Arthur Miller's "Death of a Salesman" playwright was about Willy Loman who chose the sales profession because he could earn more money. He was a good salesperson but later in his career, he faced all sorts of family and career challenges. Leaving family issues aside, recruiters who chose their profession in the late 1990's are facing their own serious career challenges.

Back in 1998, I stumbled across the recruiting profession. The money was great and the closures were easy. The recruiting model didnt require special skills. Resume searches/posting jobs on job boards; mass emailing subcontractors with job descriptions; waiting for resumes... The only challenge back then was delivering the candidate since they were being gobbled up by competitors because of high demand.

In 2004, I went backpacking across Europe for few years. I recently came back and tried to use the old model. I began to feel how Willy Loman felt. My methods weren't working. Linkedin, Facebook, Myspace, Twitter, Internet Search Operators, etc. have taken over my Monster and Dice model. Also, the demand for candidates had dramatically diminished. Before, I was like a "God" to subcontractors because I gave them direct client requirements. Now, I got the Willy Loman treatment - no call backs and careless attitude.

The recruiting profession is the oldest profession in the world. You might disagree with me on this but who do you think marketed the ....? So, I doubt it will end anytime soon. However, as recruiters, we need to change with the times. We need to acquire more skills and renovate ourselves. If we dont, just like Willy Loman, we will drive our car (career) into a wall.