Professional Background
With over 20 years of experience in recruitment, I’ve developed a deep understanding of what it takes to match top talent with the right opportunity.
I founded CTA 11 years ago, starting from humble beginnings at home, and have since built a strong reputation.
My focus is on the Cloud, Compute, and Storage side of IT, helping various IT Companies find top talent.
I thrive on understanding the needs of both clients ad candidates, ensuring the perfect match for long-term success.
What's It Like To Work With Me?
My approach is highly consultative and relationship-driven. Over the years, I’ve learned that the best candidates don’t always have the best CVs — it’s about getting beneath the surface to truly understand a person and how they’ll align with a company’s culture.
Having navigated multiple recessions and worked with a wide range of personalities in the recruitment industry, I bring seasoned insight and resilience to every search.
My experience also allows me to skillfully guide clients toward realistic, market-aligned expectations. Often, companies have an idea of the “Easter Rabbit” — the elusive perfect candidate — but I help them refine their search criteria to focus on what really matters. This ensures a better match and more effective hiring process.
Testimonials
“It was an absolute pleasure dealing with Austin Shields in my recent job search.
Austin only advised me of suitable roles which was a very welcome change, as all too often I have had recruiters contact me regarding roles that simply don’t match my skill set or experience.
He also kept me updated with the status of my application.
I would therefore highly recommend Austin if anybody in my network is looking for a new role” ~ Candidate placed in February 2025
A Bit More About Me
I'm big on fitness - whether it's hitting the gym or putting on a GI and rolling on the mat in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu when I get the chance.
I've also got a passion for learning new languages - I'm currently learning French and I can hold a conversation in Spanish.
Fun fact, I once appeared on The Gadget Show reviewing an electric shaver when I was 28!
Work with Me
📧 Email: ashields@chapmantate.com
📞 Phone: +44121 285 5529
🔗 LinkedIn:My LinkedIn Profile