u/NotTomRipley

Just writing to get a better idea how everyone is running their desk (specifically UK recruiters)? I always feel like I'm just missing the mark, I get on the phone to candidates, I get on the phone to clients, I do all of this and still aren't billing good numbers and I'm not really sure what I can do to help change this? What are your daily KPI's? What's helped you become a better recruiter? Anything that clicked during your first year etc?

This objection will be the death of me. I don't know how to overcome it apart from agreeing. I've been getting this from the same people after multiple attempts (7th month now). I always do a quick recap from our last conversation and try and push on pain points but I can only do this so many times and I still get told they're not hiring and to call back next month.

I know usually it's true but I've had a couple where I've found they were hiring from candidates by which I reached back out to hear they've already hired or at final stages of interviewing. I know it's a consistency and patience game but just want to hear what's work for others?

Someone did tell me always follow up your call with an email or message and bring the following up down to 2 - 3 weeks.

I know it's different for everyone but roughly how long did it take you until you were billing over a 100k annually? I started in February and have only billed £24k, it was £30k until a drop out but from what I hear on podcast etc people are usually up and running from month 3 and in some places you can get sacked. Now that I've started my 7th month, how do you get it up and running so consistently? I do my cold calls with potential clients every month and get told to call back again next month but I still miss them. I just know I'm not a priority so how do I change that? Ultimately, I know the better service I offer, the more money will come later down the line but just now how do I do I get better at it?

I know it's different for everyone but roughly how long did it take you until you were billing over a 100k annually? I started in February and have only billed £24k, it was £30k until a drop out but from what I hear on podcast etc people are usually up and running from month 3 and in some places you can get sacked. Now that I've started my 7th month, how do you get it up and running so consistently? I do my cold calls with potential clients every month and get told to call back again next month but I still miss them. I just know I'm not a priority so how do I change that? Ultimately, I know the better service I offer, the more money will come later down the line but just now how do I do I get better at it?

I know it's different for everyone but roughly how long did it take you until you were billing over a 100k annually? I started in February and have only billed £24k, it was £30k until a drop out but from what I hear on podcast etc people are usually up and running from month 3 and in some places you can get sacked. Now that I've started my 7th month, how do you get it up and running so consistently? I do my cold calls with potential clients every month and get told to call back again next month but I still miss them. I just know I'm not a priority so how do I change that? Ultimately, I know the better service I offer, the more money will come later down the line but just now how do I do I get better at it?

I was speaking with a friend earlier today and they mentioned there's a pretty big shortage of control engineers across the US. Is it a nationwide shortage or does it just depend on the industry or region?

I do apologise in advance if this isn't relevant but I'm looking at moving to the US having worked in the UK for a good amount of time and was curious which places struggle the most with hiring engineers and which places are up and coming. I know I can search google for the most populated area for manufacturing but that doesn't necessarily mean they struggle to get engineers in. I'm multi skilled, electrical bias with experience in food and beverage industry and plastic moulding.

How did you go from £50k to £100k to £300k+ billing and what actually changed?

I'm curious to know whether your BD changed, or was it just more volume? Did anything just click? What did you stop doing once things picked up? Was there one thing that actually moved the needle more than anything else?

US recruiters, feel free to jump in too. I'd be interesting to see if it looks different over there.

Genuinely just trying to learn from people who've actually done it.

The ups and downs of running a recruitment agency in my first year have been a rollercoaster.

I started in October focusing on the UAE and KSA markets and what a disaster that turned out to be. Winning clients was the easy part but actually placing candidates was much harder than I expected. There was so much time-wasting that I decided to pull the plug in January and focus on the UK instead, where I have more control.

I landed my first UK client in February and made my first placement in April. Unfortunately, the candidate got sacked after two months, so I only received half the fee. Then I found out I'd been backdoored by another client and had to deal with that. Now I'm dealing with a candidate who's injured themselves after only a week in the role.

It's definitely been an eventful first year. Despite all the setbacks, I'm praying there's still plenty of time to turn things around and make it a success.

I'd be interested to hear from other agency owners or recruiters. What was your first year like? Did anyone else have this many bumps in the road?

Happy hunting.