Don’t underestimate the importance of exclusivity and confidentiality to candidates. In a tight knit market/sector, it is imperative a prospective hire feels safe within the interviewing process. Read More »

Lately I’ve been running into a lot of roles that have been under retainers with search firms whose recognizable names draw surprise when you hear a C level role remains open and unfilled for six months or more. Now why is this, you wonder. How can any firm that charges premium fees and staggering retainers, with deep resources and national connections not fulfill a straightforward C level role in a small to mid cap market in Southern California? Maybe because bigger isn’t always better. And a big name isn’t always a winner. Ultimately a recruiter, any recruiter from large firm or small, retained or contingency has to respect the fiduciary responsibility to the client. When a top tier firm appears … Read More »

  After a tedious search, you’ve found your number one candidate. He’s experienced in your space, he fits your culture, his references rock. There’s just a few hitches in the way. Your two biggest competitors want him too. One’s already made an offer and the other is about to (and probably holding out till you make your move). His current employer, recently acquired, also has a place for him in the new company. Oh – and he doesn’t know what the severance agreement is, but that should be forthcoming in a few weeks time. What’s an employer to do? This is a very real and often probable scenario in a competitive employment market for in demand candidates. Interestingly, the outcome … Read More »

I never assume I can do my clients job. However, I can practically guarantee I can locate and recruit a candidate who can! So it behooves me when a client insists through actions or words that they can do what I do, do it better and oh, by the way, it’s not that hard. I’m not sure why they assume I wouldn’t be insulted. After all, I’ve been perfecting my craft for over twenty-five years, have closed countless deals, for countless clients over countless invested hours. It can’t possibly be because I make it look easy. That after they’ve finally given up the candidate search, after weeks of screening, interviewing, turned down offers and counters, I can come up with … Read More »

OK, so I know I’m a recruiter, but after seeing countless ‘Top  10 Things I Hate’ headlines, I realize a little recruiter introspection is in order. Sure, we see what in-house HR hates about us, which is most everything, but how about those of us who are in the trenches on the dark side. There’s a reason getting new business is often an uphill battle, and you know what? It isn’t the fees! It’s pretty much what the recruiting agency has done to sabotage itself. Now, those of you who follow my postings, might think this might be another “Recruiter Pet Peeves’  blog, but to the contrary, I think these are universally despised agency tactics and behaviors many of us … Read More »

Surveys, Salaries and Reality As a particular sector of a job market heats up, compensation becomes a key component for company’s to remain competitive. I am going to preface this blog by stating that this is an opinion piece, based more on experience and observation, than extensive analytical research. In the last few recovery cycles, one of the recurring themes for clients replacing, upgrading or hiring new roles is compensation. How much should we pay, what are like companies compensating in our size and sector? How do we remain competitive? What types of incentives do our competitors offer, etc. Many of my clients rely on salary surveys and comp firms for their data. They often pay substantial fees for the … Read More »

I love my job! How many people can actually say this after three decades in the same profession? My last couple of placements were particularly rewarding. And not because of the fee attached (icing on the cake, actually). The reasons they were so satisfying got me to thinking back on a career spanning thirty years (painful to admit numbers, but they are what they are). How is it after countless placements, endless assignments and exposure to most every job close scenario, with a few surprises attached, that I can still take personal satisfaction with most every placement I make? Because, ultimately, it’s not about the numbers. It’s about the people and relationships. The longer I am in this profession the more … Read More »