Sometimes going the extra mile to take that bit of business you had reservations about can do more damage than it’s worth.

Gut instinct is a powerful line of defence for recruiters, and one they should listen to, but sometimes recruiters are cornered into taking on a client or candidate against their better judgement.

Major clients are hard to say no to

When your back’s against a wall it’s difficult to refuse a major client because of the risk of losing valuable repeat business and the connections that come with it.

If the client’s not giving you enough time or information to realistically cement a deal, make sure they know where you stand before you take the burden on, and don’t be afraid to address the lack of detail.

It’s going to be a lot worse if you take on an undeliverable target only to let a client down.

Biting off more than you can chew

Ultimately you’re going to choke. Spreading yourself too thin by taking on more work than you can handle is going to upset people, regardless of how well you juggle and prioritise your time. Someone will not get the service they were looking for.

Reputation going down with a sinking ship

You said no, or you couldn’t provide what was asked of you and it damaged your credibility. Take note of what was asked and return at a later date when you have the suitable resources.

The business will likely have moved on but the gesture will sit well with your client or candidate and go some way to mending any bridges that may have been damaged.

You may also strike lucky and still be able to salvage a deal.

The golden candidate is a hoax

A perfect candidate that is a shoe-in to any role you send them to, can often be too good to be true.

Some candidates like to test the market by window shopping for roles but have no real inclination to leave their current situation.

This can be incredibly damaging to your agency as not only are you preventing other willing candidates from being placed, but any secondary candidate that does is going to pale in comparison.

About:

Calum is the Content & Marketing Executive for Sonovate, a disruptor to the banks, transforming the way recruitment agencies fund and manage contractors. Find similar recruitment content at www.sonovate.com/blog or follow @Calum551