Firing Your Client

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There is lots of news these days of people being fired. It's not good. In fact, it's really not good at all but there is nothing more liberating as a third party recruiter when you get to fire a client. goes something like this.

Recruiter: I can't work with you under these conditions. You don't give feedback, you make terrible offers and I'm firing you.

Client: what do you mean you are firing us, I pay you!

Recruiter: Exactly, you're fired

Dedicated to my good friends Gary Fowler and Chuck Pearson who recently lost his battle. Both of these amazing recruiters taught me that firing clients is an important step in understanding really what it is and takes to be a great recruiter. Gary still does it all of the time.

Comment by Maren Hogan on December 11, 2008 at 12:16am: Tim Ferriss talks about this in the 4 Hour Work Week. I don't subscribe to every premise in that book, but this is a good one. Hard to do right now but still necessary and every recruiter will be happier for it in the long run. Can't wait to see what Jerry Albright has to say about this in the morning!

:)

Comment by Sally Raade on December 11, 2008 at 2:50am: Sometimes, you have to just let go of the stress and if the client is the stress..."Let it go..."

Comment by Dr Simon Harding on December 11, 2008 at 8:24am: Completely true !

Comment by Jerry Albright on December 11, 2008 at 8:37am: Sure. Firing clients is a requirement in our success. It gets deeper than the actual act, though. I'm having a hard time digging into that topic after following the link to JD's friend Chuck Pearson.

I didn't know Chuck but obviously Jason did. I'm sorry for the loss of your good friend JD.

So to put this in perspective just picture yourself knowing your time was drawing near. It is for all of us you know. Should we spend that time (in our work lives) keeping our fingers crossed in hopes of our client calling back?

Is our short time on this earth more valuable than to let a client agree to one thing - then do the exact opposite?

Are you spending your day working in PARTNERSHIP with your client...I sure hope so.

Is your next phone call going to be greeted with "Hey! Glad you called! We've got the offer put together and I'm sure it's gonna work!"

I will not allow myself to squander whatever precious time I have left on this earth with ANYONE who lies to me, makes plans to defraud me, uses my goodwill and returns nothing and/or all the other things clients (and candidates) do that simply bleed me of my time.

Time is all we've got. Spend it wisely.

Comment by Jenny DeVaughn on December 11, 2008 at 11:55am: Not all business is good business!

Comment by Christopher Poreda on December 11, 2008 at 3:19pm: I could not agree with this more!!! Set expectations upfront... I will send no more than 3 candidates. If they need to see more there is something I didn't ask or something they didn't tell me. I expect clients to meet all my candidates. If not, there is something I didn't ask or something they didn't tell me. I expect them to get back with me within 24 hours with feedback...and an emailed "not interested" does not qualify. Etc...etc....You would be amazed how many clients actually respond favorably to this approach.

As a contingency recruiter I work for free and for free...I'm not going to be stomped.