A few months ago was the time I decided to change the way that I was operating. I had just been sent on a wild goose chase by a client. Good firm and they do things the right way business wise. I have known them for a few years. But the respect for my service just simply wasn’t there.
I had found a fantastic candidate given the circumstances (maybe a bit more junior than they were expecting). I had warned from the outset that I thought the Salary was a bit light, but this was the best candidate they were going to get. I made a mistake (this industries most successful performers know when to work certain jobs). This was one where my fondness of the client had overshadowed my ability to see what the job was. A great role with the wrong salary. Put simply. It wasn’t a role I could fill given their expectations.
The client gave me the news that they wouldn’t be hiring my experience light candidate, which I understand now looking back. He then said to me that he was asking me and the other couple of Recruiters that were working on the role to go ahead and send some CVs to them for the role wanting a higher salary.
It is important to note here that I wanted them to offer a higher salary from the outset. The fact I was in a bun fight to find this person with a couple of other recruiters without the prospect of being paid did not excite me. Particularly when I had spent a lot of time on the role.
I said I didn’t want to actively recruit the role and that if someone came along then I would let them know. Now a lot of the time I get the impression that lip service is given to firms and despite the fact the recruiter isn’t keen on the role they say they’re doing a lot when they actually aren’t.
I also don’t send CV’s to candidates. Where is my value if I do this? Last year my interview to placement ratio was between 40-50%. I will not put someone in front of you if they are not the right fit. What’s the point in that? It wastes you time and my time.
I made the decision there and then that I didn’t want to deal with roles where the client effectively made it a race between the recruiters.
This doesn’t come down to who the best candidate is. It is just the one that can come up with the best rough fit for them in the shortest amount of time possible.
The company using me will get absolute commitment from me that I will find someone within an agreed amount of time so they can make plans around this. I will manage expectations here.
I am not going to be the fastest, nor am I going to be the cheapest and nor will I send CV’s over wily nilly to a client. Anyone can do that. If you want that service I suggest you get Reed, post a job up and see the candidates that come in (the candidates there are overexposed and if you don’t put a filter in you will get inappropriate candidates apply for the role).
If you want someone that will work hard for you and will not stop until that role is filled. Get the right candidates in the process. Take time away from you sifting through CV’s that simply don’t fit and get the right people in…use me.