Headache finding a role, post interview questions

Struggling to Land a Role: Seeking Post-Interview Advice

Hi everyone, I graduated from university about a year ago and have chosen to pursue a career in recruitment. I’ve been through several interviews and felt that I performed quite well, yet I haven’t secured a position yet.

I suspect the problem lies with my post-interview questions. I often find myself stumbling at this point, and the interview tends to take a downturn towards the end.

So far, I’ve been asking questions like: “What would it look like for me to exceed your expectations and targets within the first three months?” “What’s the company culture like, and what has been your experience working here?” and “Do you have any concerns regarding my CV or employment history?”

I can’t quite figure out why, but these questions don’t seem to wrap up the interview on a positive note and seem to make the interviewers a bit uneasy. I’m hoping to get some tips or recommendations (both general and specific) on how to improve my chances of landing a job.

I’ve been applying for both graduate and trainee roles, so I don’t think my lack of experience is the issue. I have a background in door-to-door sales and over five years of experience in customer-facing roles. It’s becoming increasingly frustrating to invest so much time in interviews without receiving any feedback from employers. Any insights would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!

AI tools for recruitment marketing

AI Tools for Recruitment Marketing
What recruitment marketing tools is your company currently using? Are there any AI tools on your radar? We’re not looking for CRM solutions since we already have that covered. I’m curious to see if there are any new options our organization should consider exploring.

The “peak boomer” retirement issues

Addressing the Retirement Wave of Baby Boomers

As I wrap up my 26th year in recruitment and headhunting, I’m reminded of the concerns we first discussed in the early 2000s. The impending retirement of the baby boomer generation poses a growing challenge in filling job vacancies left by these retiring individuals. This issue is set to escalate in the coming years, creating valuable opportunities for recruiters to secure higher engagement and placement fees.

The youngest baby boomers, who were born between 1946 and 1964, will reach the full retirement age of 67 by 2031. Notably, 2024 is projected to mark a historic milestone, with an anticipated 30.4 million Americans turning 65—making it the year with the highest number of individuals reaching retirement age in U.S. history. This group, often referred to as the “peak boomers,” represents the last cohort of this influential generation.

The mass retirement of baby boomers is poised to have a profound impact on businesses and talent acquisition strategies, leading to:

  • Labor shortages
  • Increased demand for new hires
  • Leadership voids
  • Elevated training and development requirements
  • Changes in workforce dynamics
  • Strains on Social Security and pension systems

By recognizing these dynamics, we can better position ourselves to navigate this crunch and capitalize on the evolving landscape of talent acquisition.

The pinned post of starting your firm is lacking some financial aspects. We discussed last year and I thought it could be of use.

The pinned post about starting your firm seems to overlook some important financial details. We discussed this last year, and I believe it would be helpful to revisit the topic. Here’s my breakdown of various budgets for establishing your business, categorized into three tiers:

  1. Shoestring Budget: Around $250 per month without an office.

  2. Solid Setup: Approximately $800 per month for a comprehensive suite of tools, plus $500-900 for office space.

  3. Premium Setup: A budget of $2,000-$4,000+ per month for a top-tier setup, plus $900-1400+ for an office and the possibility of hiring an assistant (virtual or part-time).

Breakdown of Costs

$250 +/- Setup (Assumes you already have a laptop/computer; if not, factor in an additional $500-800):

  • $79 for Sales Navigator (includes 100 InMail messages)
  • Free or $20 for Loxo or Manatal ATS/CRM
  • $50 for cell phone service
  • $50 for internet
  • $39 for SalesQL (email and phone lookup)
  • $20 per year for a GoDaddy domain/personal email
  • $50+ for cloud storage and miscellaneous expenses

$800 Setup:

  • $79 for Sales Navigator
  • $200 for a full premium Loxo subscription with all features
  • $29 for a phone service like Grasshopper
  • $100 for combined internet and cell phone
  • $200-$400 for higher-quality sourcing tools like Hirez, Seekout, or Chatterworks
  • $50-$100 for cloud storage and miscellaneous expenses
  • $20 for a simple website or Outlook 365 suite

$2,000-$4,000+ Setup:

