WHAT IF YOUR NEW JOB DOES NOT WORK OUT?

Since so much preparatory, pre-screening, time goes into each interview, it is very rare a candidate has a problem with his/her new job. However, once every other year or so, a problem will occur. In the rare event your new position through an executive recruiter does NOT work out...what should you do? Quit? Not show up?

No.

First call your recruiter and ask to speak with him/her "off the record" regarding the problem. In more than 60% of the cases where a problem occurs, it can usually be resolved right then and there by the recruiter discreetly intervening in whatever way is most appropriate. (In one case during 2001 a woman was hired while pregnant with the specific understanding there would be no overtime until she returned. Weeks after she started her new job she was working more overtime than before and was about to quit. When I intervened by placing a discreet call to the HR manager, it turned out it was a simple misunderstanding that cause the manager to fail to give her a part time assistant she needed to avoid overtime. It was taken care of and no resignation was required.

If the problem can’t be resolved, you owe it to your recruiter to at least work out a mutually acceptable "resignation process". This is important since your recruiting firm, depending on their contractual obligations with the client, could stand to refund thousands of dollars, should you resign within a designated guarantee period. These periods generally range from zero to 90 days. Financial damage to your recruiter can be prevented through proper resignation planning. Additionally, you maintain a valuable industry contact (a friendly recruiter), your professionalism remains intact by resigning with dignity, and the process becomes smoother by opening a conversation with your recruiter.

Not only are you working a proper exit out to help your recruiter, but this also works to your favor in reverse since your recruiter will now have every incentive to place you as a priority candidate and may be in the best position to help you again. Even if not directly, a good recruiter will be happy to help even indirectly by giving you more names, contacts of other recruiters.