I rarely ‘go to lunch’. But recently I did, with a group that included Geoff Morgan, the Founder of Morgan and Banks, and Talent2. We spoke about a lot that day, but one thing he said shook me and contains a lesson for all of us.
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Into Africa. A recruiting safari.
Today is the last day of the ‘relaxing’ part of my trip to South Africa, and I write to you from the magnificent Delaire Graff estate just outside Stellenbosch, in the Cape Wine lands. But tomorrow it’s D-day. Day one of the Savage Truth Tour of South Africa, kicking off in Cape Town with a 3-hour seminar.

Recruiters! Stand Proud!
Recruiters get terrible press and everyone has a ‘terrible recruiter’ story. Every day brings more abuse and increasingly, gleeful predictions of the demise of the recruiter. Well, enough!

Recruiters are liars and scumbags. Google says so.
My entire working life I have been in this industry, and I have taken my fair share of criticism for just uttering the phrase “I am a recruiter”. But now it seems ‘the great search engine in the sky’ is predefining us as liars, scumbags, idiots and worthless.

The Savage Truth gets even more Savage!
For several decades I have owned and run recruitment companies in Australia and elsewhere. In January this year I made a massive change to that situation. At the end of 2012 I sold my entire interest in Firebrand Talent Search, the global marketing and digital recruitment company that I founded with a like-minded group of [...]

