A chain is only as strong as the weakest link. People who you have tasked to get the job done can only do so much without a team effort, mutual respect and co-operation. Many pieces to the puzzle and one size doesn’t fit all. Are we all “Reading From the Same Page?” or all are agendas conflicting? Do our times lines all add up? Are we “Between a Rock and a Hard Place?” Where am I going with all this?

Human Resources. Most of the time their portfolio not only includes staffing, they are involved in performance reviews, on boarding, terminations, benefits and a whole list of other tasks that come with the role. Just like Headhunters at times they are juggling many balls trying to keep everyone on the team happy. We all want to keep our jobs and get that big Christmas bonus!

HR gives us assignments to work on they are the Masters who play the tune to which I dance and a great relationship with HR is golden. Through reading various such as recruitingblogs.com and LinkedIn there is no doubt in my mind there is an epidemic out there in Headhunter land and it’s not pretty. What is this scourge on the land you ask? “Hurry up and Wait”

Hiring Manager needs a rolled filled yesterday, HR calls “Maurice drop everything we need this filled ASAP!” Why would the Hiring Manager come to HR if she didn’t have a need? Which in turn sets of the chain of events of enlisting a guy like me on the search? They know a fee is involved so it must be dire and off we go Headhunting up a storm. We work our magic get a few files out and then its “Crickets” We call HR and get the “Hiring Manager hasn’t gotten back to me yet” Sound familiar?

This is when everyone’s definition of “HOT JOB” varies greatly. The Manager needs the role to be filled ASAP, but her ASAP may be miles away from what my ASAP means. What is HR to do? They have done as asked provided the candidates and are in waiting mode. Trust me as a Headhunter there is no use calling them everyday for feedback. It puts them in an awkward position. Them being the conduit of information between us and the hiring manager, they have no info to give; none has come down the pipeline. No use  alienating them and making them  feel worse by hounding them.

The issue most of the time is the Hiring Managers priorities have changed and perhaps that has not been articulated to HR, hence the “Hurry up and wait” Syndrome. What do I usually do? I hedge my bets. I go right back to when I was 1st tasked with the search. I SEND ONE RESUME. Then I stop and wait to see what happens on their end. They come with feedback fast I’ll put more time into the assignment. Feedback is slow; I take my spear to a different jungle.

“Happy Hunting”