It Can't Be ALL Bad - Come on Now.

I'm not losing it, right? This market might have tested my core strength, but that thread I'm hanging onto is just tough enough to climb up and swing around on. Adversity, viewed that way, kinda fun.

Of course, I might just be getting my sense of humor back because the market is showing consistent signs of life, and wow, how cool, I'm still here. Niiiiiice. (ok, ok, I'm knocking on wood - so superstitious, the lot of you).

My point here is just to state, for the record, that we, collectively, as recruiters, headhunters, headhuntresses, corporate sourcing guru's...all need three deep breath's and a "bet I can beat ya to the next placement" - we've had our (beeps) handed to us in the last 12-18 months (depending on your niche), but if you've been playing long enough, you know...the best way to get out of "this sucks" is to engage in a challenge and re-ignite our competitive natures. I've had too many conversations lately with the peeps in our biz feeling all "ick". Agreed, its been beastly out there. Let's shake off the muck and get going. The Laws of Attraction may almost be a cliché right now...but they do have a point...right? Can we jump on that bus?

Ok, moment over...off to conquer my leetol part of the world. Pollyanna Out.

P.S. Bet I beat you to the next placement!

JT

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Dave Serafin on June 23, 2009 at 2:11pm

I agree wholeheartedly...You have to be optimistic in times like these no matter what your profession...This is the market's way of weeding out the best from the not so-greats...Which side will you be on? I know that I will not give less than 110%, and with that effort, should make it out okay...But if you aren't cranking up your work ethic during these tough times, then you may find yourself in another profession very soon.

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Permalink Reply by Andrew Hermiston on June 23, 2009 at 3:02pm

Totally agree...we made the first placement of the month just today and finally are getting back to double digit job orders! I'm hoping the light that I'm seeing at the end of the tunnel is NOT a train and hopefully maybe the worst of this whateveryacallit is behind us.

It feels great to ring the bell again!!!!

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Permalink Reply by Harold Ensley on June 24, 2009 at 5:16am

Bang-on... In the last recession, I was able to match Y2K hiring numbers, in a depressed IT market, because I saw the competitive opportunity to work really hard at my reqs, and find the absolute best people, who were either (1) unappreciated in their current role, (2) impacted by job loss.

Filling each job, with the most solid candidate on earth, was a personal quest.

Here's the thing, a lot of your colleagues are still flipping "candidate burgers". What I mean by this, is that there's not a lot of "special" differentiation in their candidates, or they are following the same lazy sourcing strategies (post and pray), and selection strategies, that are fine in the busiest of times, but don't cut it now. The "candidate burger", is like greasy fast food; sure it will make you feel full in the short run, but I would not eat it over, say, steak...

While a lot of firms are looking at talent strategically - heck, each hire might be one of the last hires they make, for awhile, in their department - it's no wonder these types of economic times can make some recruiters shine, and others falter.

Put on your best type-a game face, and see each search as a competition to find the best person, on earth, suited for the role. Start asking overall talent questions, like "what do you need to round out the department" - or answering their most pressing need with each candidate, ie) what does the department have to achieve in the next 3 years.

Just my two cents..

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Permalink Reply by Jennifer Taylor on June 24, 2009 at 9:58am

LOVE this: "Job orders are coming in like clients just woke up out of a bad dream. There is a God ...and i think he's hiring!" - laughed right out loud...

Bring it gerl - closed three last week - almost fainted it had been months since I closed three in one week - and though we're not back as in, where we were mid-08 - we are definitely breathing a lot easier - and having more fun...

And Andy - I don't think its a train...might be Santa's sleigh though....grin.

Harold - You are so right, and now that we're "seeing the light" - it will be easier to do those deeper dives with less fear....I confess its tough NOT to flip burgers when the market is, well, non-existent...you just want something, anything...I get that - but keeping your quality up and your desperation down is an absolute must. Our business may not be rocket science, but it is a science - of the will, of the mind, and of the spirit...swhy I love it.

Sandra McCartt said:

You're on. :) I have a big one that is teetering on the brink of close with a backup candidate being interviewed on Monday. Job orders are coming in like clients just woke up out of a bad dream. There is a God ...and i think he's hiring!

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Permalink Reply by pam claughton on June 24, 2009 at 11:38am

We're definitely seeing light at the end of the tunnel and have actually taken the plunge and expanded by moving into new office space and signing a multi-year lease. We moved in last week and on our second day had a new client call us with a job order which we took as a very good sign! We're looking at this time as an opportunity to focus and build our business while other recruiters are doing the opposite. We're also looking to actively build up our temporary/contract side of the business as well and are excited to do that, especially in our neck of the woods, Plymouth/South Shore.