Inside the mind of Australia’s best recruiter
Recently I was one of 4 judges asked to select “Australia’s Best Recruiter 2013”. The calibre was high, drawing responses from all over Australia and New Zealand. The judging panel interviewed a shortlist of 4, and Peter Murphy, from Davidson Recruitment in Brisbane, was selected as the worthy winner. Peter has an exceptional record in [...]
Greg Savage & The Savage Truth
Greg is the founder of leading recruitment companies Firebrand Talent Search, People2People and Recruitment Solutions. He is an established global leader of the recruitment industry and a regular keynote speaker worldwide. Greg provides specialised advice for Recruitment, Professional Services & Social Media companies.
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No, you are not ‘running late’, you are rude and selfish
June 7, 2010
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“God, I hate recruiters!”
March 2, 2011
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Sorry guys… women are better recruiters than men
December 6, 2011
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Being a recruiter rocks!
April 20, 2011
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Are you a LinkedIn liar?
March 27, 2012
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Suck it up princess. This is as good as it gets
May 14, 2013
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Into Africa. A recruiting safari.
May 6, 2013
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Recruiters! Stand Proud!
April 30, 2013
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Recruiters are liars and scumbags. Google says so.
April 16, 2013
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The Savage Truth gets even more Savage!
April 5, 2013
- nn: So true and what is most unfortunate is that most ...
- Tom: Funny reading this article as I am currently in a ...
- Tom: I couldn't agree more. Selfish is the best word f...
- Tom: Of course one can not generalise too much, but for...
- Diana: Very true article indeed! I'm in the same situati...
The Savage Truth – Categories
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Greg Savage – Feedback
The speaker I was most looking forward to was Rachel Botsman, and she certainly didn’t disappoint, but I have to admit it was Greg’s presentation I’ve been speaking about most to others this week. Perhaps the best use of social media I’ve seen anywhere – and I say that as a business coach who specialises in social media!Barry Thomas - Business Technology Coach, Altus
It amazes me that time and time again whenever we have Greg present, our delegates cannot ever get enough of him! They always want a repeat. No matter at what business level within our industry Greg presents to and no matter the theme, he consistently delivers a very powerful message that addresses the fundamentals of what we as individuals are about in business and how to succeed. To be able to capture that ‘spirit’ in people and channel it towards a common goal in the work place is done with genuine passion and a true belief that all things are possible. Greg’s own story and success is testament to that, with the added bonus of never being shy of sharing his own business highs and lows. His knowledge knows no bounds. From a conference organiser’s point of view, Greg listens to the brief, is keen to know his target audience and is very thorough with his research, submits his synopsis in a timely manner and is extremely professional and accommodating on the day in regard to AV, sound checks and scheduling. (as one would expect!)Claudia Gray - RCSA Learning Centre & Major Events Manager
Greg has been one of the best speakers for the Recruitment Industry that I’ve seen. He is passionate, innovative, and highly knowledgeable about where the future of our Recruitment Industry is heading – I aligned strongly to his thinking and ideas about clients, candidates and our own beautiful Recruitment Industry that he obviously loves so much! He is an icon in our space, and I always walk away from his presentations with some great ideas and inspiration to transform.RCSA Conference Delegate 2012
You have the ability to encourage people to explore new ways of doing business and how to engage effectively with people and staff at all levels. Your ideas and training sessions have been received extremely positively with our staff over the years. Through your training we have achieved the desired outcomes and built stronger relationships with our clients. Your executive coaching style is both engaging and empowering. When I have left your seminars I know I will have a better understanding of the challenges business face and how to understand and implement ways to improve and overcome future challenges.Paula Watts - Director, Law Staff (NZ) Limited
Greg's style, message and insights into a recruitment industry under pressure, are both confronting and inspiring. With passion, Greg pulls apart what we shrug off as 'candidate care', 'margin', 'business development' or 'tough times'. And he refuels the fire that industry leaders are using to drive growth, value and profitability into this new era of recruitment. NPA Worldwide is a cooperative of 400 specialist owner-managed recruitment businesses around the world. Greg Savage spoke at our Sydney NPA conference, attended by 100 agency owners and consultants from Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Asia and the US.Geoff Crews - Director, Forsythes Recruitment; and Director NPA Worldwide
Greg was the consummate professional who delivered exceptional content, customised to our local conditions, despite being on the road the length & breadth of SA for two sessions per day, three days out of four. I thoroughly enjoyed working with him in the lead up to the event and greatly appreciated his assistance in generating interest and support for the seminars via his extensive social media network. The feedback from our delegates was amazing and I’m confident that they will take Greg’s savage truths onboard in realising the need to step up their games and become talent magnets within the new reality of global talent management. Judging by the positive reaction, and the success of these events, I think APSO and Greg will be working together in the future!Natalie Singer - APSO Chief Operating Officer, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Following your seminar, I am writing to you to let you know that the month of implementing your Backwards Plan and points system (May) we broke a company record in billings. I just wanted to let you know that in June we broke that record again! We had a monster of a month! I am absolutely delighted with the difference this simple system has already made to my business and just wanted to thank you once again. I’m focusing on managing the growth we are experiencing now – it’s great to have even happier staff who are all reaping the benefits of the points system!Joanna Wilson - Director, The Ultimate Recruitment Company
I have great respect for your outstanding knowledge of the recruitment industry not only within Australia but globally. Your direct presentation style is insightful, entertaining and relevant; always adding value through addressing the fundamentals of what is essentially a simple business model which is often over complicated through a misunderstanding of how to adjust in times change.Peter Gleeson - Executive General Manager, Executive Recruitment, Chandler Macleod Group
Greg is a passionate, forthright, risk-taking commentator who is single handedly educating the recruitment industry to perform & be accountable. He would get the starring role as the “pistol whipper” should any cowboys mosey into his town. Greg Savage should be knighted for his work in this industry; he is demanding delivery of excellence, holding us accountable; elevating our standards and scaring off the pretenders. He’s teaching us to work diligently and intelligently to earn the respect of our clients; not just expect a fee for services.RCSA Conference Delegate 2010
Greg presented to my senior leadership team of business bankers at our half-yearly conference on the topic of “Driving Business Growth Through Exceptional Leadership”. He delivered an outstanding presentation that was rated by the attendees as the best of the conference. He was able to bring to life some simple yet effective insights on people leadership and exceptional customer practices from his 30 years in business and triggered much discussion for the remainder of the conference. A very valuable experience for all who attended.David Tonuri - State General Manager, National Australia Bank


