‘AKA December Doldrums … as recruiting comes to near halt with candidates unwilling to interview until after the new year kicks in.’

You have to be kidding!! There is new businesses that need to be contacted and new candidates to be recruited to prepare for the first quarter of the year – regardless of what niche market one works within or broad marketbase a recruiter will work in.

In all the years I have been in the placement industry the month of December has always been a key factor in determining your following year’s profitability.

I can go back year, after year, after year, tell you how many recruiting calls were made by each recruiter and how many marketing calls were made by each recruiter. I can also tell after any completed training is done in the second quarter I may have done who is going to be working for my company or the former one I worked for the first quarter of the following year based on those numbers.

The most successful recruiters will make 25 QUALITY phone calls a day attempting to either find new client companies, broaden existing client development (working with another department of a company that is already a client) or recruit candidates. Those that didn’t make close to 25 calls per day never were able to fully develop marketing territories or develop candidate relationships. Most of what I have referred to is good old-fashioned cold calling, and that job never comes to a ‘near halt’ unless we get lazy.

Of course, the established recruiter is going to have to do additional work such as reference checks, employment verification, maybe do some interview follow-up and hopefully some relocation, salary and/or benefit negotiations.

My point is, no one has an excuse to take off for December and claiming candidates will not interview because a good recruiter never REALLY has an empty calendar.

I find it odd how recruiters are the biggest boasters for what is often such little money when compared to other industries and ‘real’ businesses earning tens of millions or hundreds of millions annually. We sure know how to use our megaphonic mouths more than any other business profession (just a statement not about you specifically as I have fallen victim to this syndrome as well).

I know of a friend who recently made $11 million in one real estate transaction. Yet was so quiet about it I did not know until I discovered the deal in the newspaper as he never said ‘beep’ during many conversations with him. Just imagine a recruiter handling such an immense transaction with the same humble humility!?

FAT CHANCE.

It’s not part of their (our)personality make up as like the guys over at Spencer or Heidrick we’d want to call Newsweek and have it on the front page.

One sales individual called me two weeks ago to announce ‘I just donated $2,750.00 to the Katrina victims’. Why bother sharing this with me? What was the purpose of letting me know other than grandstanding? It’s just as tacky as a business card in a Holiday card.

Recruiters will often boast about earning $1.5 Million or so over what is often four, five or maybe even a six year period.

I wish everyone well regardless what line of work you are in … sincerely I do as I love hearing success stories … but let’s get real my posting did not invite hyperbole.

My comment about ‘Decemberus Doldrumunus’ was not a complaint but just that … a comment … more for the purpose of sharing a laugh with my friend Wendell Williams whom has had several conversations with me during the last few weeks.

We too had one of our best years ever.
So while the slow down is a welcome respit from the pace we endured all year … (even during blockbuster years month-to-month cycles are different for different industries) it is never necessarily something I ‘enjoy’ … Something that is necessary in order for me to be able to take my Holiday vacation with my family this year. If I accept assignements now I will be forced to work last weeks of December when I’m planning on getting away so it makes no sense.

So Cheers all and HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

I am looking forward to spening my vacation in beautiful Virginia this year … I’ll be back in 06.

(This info concerns Salespeople, so its appropriate).

Recently I did a ‘piece’ about each additional mile costing $120 per year wear & tear on the car based on the Federal allowable .485 per mile deduction, uncharacteristically upped (from .415) July 1st. I read recently it was effective Sept. 1st & the new rate for 2006 is .445 per, or about $110 a mile.

Cheers (i.e. Merry Christmas to whoever you are or believe, in a traditional Holiday spirit sort of way)
Jon

Are you serious?

December is our busiest month, gearing up for Q 1 I guess.

Jon

However, let’s also remember that societal relationships are based on stability…and (as a general trend) human behavior is both remarkably stable and slow to change.

About time something humorous made it across the forum here.

The laugh proved to be very timely as I’m currently suffering from:

Stucum Decemberus Doldrumunus

AKA December Doldrums … as recruiting comes to near halt with candidates unwilling to interview until after the new year kicks in.