Hiring – When It Pays to be Persistent

We were searching for a new head of research for Alberto Culver and met with a gentleman who had all the qualifications we were seeking. He was head of a research laboratory at another major consumer products company, and we felt his skills, personality, and experience would add tremendous value to our team. You can imagine my disappointment when he turned down what I felt was a great offer.

It took us several months to identify and interview another candidate who was qualified; we felt he would do an excellent job, but he wasn’t as strong as our first candidate. Before we made him an offer, I personally called the first candidate and asked him if he was truly happy in his current position. It turned out he was not 100% satisfied in his role and was delighted that I called him; he accepted our original offer on the spot.

This goes for other situations as well. It may be you are looking to hire a new nanny, housekeeper, contractor to renovate your home or business, or someone to operate the charitable organization you lead.  Sometimes it is well worth it to go back a second time and re-engage with your first choice.

The lesson learned: Don’t let your ego get in the way. People may turn you down for all sorts of reasons. If you truly want someone for your team or a project, how can it hurt to follow up a couple months later?