Whenever I'm having one of those down days when I start feeling a bit despondent, be it that I can't find the right candidate for an important position, or that a star candidate has been turned down in favour of someone else, or just that stress starts creeping in, I have a little something that always manages to make me smile.

I phone my placements.

There is nothing better than checking in with placements and hearing how much they are enjoying their new positions! A few weeks ago on one such 'down day' I called one of my placements only to hear that he is now getting to travel internationally, and that he is learning so many new skills. Hearing in his voice how much he was smiling as we spoke was enough to motivate me all over again and while we spoke I couldn't help but thinking back to the first time I met him...

He had been so nervous that he had stutterred almost uncontrollably, his tie had seemed to be choking him, he had wrung his hands as he spoke, and his cheeks had been red from nerves. But, after taking the time to speak with him, I'd slowly started to see that the stutter and nervous gestures we just that, a product of serious nerves! When I met him on a technical level, and asked him about the work he had been doing, passion for technology had overwridden the nerves and I started to see what a truly exceptional man he really was. His stutter had subsided and confidence rose. The more he spoke the more I felt that he would be an amazing match for my client! Before he went for his first interview I called him, he stutterred and fumbled his words for a few minutes, and I listened, and gave him time to speak, and by the time he went in for his interview he was speaking clearly and confidently.

He nailed the interview and was given an offer within a week. My client, who had been informed of the stutter, was blown away by how he had handled the interview and his skill for the position.

Now, speaking with him again, hearing his clear, confident, happy voice, with not a hint of a stutter (and apparently none for quite some time) I couldn't help but smile. It is an incredible feeling to see your candidates thriving!!!!

So, on those days when you feel really low, when recruitment seems to be a nightmare, check in with your placements.

Just a couple of minutes on the phone help you remember exactly why you are doing this, and remind you that this truly is one of the best jobs in the world...