The pandemic has made it absolutely clear that we are not “all in the same boat”. More accurately, all recruitment businesses have been through the same storm - but our ships are different. Many recruitment businesses I know had their best ever year in 2020, and have continued that growth in 2021....

I interviewed with a client last week to recruit internal staff for her recruitment business. I listened to four interviewees talk us through their successes. Every one of them, unsurprisingly, glossed over their biography as if the whole thing had been planned in detail from the day they joined...

One of the biggest fetishes in business is especially worshipped in the recruitment industry. A “never give up” mindset, the determination to “power through”, a value system that celebrates “grit” and dogged repetition. Some recruiters I know argue that this is more important than ever. I don’t...

In my last blog, I began to outline what you need to do to maximise your chances of success when entering a new market. Here is part two – you can get a refresher on part one here, or continue reading to for the final four points… This is a guide only, please seek professional help when entering a...

In one of my recent blogs, I referred to the VUCA environment (Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity and Ambiguity) in which most recruitment businesses now find themselves. In this world, agility is key. That may mean: Rapidly changing your proposition or product Finding new geographies Entering...

To adapt Jane Austen, it is a truth universally acknowledged that a recruitment leader must never, ever be a micromanager. Every time the phrase comes up, recruiters tend to shake their heads sagely and concur that micromanagement is a bad thing. But in the present situation particularly, perhaps...

A really interesting aspect of the current crisis is how, even in the recruitment industry, it has affected businesses so differently. Some are actually better off and experiencing increased demand. Some specialise in markets which are so candidate oriented, including international remote workers,...

This week I spoke to a client, a small business owner who prides himself on client relationships and understanding candidates. When we reviewed last month’s results, he explained that he had lost two of his expected fees after submitting CVs, when the client told him that the candidate was already...

I’ve spoken to a lot of small recruitment business owners over the years, working as a N.E.D. and advisor in the recruitment industry. As you’d expect, a lot of them are experiencing similar frustrations: “I know we offer a great service, but lots of employers just won’t give us a chance” “I want...

We all know recruitment is a competitive business. Winning business from clients is hard enough. But there are certain “habits” that are widespread – endemic, even- in the industry that are making it even harder. I’ve consulted with 14 “clients” (line managers and HR professionals who are targets...

College drop-out? Have you tried applying for a job online recently? It’s a dispiriting mix of anonymous adverts – and yes, I think some of those jobs are fake – and automated responses. Almost no adverts invite candidates to speak to the consultant involved. And this is happening at a time of...