  • $79-$140 for an enhanced Sales Navigator or $200-1,000 for Recruiter/Recruiter Lite
  • $200 for Loxo
  • $200 for a fully integrated office phone system
  • $800-$1,000 for ZoomInfo Premium
  • $100-$300 for cloud storage
  • $200 for training programs such as Next Level Exchange, Morgan Consulting, or similar
  • $20-$100+ for a website with job board integration
  • $200 for access to platforms like Monster, CareerBuilder, or Indeed

One-Time Costs (Depending on Your Budget):

  • New computer: $500-$2,000
  • 2-3 monitors: $300-$2,500
  • Keyboard and mouse: $100
  • Headset: $50-$500
  • Desk or stand-up desk: $100-$1,000+
  • Office chair: $50-$500
  • Miscellaneous office supplies: $100-$300

These estimates are based on 25 years of experience. When I launched my own firm in 2011, my total monthly expenses, including an office, came to about $600 (which included a cell phone, GoDaddy URL for email, Google Voice, Google Suite for cloud storage, and LinkedIn—back then, it was much easier to search). Nowadays, the costs typically range from $1,300 to $1,600 for the same setup, assuming an office lease at around $800, plus additional costs if I bring on a commission-based sourcer.

Updates to Consider (Since this information is a year old):

I would also recommend budgeting an additional $50-100 a month for note transcription services (like Metaview or Otter, which range from $20-$40) and for ChatGPT Pro ($20), supplemented by a virtual assistant like Merlin or MaxAI ($10-$30).

Linkedin Recruiter search method improvements?

Enhancing LinkedIn Recruiter Search Strategies

I’m currently working with my in-house team to boost our productivity with LinkedIn Recruiter searches, which play a significant role in our hiring—accounting for 70% of our placements.

Right now, I’m focusing on optimizing channels with higher response rates. We’ve examined various strategies, including sequenced campaigns (both built-in and via external tools), memes, tech stacks, informational PDFs about our company, and experimenting with different message lengths.

For our searches, we employ a structured approach that starts with highly specific criteria and gradually expands. Here’s a breakdown of our search tactics:

  • Role titles and their synonyms
  • Precise location for the role, with options extending outward
  • Keywords and related sub-sets, particularly for defining specific skills
  • Company size, relevant to culture and skill considerations
  • Target company lists of similar organizations
  • Lists of companies we’ve successfully hired from
  • Companies that resemble those we’ve hired from
  • Previous role titles of candidates transitioning into the current search position
  • Types of degrees
  • Target universities and relevant academic programs

I’d love to hear from you! What sourcing strategies are you implementing? What techniques or methods have you and your teams found effective for enhancing your LinkedIn searches and increasing response rates?

Job offer – private sector IT recruitment

Job Opportunity: Private Sector IT Recruitment

Hello! I’ve been working at my current agency, a major IT recruitment firm in the UK, for a couple of years now. My focus has been on developing a cold desk in the NHS sector, which has been quite challenging, to say the least.

At the moment, I have a basic salary of £30k, but I’ve struggled to close any deals recently, and the past six months have been particularly slow, leaving me without any new placements.

I have received an offer from another agency that is larger and more established. The new role consists of 50% managing existing clients and 50% focused on new business development. The IT team there appears to be performing well. However, they’ve offered me a basic salary of £26k, with the potential to earn around £38k OTE with bonuses, which could increase over time.

I’m in need of some advice. I’m hesitant to remain in a position where I’m not making placements and feel precarious about my current role. That said, a £30k salary is still a solid amount, and while the new opportunity could provide growth, access to actual clients, and a robust database, I’m concerned about accepting a lower starting salary.

Any insights or advice would be greatly appreciated!

UK – Registered Nurse Recruitment

UK – Registered Nurse Recruitment

Hello everyone,

I wanted to share that I’ve recently launched a Registered Nurse recruitment agency in the UK as a side venture while continuing my job in Tech Sales.

So far, I’ve made a few placements and I see the potential to earn even more if I commit to this full-time.

Now, I’m at a crossroads: should I leave my current job and dive into this venture full-time? Keep in mind, I have great medical benefits and a generous salary with on-target earnings from my tech position.

What are your thoughts on the current market? Do you think this kind of business is sustainable in the long run?

Looking forward to your insights!