Stuck in the Recruiter Wasteland!!!! Someone help me get out!!!!!!

This is a very frightening thing to admit, but i have had close to 10 jobs in the past 2 years! 10 different recruiting jobs and these weren't contracts but full-time positions in different agencies.

I previously worked for 1 firm for 7 years, left when the market downturned in late 2009 and proceeded to destroy my career as well as almost my family. I wandered from firm to firm confident i would find what i had previously, the same environment, the same success and i have not found it. I tell myself, it doesn't exist anymore. I was with a large Tech Staffing firm. I was the top recruiter in my office in New York City and top 5 in the entire company which did roughly $80 million a year. Until the downturn, and my 50 people on billing and 1-2 full-time deals a month turned into 10 on billing and 1 ever few months.

So i jumped ship, and i have been regretting it ever since. I became a pro at interviewing. In one turn, i went on 9 interviews for recruiting roles and received 6 offers. 6 offers. And at one time or another, i went to each and every one of those jobs. I would accept postions, convincing myself this was it, show up, and before the end of the day, go to lunch and not return.

Terrified of the larger firms, i accepted offers in small boutique shops. I was sure i would be better off. I could be the guy to build up the business, get a piece of it, do it the way i saw fit. Not the smartest thing to do in a down market. Started off like gangbusters, until my paycheck bounced. uh oh. Time to go.

So it was interview time again. How may more could i get. I got 3 out of 3. And of course, i took the wrong job. Went to another small shop. They specialized in the finance space, placing front office people, quants and all. They wanted me to build up the tech group, contracting and all. I saw it as a way to get myself into another space, learn the financial marketplace not just technology, a new niche as i longed to get out of technology. Cranked out 5 deals real quick. In 3 months i was rolling. Rolling until the owner advised that his deals worth a hell of alot of money had fallen through and he couldn't afford to pay anyone anymore.

So back again on the street. Again, wandering the recruiter wasteland. A family to suport, bills to pay and no desire to pick up the phone and call techies anymore. A desire to do something different. To get outside the game and not battle with a multitude of agencies both local and overseas for the same candidates. Candidates who are finding the jobs on there own now as well.

A desire to find a small, tight little niche that i could become an expert in. A small marketplace, less clients, less candidates, less competition.

But what is it. What industry? What candidate doesn't get 50 calls a day from recruiters? Doesn't have there pick of 100's of job boards to look at posted rolls. Someone who would actually appreciate and respect the knowledge, experience and connections i am bringing to them. Who see's the worth and the value.

Until i find that someone or something, i will continue to wander the recruiter wasteland.

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Bill Schultz on October 12, 2011 at 1:51pm

Hi Gregg- What can you do? Someone misses a payroll and I am out of theremyself. You just can't stand for that.

You've already proven you're a stable person by lasting in one place for 7 years (an eternity for a recruiter).

I have heard that Bloomberg is making a big push to get startups funded in the downtown area. That may be a way to go as far as niche, if you have some technical chops. Keep the faith.

Btw, Love that photograph.

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Permalink Reply by Greg on October 12, 2011 at 2:10pm

Bill,

Thanks very much for the reply. Only problem is, i want out of tech badly. I just don't have it in me anymore to work the space. I recruit as a headhunter, living on the phone, calling into companies, pulling people out and there is just no drive for me to do it anymore. I do not get hyped be the roles or excited.

I want to jump into a differet space. Find a real niche that i can be excited about again, interested in and put all my effort nto it and become a bit of an SME at. I spend my waking hours, and these days i do not sleep much trying to figure out what the hell it is.

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Permalink Reply by Sandra McCartt on October 12, 2011 at 2:21pm

Gregg,

What about an in house recruiting role in a different industry. Healthcare is strong and probably always will be unless people quit being born, dying or getting sick. Perhaps go in house, learn a new niche make some new contacts then decide if you want to fight the agency side again.

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Permalink Reply by Bill Schultz on October 12, 2011 at 2:24pm

There are different roles in tech. I know what you're saying, I would go crazy recruiting engineers for "one of's"all day.

But if you work with startups, you get to be part of something from the ground up and evangelize the role. Then when they get big enough for infrastructure, you're on to the next project.

Also, business side in tech. Like Product Management, Marketing, etc. Those people can usually speak in full sentences.

