Climbing the Hill: Beating the Bad News Blues

Recruiting isn’t always sunshine and roses. But if you’ve spent a few years recruiting, you probably already know that.  Recruiters spend a lot of time looking like we have our ‘stuff’ together; looking the part. After all, it’s our job to be in control of situations; to know the right people and the right steps to landing someone a dream job. Recruiters are the ones who somehow transcend the barriers of HR, VMS portals and job applications. But sometimes, it’s a lot harder than we make it look.

At one time or another, every recruiter hits a rough patch. Sometimes it’s a matter of just not finding the right candidate.  Other times job orders get put on hold.  And still other times, fate steps in just to mess with you; the candidate shows up in a turquoise tuxedo for instance or a hiring manager inexplicably gets fired…you know the drill.  When the bad news starts piling up it’s easy to fall into a funk that can last weeks and kill your bottom line.  When you find yourself stuck in a nexus of bad news, losses and almosts, here are some surefire ways to snap the cycle and start winning again.

Shake it Off

Easier said than done, but ruminating on the lost placement or the blown deal will get you nowhere.  Worse than that, it will probably start to drain all of the positive out of your days. Whether we’re talking sports, recruiting or life in general, shaking off the hits is the only path to success.  Being a professional means looking at what went wrong, learning a lesson and moving on.  Once you spend more than 30 minutes on a deal gone bad, you’re wasting your time, energy and focus.

The worst thing anyone (in any business) can do is focus on the past.  Recruiting is a forward focused business. The question you need to be asking is always, ‘what’s next?’ It sums up the good and the bad in this profession, but it will always be your saving grace. Focusing on the next client, the next candidate, the next deal is a day to day survival technique for Recruiters; one that becomes enormously more important when the chips are down.  So keep your head up, decide where your next deal will be and get it done.

Put the Blinders On

Bad news and bad vibes aren’t always coming from within.  How many times have we heard the guy next door complaining about the bad clients, crappy job orders or a crashing economy? Or how about the one about their not being any good candidates out there?  Yeah, we’ve all heard it…a lot.  Putting the blinders on and ignoring the naysayers will see you succeed where they fail.  The constant flow of bad news and negativity will take a toll on anyone who listens…you can’t help it.  Negativity is draining; emotionally and professionally.  Identifying the complainers and keeping your distance is a quick and easy way to avoid falling into the cycle in the first place. If you’re already there, then stepping away from the nexus of negativity will put you in a better place and make you more productive.

Walk Away

Corporate managers look away….  Recruiters, if you’re having a bad day, week or even several weeks, walking away for a breather can be rejuvenating.  If you’re only battling through a day or two of pessimism and negativity then simply hopping in the car to take a drive or get a coffee will be a help. Separating yourself from the situation and taking a breather will help to clear your head and your heart.  And if you’re battling through a week (or even several)?  TAKE A VACATION!  Spinning your wheels, panicking or falling into a work depression isn’t going to fix the situation.  While I’m sure your management would tell you to stick with it and keep your nose to the grindstone, it’s simply unproductive.  Professional athletes are pulled from games when they’re having an off day and you’re no different.  Taking some time away to refresh your mind, gain some perspective and probably some much needed rest can save you a lot of frustration and pain.

There are lots of things that can drag you down at work, particularly a lack of placements.  But at the end of the day the most important thing to remember is that you’re not the only one.  Remember that every recruiter has been there. The real differentiator is how you deal with it.