Respect to Commission-Only Freelance Tech Recruiters

I was jogging outside earlier today and as I approached the 9th kilometer, I realized you guys are awesome!

And here are several reasons why:

1. You need to find candidates no matter what.

While internal talent acquisition specialists or corporate HR generalists often just post on job boards and wait for candidates to land in their ATS, you don't have the luxury.

The best IT candidates don't apply on job boards.

They don't respond to cold InMails.

That's why you go the extra mile and ask for referrals, email prospects from the left and right, and do whatever it takes to headhunt candidates who at least remotely look like a great fit.

2. You have nobody to hide behind.

If you don't deliver, you don't make placements.

While recruiters in larger teams can rely on specialized sourcers to find candidates, candidate ambassadors to book interviews, or account managers to negotiate with clients, you need to do it all.

Whether you want or not... you do it all.

You just do what needs to get done.

Execute. Move forward.

3. You are kind to clients even if they reject your candidates with no feedback.

Some clients don't respond.

Some clients take forever to interview candidates who you submitted.

Some clients reject candidates and don't provide any reason why.

You want to play loud the ABCDEF-U song...

But instead, you send them a kind thank you email.

Because you want to do business with them.

They have your money... you just need to submit candidates who are a better fit.

4. You learn new stuff without anyone pushing you to complete the lessons.

You don't need a learning coordinator to send you reminders that you should finalize the course.

You are your own boss and set the bar high.

Because you want to become a business advisor to hiring managers.

You want to be perceived as a professional career advisor to job seekers.

You want to become the best version of yourself.

5. You pay for training from your pocket.

No corporate budget.

No annual team training.

You take money out of your own pocket and invest the hard-earned cash in your future.

6. You write to prospective clients even if 95% of them do not respond.

There's no account manager to whom you could delegate this unpleasant task.

No executive assistant who does it for you.

You just open LinkedIn and message a dozen CTOs and IT managers... and hope someone will respond positively... finally.

7. You follow up with a candidate even if you know you'll not place this person anytime soon.

Recruiters in agencies don't care too much about the company brand because in 3 months they may work elsewhere.

But you build your own brand.

Your talent pool of candidates and future hires.

That's why you follow up even with those who are not the exact fit right now.

8. You handle rejection and keep moving forward.

Rejection is a part of your daily routine.

Whether it's a candidate not interested in a position or a client turning down a prospect you felt was perfect, you don't let it get you down.

You understand that each no brings you closer to a "Hell Yes!" and that resilience is key in this industry.

If you survive as a Freelance Tech Recruiter, you should be proud of yourself.

Your role is extremely CHALLENGING and very few people realize this.

But this job can also be incredibly rewarding.

You're not just filling positions. You are shaping careers, supporting families, and influencing the success of businesses.

Your dedication, resilience, and adaptability don't just make you good at what you do; they make you indispensable.

Your network of candidates which you worked so hard to build is your greatest asset and you'll monetize it sooner or later.

You're working harder than average corporate HR specialists.

Harder than internal talent acquisition specialists.

Harder than staffing agency recruiters.

You are the one who we are silently looking up to. 🙏

So keep up the great work, and remember that your efforts, though sometimes unseen, are making a significant difference.

Kudos to you and here's to your thriving career 🍷