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Permalink Reply by Greg on October 12, 2011 at 2:34pm

healthcare was something that did cross my mind. Placing physicians was definitely of interest and seems to be na area unlike most others that u can pick one type of practice and stick with it. Thoughts on perhaps that space?
Sandra McCartt said:

Gregg,

What about an in house recruiting role in a different industry. Healthcare is strong and probably always will be unless people quit being born, dying or getting sick. Perhaps go in house, learn a new niche make some new contacts then decide if you want to fight the agency side again.

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Permalink Reply by lisa rokusek on October 12, 2011 at 2:35pm

Business side in tech is great. Virtualization/storage/datacenter stuff is also hot. Look, its a crazy time for sure, but if your paycheck bounced, well....I'd leave as well.

If you want to talk offline I am happy to lend an ear. 314.409.5633 is my number.

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Permalink Reply by Greg on October 12, 2011 at 2:59pm

Lisa,

thanks for the response and the offer to talk. It really is appreciated and i might just take you up on it. As for other areas of tech, honestly, there is just nothing there for me. No appeal, no desire. In the end, any area of technology always seems to funnel back into the same thing. An over abundance of recruiters, an overload of candidates and just tech tech tech. It just does nothing for me. I think for tech, i can say i am just disenchanted with the space and burnt on it. I need something to challenge me again. Somehting where i know i am not the 50th recruiter calling that day... Does that make sense?

lisa rokusek said:

Business side in tech is great. Virtualization/storage/datacenter stuff is also hot. Look, its a crazy time for sure, but if your paycheck bounced, well....I'd leave as well.

If you want to talk offline I am happy to lend an ear. 314.409.5633 is my number.

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Permalink Reply by Jerry Albright on October 12, 2011 at 4:03pm

Howdy Gregg. We've spoken a few times at length - so I'll go ahead and play devil's advocate here. Only for the purpose of getting a variety of perspectives here.

So.....you have a "desire to find a small, tight little niche" that you could become an expert in? A small marketplace, less clients, less candidates, less competition.

Newsflash - we'd all love that.

Want to know what "does it" for me? Knowing I'm not going broke. Knowing I've got sendouts on the board. Knowing there a few companies have invoices from me floating around their A/P department right now. Knowing my family is OK. That's what does it for me.

It's work man. Plain and simple. People don't send checks to us just for nothing. It's tough. It's hard. It's work.

There is ABSOLUTELY no reason to have to join up with some guy who may (or may not) pay you until you've got some contractors going for him then give you the boot. Do your OWN THING. Cuz if you don't - wherever you go you'll be expected to do just that anyway.....

You DON'T NEED THAT.

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Permalink Reply by Brian Christopher on October 13, 2011 at 11:09am

START YOUR OWN FIRM

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Permalink Reply by Dayna Herndon on October 13, 2011 at 11:32am

Hey Greg (one g or two?) .

Listen, after reading your post, I tried to move on to something else - like checking my emails for the 3rd time this morning or calling back that person that isn't a fit for the job I just posted - but I came back to respond to you. I relate to you. I left my attorney placement practice 4 years ago to start a new media firm (before anyone knew what it was). Everyone thought I was nuts, and still thinks so because I have no desire to recruit. Outsiders do not understand why I would not want to work in an industry where I can make 20K/month. It is sad, I try to talk myself into it because I help people - but really, I help companies be picky. My network is still there, it wouldn't take much to revive it - but I've moved on - recruiting is boring. We're bored. Been there, done that, got a few T-shirts - time to move on..... to what? A new Challenge. Changing the way we do business in recruiting? Perhaps.... Video MPC's? Go-to-Meeting HD Recorded interviews for out of state candidates? Maybe.... will technology help passify the lack of interest? It helps me - but at the end of the day - I would rather help people who need and want jobs that have NO chance of being worth a fee. Non-profit recruiting using technology? That's an idea -- would companies chip in on a monthly membership for an experienced recruiter network that wants to help the world in need?

Maybe you're actually an entrepreneur, unrealized.

Who knows, it sounds to me like a new purpose may help you.... and a fresh start.....up. Ask... Where do I start? With whom do I partner? ...Once your team is in place, ask....who is our audience? Our first client?

Just Brainstorming...