This has nothing to do with my dating trials and how they’re eerily similar to my recruiting trials but it’s blog-worthy.

Two offers/placements we were brokering this week fell through and it’s so frustrating because they both really should have come together.  Separate but equal, they both tell the same tale and, I hope, impresses upon parties on both sides of the desk just how crucial timing can be. 

Situation 1: Candidate receives a verbal offer Monday afternoon, and states at that time he really believes this is the move for him, but wants to see details in writing and if he can’t get a copy by Tuesday, he will be out of pocket until late Wednesday night and will formally respond Thursday.  Client delays sending offer letter and it doesn’t arrive before candidate is on a plane with colleagues and clients without persoonal email access.   Candidate returns home late Wednesday night, receives the offer, and asks via to have until Monday.  Both Client and Talent Zoo respond back no, that he had a firm Thursday response committment.  Candidate does not contact us until Friday morning, and then he has questions rather than a firm Yes.  Client rescinds offer and goes with our backup.  Candidate learned a hard lesson - he really, really wanted the job but didn’t believe there was a real timeline.

Situation 2: Client meets dream Candidate for very difficult position to fill, but asks Candidate back for 4 separate interviews occuring over 2 weeks, and must reschedule the final one to the 3rd week.   Candidate accepts offer from Competitor the morning the offer was being put together from Client.  Client’s President and Founder calls Candidate directly to sell the opportunity again and basically ask "What’s it going to take?"  Candidate sticks to her original committment and Client is back at square one.  Candidate admits if she had received their offer first she would likely have gone that way, but she couldn’t hold out any longer.

Life is a series of timing issues every minute of every day, professionally and personally.  Don’t squander time and never, ever underestimate its importance.