety and small enough to feel connected, which is ideal for learning fast, building networks, and progressing quickly.

Internal careers at Astute in Portsmouth

Astute hires people at different stages of their careers.

If you’re a recent graduate, a customer service professional, or someone from retail or hospitality who loves dealing with people, recruitment could suit you.

If you are already working in recruitment or sales and want clearer progression and a higher ceiling on earnings, we should talk.

Typical internal roles we hire for in Portsmouth include:

Trainee Recruitment Consultant: entry level with full training
Recruitment Consultant: 180 delivery or 360 full cycle
Senior Recruitment Consultant
Delivery Consultant/Talent Specialist: resourcer
Principal Consultant and Team Leader
Operations and Marketing roles that support our consultants

You can view and apply for our live internal vacancies now.

What recruitment looks like day to day

Recruitment combines sales, research, communication, and project management.

It is varied and fast paced.

You’ll build relationships with clients and candidates, learn how projects in Power, Renewables, and Nuclear are delivered, and use that knowledge to match people with roles that fit their goals.

A typical week includes:

Speaking with clients to understand hiring plans and define the person profile
Writing clear job briefs and mapping the talent market
Proactively identifying relevant candidates and speaking with them about their goals
Running structured interviews and assessing both technical skills and behaviours
Preparing candidate profiles and presenting shortlists to clients
Scheduling interviews, preparing candidates, collecting feedback, and handling offers
Managing pipelines in our systems with accurate notes and next actions
Building long term relationships so you become a trusted partner

You’ll work with experienced colleagues who share knowledge openly.

You’ll get regular feedback, so you always know where you stand and what to do next to move deals forward.

Training, coaching, and progression

Everyone starts with a structured onboarding plan.

You will learn the end-to-end recruitment lifecycle, our quality standards, and the tools we use.

Desk coaching is practical.

You’ll shadow calls, practice real scenarios, and get quick feedback.

We invest in continuous professional development, including questioning and negotiation, stakeholder management, compliant processes, and industry knowledge for Power, Renewables, and Nuclear.

Progression is clear and performance based.

We publish the competencies for each grade, from Trainee to Consultant to Senior and beyond, so you always know what good looks like.

Promotions are earned through activity quality and outcomes.

If you put in consistent work, use coaching well, and treat candidates and clients with care, progression can be fast.

Earnings and benefits

Recruitment rewards consistent activity and quality.

We pay a competitive base salary for Portsmouth, plus a commission structure that pays out for placements you deliver.

There are additional incentives for quarterly and annual performance, as well as team celebrations and trips that recognise high standards.

Benefits include private healthcare with mental health support, paid time off, and regular wellbeing initiatives.

If you would like a detailed conversation about salary bands and commission, speak with our internal recruitment team.

Hybrid working and office culture

Time together in the office is important for learning quickly, sharing knowledge, and building a genuinely collaborative culture.

Once you’re onboarded and performing consistently, we offer agreed work from home days.

The Portsmouth office is driven and friendly.

We set high standards, we help each other improve, and we celebrate wins together.

You’ll find people who care about the quality of their work and who want you to succeed because the team succeeds together.

Who tends to do well at Astute?

People who enjoy speaking with others, ask good questions, and follow through on promises usually do well.

Curiosity, resilience, and ownership matter.

You’ll speak with professionals across engineering, operations, and leadership, so clear communication is important.

If you like the idea of having clear goals, building relationships, and seeing the impact of your effort in both results and earnings, you’ll fit right in.

Recruitment suits different backgrounds, for example:

Graduates who want a commercial role with structured learning and responsibility
People from retail, hospitality, and call centres who enjoy helping customers
Sales professionals who want a bigger runway for earnings and progression
Experienced recruiters who want a stronger platform and a clear sector focus

The sectors you will learn

Astute works across Power, Renewables, and Nuclear.

You don’t need to be an engineer.

You’ll get practical sector training, learn how projects are planned and delivered, and understand the roles that make those projects happen.

Being able to translate technical context into clear conversations with clients and candidates is part of what makes our consultants successful.

If you’re curious and willing to learn, the sector knowledge will come quickly.

Your first three months, what to expect

Month one: Foundations.

You’ll complete onboarding, learn our systems, observe calls, run your first candidate screens, and write your first job briefs with support.

You’ll get daily coaching from your manager and quick feedback after key calls.

Month two: Controlled independence.

You will take ownership of a delivery area or set of roles. You’ll run more candidate interviews, book your first client calls with support, and move candidates through process.

Month three: Full speed.

Manage your own mini pipeline with clear next actions.

You’ll collaborate closely with your team, share wins and lessons, and push toward your first placement.

You will review your progress against the competency framework and agree your next targets.

What success looks like

Success is activity quality, not just activity volume.

You’ll measure and improve things like meaningful conversations each day, qualified candidates added, booked interviews, conversion rates, and client feedback.

You’ll also be judged on how you represent Astute.

We expect honesty, care for candidates, and clear updates for clients.

We want long-term relationships, repeat business, and referrals that come from doing the right thing consistently.

How we support your development

Clear targets with examples of what good looks like
Regular one-to-ones focused on progress and obstacles
Live call listening and roleplay to sharpen skills
Playbooks for outreach, job qualification, and offer management
Shadowing senior consultants to see how they handle complex situations
Access to tools that make research, scheduling, and follow up faster
A dedicated Recruitment Coach

Frequently asked questions about recruitment jobs in Portsmouth

Do I need prior recruitment experience

No. For trainee roles we hire for attitude, communication, and drive. We’ll teach you the process and tools. If you have sales or customer service experience that will help, but it’s not essential.

What’s the difference between 180 and 360 recruitment

In a 180 role, you focus on candidate delivery within an established set of clients. In a 360 role you manage both clients and candidates, including new business, delivery, and offer management. We hire for both paths and provide training for each.

What are the working hours

Standard office hours are 08:30-17:30 with some flexibility. Speak with the internal recruitment team about the practical details. We focus on outcomes and quality of service.

Is hybrid working available

Yes. After onboarding and once you’re performing consistently, you can agree work from home days with your manager.

How quickly can I progress

Progression depends on performance. We use a clear competency framework, so you know exactly what you need to demonstrate to move from Trainee to Consultant to Senior and beyond. With consistent activity and coachability, progression can be fast.

What earnings can I expect

You’ll receive a competitive base salary and a commission structure that pays out on placements. There are also quarterly and annual incentives. If you want precise figures, book a confidential chat with the internal recruitment team.

Will I get sector training

Yes. You’ll learn the basics of Power, Renewables, and Nuclear and how to speak confidently with hiring managers and candidates in those sectors.

A note from the team

People join Astute for different reasons.

Some want to accelerate earnings.

Others want clear progression and to be recognised for high standards.

Many want a team that feels like a proper professional home.

Whatever your motivation, if you bring energy, care, and ownership, we will match it with training, support, and a platform to do your best work.

If you would like to sense check whether recruitment is a good fit, speak to us.

We are happy to talk through what the day to day looks like and what success would mean for you.

How to apply for internal jobs in Portsmouth

View our live internal vacancies
Choose the role that fits your experience and goals
Submit a short application with your CV
If selected, you will have an initial call with our internal recruitment team, followed by an interview
We move quickly, so you will not be left waiting for feedback

If you don’t see the perfect role today, send us your CV and tell us what you are looking for. Teams grow regularly and we can let you know when a suitable role opens.

Final call to action

If you’re searching for recruitment jobs in Portsmouth, trainee recruitment roles, or sales roles with progression and clear earnings potential, take the first step today.