As a recruiter, I deal with all kinds of clients. Some are decisive, clear, and efficient. Boring. Others…well, let’s just say they treat hiring like an elaborate game of “Guess What I Want Today?”
And I love them.
You see, most recruiters hate indecisive clients. They whine about wasted time, moving goalposts, and the frustration of redoing work. Not me. I embrace the chaos. Because for every time a client changes their mind, my hourly rate stays the same.
Meet My Favorite Type of Client
Let’s say I have a client in the media buying industry. Let’s call him “Bob the Indecisive.”
Bob reaches out to me, eager to find the perfect candidate.
Day 1:
“Idea, I need a media buyer with experience.”
No problem, Bob. I get to work, crafting job descriptions, sourcing candidates, reaching out. The meter is running.
Day 2:
“Actually, can we add search arbitrage to that? Super important.”
Sure, Bob. Deletes half the job description, rewrites it, finds new candidates. The meter is still running.
Day 3:
“Oh, and they should have programmatic experience.”
Great idea, Bob. More deletions. More rewriting. More sourcing.
Day 4:
“Can we also look for candidates with performance marketing backgrounds?”
Of course, Bob. Ctrl + A. Delete. Restart.
Day 5:
Okay, forget everything. I need a growth hacker instead.
Fantastic, Bob. Now, I finally have a real job to work with.
The Secret to Working Smarter, Not Harder
After a few experiences like this, I cracked the code. Clients like Bob don’t actually know what they need until Day 5. Which means anything I do before that? Pointless.
So now, when I recognize a Bob, I simply… don’t work for four days. I let him change his mind, tweak his criteria, and “find himself” in the job description. Meanwhile, my timesheet fills up.
Then, on Day 5, when Bob finally settles on a request, I pull a 12-hour sprint and get everything done in one day. And guess what? I get paid for all five.
Moral of the Story?
I adore clients who have no idea what they want. They think they’re running me in circles. But in reality, I’m just enjoying the ride, watching my billable hours rack up while they debate with themselves.
So, if you’re a client who changes their mind every day, don’t worry, I love working with you. Really, I do.
