Meet Jake Thomas-Teers

Recruitment Consultant – Engineering

021 100 9438 | jaket@gradarecruitment.com

Jake is a Recruitment Consultant at Grada Recruitment, specialising in Geotechnical, Water and Environmental Engineering. Born in Auckland and raised in Matamata he’s now back in West Auckland after several years in Wellington. With an unconventional background spanning Japanese, anthropology, and personal training, he brings a people-first curiosity to recruitment and a process-driven determination to see every search through to the end.

Jake's Background and Experience

Jake's path to recruitment was anything but conventional. After completing a BA in Japanese and Anthropology, he picked up qualifications in fitness and nutrition and put them to work as a personal trainer at Les Mills. When the itch for something new struck, he landed in recruitment, where he found his footing placing candidates in architecture and property. A move to Auckland, a brief detour into finance recruitment, and a year off along the way eventually brought him to Grada and back to the built environment where his career began.
He was drawn to Grada for its combination of professionalism and genuine commitment to bettering the people it works with — candidates, clients, and the team alike.

Jake's Key to Success

Jake is process-driven, determined, and relentlessly positive; the kind of person who, when a problem needs solving, doesn't let go until it's done. He's motivated by what he sees as a fairly unique opportunity: problem-solving for businesses while genuinely changing people's lives.
The moment that best captures why he does it? Early in his career, a candidate told him her absolute dream was to work for a specific company.
His advice? Tough out the hard times — the rough patches are where the real growth happens. And when the wins come, make sure you celebrate them.