The other day, a recruiter told me, “The economy is why I’m struggling to win clients right now.”
I get it—when the news is full of doom and gloom, it’s easy to assume the economy is the root of all your problems. But let’s take a closer look, because here’s the uncomfortable truth: the economy probably isn’t what’s holding you back.
Here’s why:
Say only 10% of your target market even knows you exist. That might sound low, but let’s be real—have you made 10% of all placements in your industry, geography, or niche? If the answer is no, then the problem isn’t the economy—it’s that you’re not yet visible enough to feel its impact.
Let’s take it a step further.
If the market shrinks by 30%—a huge economic hit—you’re still operating in a space where 90% or more of your potential clients haven’t even heard of you yet. That’s a massive opportunity left on the table. And here’s the kicker: if you’re not actively working to grow your visibility, a market boom wouldn’t help you either.
The truth is, most recruitment businesses don’t have enough market presence to be affected by the economy. You’re not “big enough” for a recession or contracting market to be your biggest problem.
Here’s a quick reality check:
- If your entire client base consists of just a handful of companies, what happens when one of them stops hiring? Does it feel like the economy’s collapsed, or is it simply a sign that you need to diversify and reach more businesses?
- Are you building relationships with the 90% of the market who don’t know you yet, or are you waiting for roles to land in your lap?
Even in economic downturns, businesses are still hiring. Maybe they’re more selective, maybe the process takes longer, but the need for great talent doesn’t disappear. If you’re not winning those roles, it’s not because the market dried up—it’s because the decision-makers in your space aren’t thinking of you when they need help.
The real issue isn’t the size of the economy—it’s the size of your share.
So, let me ask you:
- What are you doing to expand your presence in the market?
- How are you positioning yourself as the recruiter businesses think of first when they need help?
- Are you reaching out to the 90% of companies who’ve never even heard of you?
The economy is out of your control. But your visibility? That’s 100% in your hands.
Recruiters fishing for clients
Picture this:
You’re standing at the edge of a lake, staring at the water, knowing there are fish in there. You’ve seen them jump, you can almost taste them, but… you don’t have a rod.
What do you do?
You might throw in some breadcrumbs, maybe wave your hands around, or even shout, “Come here, fishy!” But let’s be honest—that’s not going to fill your net.
Now, replace that lake with the recruitment market.
Your clients are out there. You know they are. But if you don’t have the right tools, strategies, and techniques, you’re left hoping they’ll just jump into your lap.
Spoiler alert: they won’t.
This reminds me of a Recruitment Business Owner I helped recently—let’s call him James.
James ran a small but ambitious recruitment business. He was great at filling roles once he had the job orders, but when it came to winning new clients, he was stuck. His strategy was to “wait it out” and hope his existing clients would magically send more work his way.
He’d send out cold emails, maybe make a few cold calls, but he didn’t have a system. No consistent way to generate leads. No clear approach to converting prospects into paying clients.
James was standing at the edge of the lake, watching the fish swim by. Frustrated.
But then, he decided enough was enough.
Thats where the Recruitment Client Machine came in…
Within months, things changed.
James went from relying on luck to landing high-value, retained clients consistently. He had a proven system to attract, engage, and convert prospects. Suddenly, he wasn’t just staring at the lake—he was fishing with the best bait rod money could buy.
And here’s the thing:
James isn’t special. He didn’t have any secret advantage. He just followed the process laid out in the Recruitment Client Machine book.
It’s a step-by-step guide to attracting paying clients into your Recruitment, Staffing, or Executive Search Business—every single month, like clockwork.
When it’s released, the retail price will be £21.00, but you can pre-order your copy today for just £6, with free delivery anywhere in the world.
Plus, when you pre-order, you’ll get instant free access to the Recruitment Client Machine Training Centre. That’s over 7+ hours of client attraction training designed specifically for Recruitment and Search Business Owners.
Breakthrough Year Hot-Seat Session One
Breakthrough Year Hot-Seat Session One
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