What do you do to relieve stress?

What do you recruiters do to relieve the stress you get from clients who stomp on recruiters. I'd like to call it having been harassed from one of those people who look for every trace of the slightest thing you might not do right, because at the end of the day we are people. No matter what reason it might be, no one likes to be stomped on. In some sense the position we are in gives us no space to scream "what the ......" or do anything for that matter.

I normally communicate with candidates which is more my thing I suppose. I have been working up a new prospective account and it just seems that nothing I do will make this x happy. Is it me? And does anyone else cope with this kind of stuff on a daily basis? How do you manage?

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Permalink Reply by Rick on January 18, 2011 at 2:55pm

Hi Jamie

 

For the most part recruiting is an emotional rollercoaster ride and it takes a thick skin to endure the amount of rejections that come with the job, especially on the sales side. When dealing with a new prospective client make sure that you have a complete understanding of what the prospect is looking for. Try to find a common denominator in the type of people that they hire. For example do many of them come from the same university or competitor etc….  If you are truly supplying the type of candidate that the prospective client is seeking and you are still getting turned away I would say that it is time to move on and focus you efforts else where. Some prospects have a hard time to just come out and say no we are not interested or they may not be the true decision maker.

 

How do you handle it? Do not take it personnel; tell yourself that it was just not the right fit and move on, knowing that if you keeping swinging the bat that eventually you will connect and get a hit. If you are doing your homework up front it is all about the numbers and every rejection is just one swing closer to you next hit.

Keep swinging and stay positive!

 

Best of luck!

Rick

Permalink Reply by Gil Gorham on January 18, 2011 at 4:19pm
Plain and simple golf!
Permalink Reply by pam claughton on January 18, 2011 at 5:13pm

If you are truly being 'stomped on' by your client, maybe it's time to fire this client. Seriously. There's normal every day stress to this job of course, but if you really are being 'harassed', that's beyond the scope of what you should be expected to put up with.

 

There is a lot of business out there. It's hard to say no, but sometimes it's the best thing. The old 80/20 rule tends to be true, where 80% of your business comes from 20% of your clients. I've found that often the most difficult clients are not worth the energy you spend worrying about them. They are the ones  who will have you running in circles on an opening that might not be real, or suddenly goes on hold, or is unfillable for whatever reason and you've wasted time that could be better spent on a client who respects what you do and has a real sense of urgency to hire.

 

If it's just a demanding, but otherwise good client that you have a solid relationship with, then I'd suggest either hitting the gym to work off the stress, or treating yourself to a nice meal....or maybe both.

 

 

Permalink Reply by Sandra McCartt on January 18, 2011 at 7:00pm

If your client is using you like the only wench on a pirate ship, the only answer is to cut yourself adrift.

 

Some clients can not be pleased.  Some require just going another direction.  Take the X to lunch and see if you can figure out what makes her tick.  Is it a clock or a time bomb. 

 

Are you sending the same kind of candidates expecting different results, if so send something totally different, if the feedback is the same with a totally different candidate ask her to give you a copy of a resume or two of people she has hired who are doing well.

 

 

Permalink Reply by Jamie Lee on January 18, 2011 at 9:02pm
Thank you all for your supportive comments. It's great to know there's someone out there who understands.

I should have mentioned in my post that I've recently succeeded 3 hires for this client and am in the process of assisting with the follow through details...which may be a bunch of things since they are all international hires involving visa documentation and booking flights in addition to signing a contract. While the stomping started in our first communications after the head office introduced this hiring manager to us, it doesn't seem to stop even after asking me if he could have one of my candidates work in his office instead of another branch because he was so impressed with her. Rather seems to be getting worse. And I know it sounds like a she doesn't it.

Is there anything else I could do to thicken my face and soften my soul?
Permalink Reply by Sandra McCartt on January 19, 2011 at 11:08am
If you are making placements with him, what kind of stomping are your refering to?  Need a bit more detail here to offer any suggestions to alleviate the angst.
Permalink Reply by Angela R. Furbee on January 19, 2011 at 11:15am
I agree with Pam!  Life is too short to allow unprofessionals to "stomp" on you.  In fact, what is that all about?  Don't let anyone else be in control of the situation but you!  I always found that just being myself is the absolutely best method.  I know I am great at what I do, have a brag book and testimonials to prove it, but don't need to be "stomped" on by anyone.  Time for you to move on to bigger and better things!
Permalink Reply by Scott Bruman on January 19, 2011 at 11:25am
if only golf were plain and simple ;-)

Gil Gorham said:
Plain and simple golf!
Permalink Reply by Jason Monastra on January 19, 2011 at 11:29am

If what you are saying is literal and you are being stomped on, the issue is not you - it is the client.  Not all clients are good ones and not all clients truly want your help.  They believe at this point in the economy they have you over a barrell and can treat you however since they know recruiters are looking for work.  But seriously, when do people have the right to speak to others like that no matter the circumstances.  Plain and simply, they do not.

 

Fire a client, it offers the most power and it is something they least expect.  I fired my largest client, one where we had a retained relationship and billed in excess of 1M.  To hear the gasp at the meeting was amazing, not because I felt all high and mighty, but because I was doing the right thing for my staff and they could not believe we would leave them.  Companies need to understand that you have objectives as well and being spoken to in that manner does not correlate to you getting your job done.  You are equal, no better, no worse and it happens they need to remember that once and a while.

 

Funniest part, they reached out a few years later asking us to come back and be a vendor.  Never had an issue since.

Permalink Reply by Scott Bruman on January 19, 2011 at 11:30am
nicely said, and spot on!

Jason Monastra said:

If what you are saying is literal and you are being stomped on, the issue is not you - it is the client.  Not all clients are good ones and not all clients truly want your help.  They believe at this point in the economy they have you over a barrell and can treat you however since they know recruiters are looking for work.  But seriously, when do people have the right to speak to others like that no matter the circumstances.  Plain and simply, they do not.

 

Fire a client, it offers the most power and it is something they least expect.  I fired my largest client, one where we had a retained relationship and billed in excess of 1M.  To hear the gasp at the meeting was amazing, not because I felt all high and mighty, but because I was doing the right thing for my staff and they could not believe we would leave them.  Companies need to understand that you have objectives as well and being spoken to in that manner does not correlate to you getting your job done.  You are equal, no better, no worse and it happens they need to remember that once and a while.

 

Funniest part, they reached out a few years later asking us to come back and be a vendor.  Never had an issue since.

Permalink Reply by Teri Pirozzi on January 19, 2011 at 11:45am
meditation, yoga, dance, weights, running, biking.....I begin, end and  spike my day with these activities...and sometimes I power-nap!
Permalink Reply by Jordan Rayboy on January 19, 2011 at 12:05pm
try working outside (if you have a laptop w/ wireless card and cell phone, this is easy!). its easy to let the small things go when you are breathing fresh air and being grateful for all the world has to offer. spoken like a true hippie who has been recruiting from an rv the past 4 yrs :-)

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