The one I met 9 years ago

This is a story about a candidate I met 9 years ago.

As a recruiter it’s very easy to be focused on the quick wins.

How many sales calls you can make that day, how many new candidates you can find, how many CVs you can send out, how many client visits you can book, the list goes on, then add to it what you can bill that week, month, quarter, it can be hard to consider the long term. If you can even bear to think about still being in the same recruitment job in a years’ time…

Have I mentioned before that life as a recruiter can be a little stressful?

I only need to cast my mind back to previous managers I’ve had before the back of my neck feels prickly. Some of them might as well have been fire breathing dragons standing over me what felt like all day asking:

“Have you got that offer over the line yet?”

“Have you got CV’ across for that job you took in this morning?”

“When are you taking me on your next client visit?”

“How many sales calls did you make today?”

“Will your offer be over the line by Friday?”

I’m trying my best, I’m trying my best” is all I can remember thinking whilst sending out the first of five interview confirmations on my list.

This is why you need to have the courage to play the long game:

If you can dare to imagine it, work every day like you’ll do this job forever, happily ever after (sorry, couldn’t help it!)

9 years ago, yes 9 years ago, I met a candidate for a coffee chat. They were a telecoms engineer at the time and I could see they had some good skills to offer. I’m not going to recount the conversation, but I remember the good feeling I had after we met, hopeful I’d find them something.

Last week while I was looking for an infrastructure specialist, they popped up in my search. Behold, they are now, believe it or not an infrastructure specialist; exactly what I am looking for!

9 Years.

It seems like a lifetime ago that we had that coffee, but good impressions must count for something.

I sent a message and the next day we were on a call together. Reminiscing about that coffee we had, sharing stories of how our careers had gone over the years.

It was like no time had passed at all.

They were indeed perfect for the role and that day their CV went in.

An interview was scheduled that week.

I became recruiter because I wanted to change people’s lives, in the same way the recruiter I met changed mine.

It might have taken me 9 years to (fingers crossed) change this candidate’s life but; even miracles take a little time.

Work every day like you’ll do this job forever. You just never know when yours; and the people you meet’s paths might cross over again.

Even if it takes 9 years.

To be continued……..

Fairytale Ending

I was so excited for my recruiter dreams to come true when I had scheduled the interview above for the candidate I met 9 years ago.

I had already imagined the celebrations and could almost taste the bubbles in the prosecco…..

But then…

The client changed their mind about the requirements of the job, convinced that they now only needed a 2nd line engineer this role was a no go.

Resilience and Determination

The news wasn’t what me or my candidate wanted to hear, but I was on a mission. I knew I would make a new job happen for them.

A few weeks later another role became available with a client that I have known for close to a decade.

The interview I arranged was more of a chat and then on a Friday afternoon I got the news I had been waiting for.

Peter (my candidate) had been offered the job!

It was an initial 6 month contract, outside of IR35 with lots of scope to get involved in other projects further down the line.

Peter was delighted and so was I. Nothing beats the rush of adrenaline when you get news like that, especially on a Friday.

Celebration

I met Peter and his wife this week to celebrate his new job.

We had the most wonderful time talking about everything from how he and his wife met, to skydiving and how much happier Peter felt in his new role.

Here are some words Peter has given me to share with you all:

Life is so much more relaxed and stress free. I can now enjoy my time outside of work, without stressing about work

Peter