This story about Bob is an illustration of what you can expect if you choose to retain our services. Prospective clients need to hear it . . .because it really defines who we are and what we do best. It illustrates clearly one key difference between personnel agency work and 'authentic' headhunting.

We first contacted Bob by e-mail. We found his name, position and contact information on a web site available to our research department. Our client a city of 16,000 had given us the assignment to find a Director of Planning & Development. When I called Bob (who had an extensive planning background), he immediately labeled himself "happy". He said: "I am really flattered that you called me". "But I am really not interested in a move", he added.

The bottom line is that when we first contacted Bob he was happily employed…not even thinking of a job change. He had his head down with no thought of a move. So it's safe to say he wasn't looking at ads or postings on web sites because he was simply not in the market . . . that is until after his mind got opened by us. In contrast, cities that advertise often get a large assortment of unhappy unemployed candidates simply because they are the ones looking . . . all the people that didn't make it in the last town and the leftovers from other cities.

Bob thanked me several times for contacting him. He was quite gracious. The conversation was about to end when I pressed on engaging him in light conversation about planning and his town. Soon, I discovered that his aging mother, whom he visited as often as he could, was a resident in my client's city. "She is getting older", Bob said, "and needs me more now than she used to."

Here's my key point. It was only after I encouraged him to open his mind that Bob began to develop some interest. He started to see the possibilities

To make a long story short, he agreed to meet with my client. They interviewed him, liked him and offered him the job and all that happened within a couple of days (I barely had a chance to check his references).

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Please contact Ravenhill Group executive search and recruitment firm for more information.