Keeping the Faith

Hi Danny, I'm a 20-year veteran of the business and have had a fair amount of success ($5+ million in placements). However, I specialize in IT and, as of late, find myself rethinking whether I'm still capable in this field. I've zipped two months in a row and am having a very hard time staying positive and pounding the rock. I find myself disgusted by 2 p.m. and indulging my own personal "Weapons of Mass Distraction." I've worked my way out of slumps before and weathered the recessions of ‘82 and ‘91/92 but am finding this recession even more frustrating. Other than increasing my confidence through success (placements) which obviously works, is there another elixir of confidence out there? What should I be reading, listening to, drinking, smoking? Hey, trust me; I'm keeping all options open on this. Danny's response, If this were 12-18 months ago, my advice would be the same that I gave the two IT recruiters in my office, and the two IT recruiters I had working virtually for me on the West Coast. That is to say: “Stick a fork in it. You’re done in IT. Move on. Let’s try Biotech.” In the case of the people in my office - one does pharmacists, the other [...]

We’ll Never Be Royals or Loyals

Hi Danny, For some reason I am finding old clients going to new sources although our candidates are staying, no one left, and I can’t find any issues. Without seeming desperate how can I ask them what happened? I have asked one and they said it wasn’t their call and they don’t know why. We don’t work on exclusivity so I can’t understand what happened. At the same time, for some reason some companies are still signing contracts, giving us a mandate then not replying although I know they are working with other recruiters on the mandates we were asked to work on or they leave me in the dust. What am I doing wrong???? I feel like the market is picking up yet I had the two most terrible quarters imaginable…H-E-L-P Danny's response, The world you want, and think you have earned, one in which whenever there is an opening or staffing need at the clients you’ve done quality work for, they all sit in a meeting, sign off the req and then send out the Bat Signal into the night sky with your company’s logo, doesn’t exist anymore, if it ever did. One of my big “aha” moments in business and life was when I realized [...]

Not Enough Parking

Hi Danny, There aren’t enough parking spaces for all of us here. The boss has a reserved spot – so he is not affected. Do I just suffer? Danny's response, I thought briefly of recusing myself since I have a space right outside our office door and would beat anyone who tried to park there to a bloody pulp, but let’s assume for purposes of discussion I earned my spot and your boss didn’t. What is it you are angry about? The fact that there are not enough parking spots or that your boss is not affected? If it is the former, GET TO WORK EARLIER than those who get the spaces that are available! If it’s the latter, work your butt off, become the top producer, rise above the petty concerns like this, and before you know it… there’ll be a space that no one else can park in but you. And then, I promise you, the system will seem very fair.

The Humble Brag

Dear Danny: Is it just me or is there an increasing trend of hiring execs only making themselves available for interviews at ridiculously inconvenient times - usually phone, but we just had one do this for an in person, final interview at the end of a two-month process. In the last month, I've had several HA's who have been impossible to nail down for a call with a candidate offer, "I'm only available Friday at 7 am or Sunday at 9 PM" for a call with the candidate. Another - (a COO at a $400 mm company who insists on interviewing both on the phone and in person every candidate they hire making around 90K or more) just flipped the final onsite interview from 3 pm to 7 am. When I protest and tell the HA the time is too early, too late etc. and that the candidate may not be on their game as a result of getting up at 5 am and traveling to make a 7 am series of in person interviews, the client starts with the "Well, he must not be that motivated then if he can't make an early interview.", or, "It shouldn't be a problem, we'll have coffee for him." I even [...]