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Permalink Reply by Jennifer Taylor on June 24, 2009 at 3:17pm

hahahaha - excellent...anything I want?? Ooooh Fun! Thanks Maren.

Maren Hogan said:

Hey JT, I love this post. I'm sick of being sad about stuff and ready to crush it (sorry Gary Vaynerchuck keynoted here and I caught the Jersey enthusiasm). Also, you can say anything you want because you have a rad hat on.

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Permalink Reply by Jennifer Taylor on June 24, 2009 at 5:45pm

Which is short for "barking mad" - how is that apt or pleasant my friend? Please do let me know if I need an upgrade on my understanding of british idioms.

All the best regardless, JT

Nick Leslie-Miller said:

Jennifer, We have a very apt and pleasant word for people like you in England .. Barking

Jennifer Tortorella said:
hahahaha - excellent...anything I want?? Ooooh Fun! Thanks Maren.

Maren Hogan said:
Hey JT, I love this post. I'm sick of being sad about stuff and ready to crush it (sorry Gary Vaynerchuck keynoted here and I caught the Jersey enthusiasm). Also, you can say anything you want because you have a rad hat on.

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Permalink Reply by Craig Silverman on June 25, 2009 at 2:13pm

Ding! Just closed a $25K retainer. We are seeing the market pick up, getting more interviews, seeing more job orders...Just got 5 exclusive openings from a client. The market is starting to move.

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Permalink Reply by Jennifer Taylor on June 25, 2009 at 3:08pm

Congrats!!! We just pulled in four exclusives yesterday, definitely feeling better about the marketplace - now we need consistency - baby steps...nice work Craig!

Craig Silverman said:

Ding! Just closed a $25K retainer. We are seeing the market pick up, getting more interviews, seeing more job orders...Just got 5 exclusive openings from a client. The market is starting to move.

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Permalink Reply by Jennifer Taylor on July 2, 2009 at 10:41am

Nice!!! You WON! Nice way to start the weekend!! Enjoy the rush. JT

Sandra McCartt said:

Ding, Ding! I closed mine at 4:00 AM this morning Jennifer :) Did i "bring it" in time to beat you this week?

Jennifer Tortorella said:
Congrats!!! We just pulled in four exclusives yesterday, definitely feeling better about the marketplace - now we need consistency - baby steps...nice work Craig!

Craig Silverman said:
Ding! Just closed a $25K retainer. We are seeing the market pick up, getting more interviews, seeing more job orders...Just got 5 exclusive openings from a client. The market is starting to move.

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Permalink Reply by Peter Ceccarelli on July 2, 2009 at 12:26pm

You know........the labor market outlook is NOT great! National numbers for the newly unemployed in June jumped to 9.5% which is the highest it's been in 26 years. And that has affected this weeks performance on Wall Street. The analysts projected one number, the reality was far worse. So the "rose colored" optimists out there who think things are "starting to turn around", well guess what? They're not. There are a number of predictors that believe unemployment will cap at 11% before it starts to come back down. So don't take the storm shutters off just yet and yes, I believe a positive attitude is VERY important regardless of the economy, but the rough ride is still rough! There ain't nothing pretty about what's happening right now and businesses that were hanging in there for the first half of the year are just NOW starting to see revenue and profit fall and are now taking drastic measures to cut expenses which mean more lay-offs. That's why the unemployment numbers spiked when the "guru's" thought they'd come down in June.

Whatever we have been doing in survival mode is what we should continue to do. Therefore sharing that type of information is more relevant and pertinent now than a cheerleading squad.

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Permalink Reply by Jennifer Taylor on July 2, 2009 at 12:32pm

Strategy is as much about attitude as it is about data. I believe there is room for both Peter - thank you for the balance.

Peter Ceccarelli said:

You know........the labor market outlook is NOT great! National numbers for the newly unemployed in June jumped to 9.5% which is the highest it's been in 26 years. And that has affected this weeks performance on Wall Street. The analysts projected one number, the reality was far worse. So the "rose colored" optimists out there who think things are "starting to turn around", well guess what? They're not. There are a number of predictors that believe unemployment will cap at 11% before it starts to come back down. So don't take the storm shutters off just yet and yes, I believe a positive attitude is VERY important regardless of the economy, but the rough ride is still rough! There ain't nothing pretty about what's happening right now and businesses that were hanging in there for the first half of the year are just NOW starting to see revenue and profit fall and are now taking drastic measures to cut expenses which mean more lay-offs. That's why the unemployment numbers spiked when the "guru's" thought they'd come down in June.

Whatever we have been doing in survival mode is what we should continue to do. Therefore sharing that type of information is more relevant and pertinent now than a cheerleading squad.