Recruitment. Better to fail than be mediocre

You are a recruiter. Doesn’t matter where you work, or what you do. If you recruit, especially in an agency, you will end up with a future that looks like one of these three.

1: You are superb at it. You learn the skills, you earn the relationships. You enjoy high self-esteem, respect from your customers, and reap fun and money. Your job is exhilarating, and it feels like a vocation and a hobby, not work at all, because you tackle it with passion, believe in what you do, and are intrinsically happy to be placing people in work. That is recruiting nirvana.

2: You suck at it. You just don’t get it, or you work at a place where you will never get it. You suffer rejection, depression, humiliation and failure. You fight against the tide for a while, you even see flickers of success, but it’s a losing battle, and you end up hating every day. Soon you leave the industry entirely, shaking your head in disbelief that anyone could stick at such a relentless job. That’s unfortunate, you failed as a recruiter, but it is not the end of the world. You gave it a go, it was wrong for you… and maybe, now, you thrive at something else.

…and then there is the worse fate of all…

3: You are mediocre at it. A serial plodder. You don’t have the intuitive love of listening, understanding and making the match. You can’t connect with clients or candidates at a level that resonates with them. You don’t have the urgency, the negotiating skills, or the drive to actually make things happen. You are just good enough to keep your job, maybe, but the massive downs of this business are never cancelled out by the extreme highs. Because you just don’t get enough of them. A life of bad months followed by the odd average one.

And that fate, ladies and gentlemen… is career purgatory! If that  is where you are… get up… or get out!

Hear me on this. It is better to fail at this job… and get out… than be average… and stay.

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  • Posted by Greg Savage
  • On August 7, 2012
  • 10 Comments

10 Comments

Daniel X James
So very true when looking back at colleagues I have had who are killing it, not recruiting anymore...or miserable!! Well done putting it so plainly, Greg.
Team GB
Once again Greg you've absolutely nailed it. As a veteran with more than 20 years industry experience I've seen so many come and go I couldn't count them all! Recruitment is all about win or lose, there is no score draw. If you're not winning, get out. Simple.
Navid
I agree Greg, I think that almost everyone starts as a mediocre level and it is the realization of whether they are good at it or not which makes people stay or leave. The unfortunate factor is that the mediocre ones, due to their lack of care for their work, can burn clients and candidates and leave it up to others to pick up the pieces and put them back together.
Alan Allebone
When I got into recruitment 36 years ago, my boss in London said Allebone if you are still in it after 12 months then with my training you will make it. Guys that was 1976 I plan to retire when I am 70 in 2 years time. As soon as recruiters start blaming the recession, the shortage of candidates or the shotage of clients THEN they should go! Stop blaming the tools of their trade PEOPLE.! Nice one Greg, thank you again from an oldie! (BUT VERY HAPPY AND SUCCESSFUL OLDIE) .
    Greg Savage
    Don't retire Alan! The industry needs you! So does The Savage Truth. And last time I saw you , you were looking pretty fit, I have to say Best Greg
Julie
Well said Greg
Alan Allebone
Thank you very much Greg for the compliment! There is so much to do and finding the hours in the day is becoming more difficult. We must all have fun and enjoy what we do to make it work! NEVER QUIT! keep right on to th end of the day!
Aimee Bateman
Spot on! I'll never forget bringing one girl into my office and letting her go. She hugged me - thanked me for spotting that she wasn't cut out for the industry and was grateful that I had started the performance management process. She didn't have the guts to make the change and would have plodded along, doing the bare minimum for years and years. She is a very successful marketer in London now and we still keep in touch - she loves her new career. I have lots of examples of that. So many people come into our industry thinking they are going to work in 'HR' and expect it to be soft and fluffy and that they will spend all day helping people. Some have no idea how cut throat it can be! I think recruitment managers have a real responsibility to the mediocre consultants to not tolerate the 'bare minimum' and encourage the plodders to move on and find their true passion. One last thing - Alan Allebone....YOU ROCK!
Alan Allebone
Thank you very much Aimee!
Gita Lowe
Couldn't agree more. The industry does need people like Greg and Alan that will continue to give us reality of the situation as well as the encouragement to carry on. Alan, you can always give us words of wisdom whilst on 'retirement' :-) I made a late career change into Recruitment and have never looked back. Here's to my next 20 years in recruitment!

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