1:10 read | 1:15 video | Chime in on LinkedIn here
Hi guys. Former contingent recruiter here telling you a dirty secret of the recruiting industry: 👇👇👇
👉Contingent recruiters say yes to pretty much any search
The super niche skill? No problem.
Pay under market? Sure, they’ll give it a shot.
All onsite even though no candidates wants that? Why not.
Trainwreck Glassdoor reviews? Poor reputation? It’s not a no…
Oh wait, you wanted results? 🤣
Here’s a nuanced piece that a lot of companies don’t realize: when you don’t commit, the agency doesn’t either.
👉Every single contingent recruiter uses the “test and bail” sales approach.
“Sounds hard. Not sure we can fill. But you never know, we might get lucky finding someone…”
And if not? Whatever. They got a million of these flimsy relationships. Onto the next.
Meanwhile, you really needed to make that hire.
Success in the contingent relies on test and bail. Rinse and repeat. Occasionally landing on someone they can help consistently (yes, it does happen). But inefficiency much?
But there are massive shifts in thinking that retained firms take on:
👉They only take on engagements they know they can be successful with.
We say no to new clients ALL. THE. TIME.
We know what we can do. And what we can't.
👉When searches come up that may be challenging, they tell clients what to do to make it work.
Lots of companies don’t know why they’re struggling to hire. And it’s not their fault.
But they need someone who can tell them. Find a solution to make the hire. Not someone who’s gonna cut and run.
Inherent in that is companies are either open to feedback or they're not (another reason why we often say no.)
But the “test and bail” approach? Never helped anyone.
You can follow me on LinkedIn here and Twitter here. Join the discussion on this LinkedIn post (or give it a 👍) here.