We catch-up with Jonathan Voss, Founder at JV Recruitment, and find out what candidates should be doing to land their next role, how AI is impacting the recruitment process, what he’s learned from 15 years building a recruitment business, his fun fact and much more!
Fun fact about you?
Was interviewed by Australian TV channel, Sevens News after a shark attack on the beach in Manley during my year off travelling post university.
Why a career in recruitment (especially after a degree in Geography and Geology)?
Fell into it to be honest, after a couple of years in London working in sales and marketing I looked to relocate back to Yorkshire and registered with Michael Page who sold me the recruitment dream !! It’s been a tough and rewarding journey since.
What was the inspiration behind starting JV Recruitment in 2011?
Having moved companies a couple of times in the years prior to 2011 I realised that my clients were more interested in my relationship with them than who I actually worked with so I took the chance to build something that aligned with my own values and offered me the chance for a bit more flexibility with a young family.
What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learnt over the last 15-years?
That relationships outlast just placements, candidates and clients remember how you treated them not just the way the process ended.
How do you switch off?
Tennis is my main passion outside of work, although it sometimes winds me up when I’m not playing as well as I would like. Walking my dogs is always a good way to get some down time.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given?
One of my first bosses in recruitment told me that “people buy from people” so that’s why I always try to get out to meet clients in person rather than remotely. It still amazes me when they say they’ve never met other firms in person.
What’s your favourite book, podcast, movie and album of all-time?
More author that specific book, James Patterson – love a good crime thriller and anything from that genre. Don’t really do podcasts to be honest. Top Gun is my favourite movie and Coldplay’s Ghost Stories would be up there.
What’s the biggest challenge facing recruitment in 2026?
For me it’s two things that are tangled together. First, AI, and it cuts both ways. Something like 87% of companies now use AI somewhere in hiring, and it’s genuinely speeding things up. But candidates are uneasy about it, and honestly, fairly so, because those same tools can filter out brilliant people who just don’t fit a neat pattern.
And underneath that, in marketing & digital specifically, there’s a pipeline problem. Apprenticeships dropped by over 1,500 last year, so junior talent just isn’t coming through and at the same time employers expect even entry-level marketers to already know AI tools like prompt engineering and automation. Fewer people coming in, higher bar to clear when they do.
What advice would you give candidates to help them stand out from the rest?
Tailor your CV/profile to the specific role rather than sending a generic one.
What has been your proudest career achievement to-date?
Just last week I celebrated 15 years of JV Recruitment. It’s been a challenging ride so far but I still love what I do and looking forward to the next 15 !!
About jonathan…
Jonathan Voss is the founder of JV Recruitment, a UK focussed marketing and digital recruitment agency he launched in 2011. Coming from a background in sales and marketing, Jonathan brought a commercial, results driven mindset into recruitment, along with a genuine understanding of what makes marketing talent tick.
Over the years, he has built a reputation for connecting ambitious marketers with the businesses that need them, guided by a belief that great recruitment is built on relationships and trust rather than transactions. As founder, Jonathan works closely and personally with every client and candidate JV Recruitment serves.
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This interview is part of the “offline” series, in which our Founder, John McCambley, interviews leaders from across the digital marketing industry (agency and client-side).
