Remember that girl that you met a few weekends ago… the one that kept looking at you out of the corner of her eye? That really hot girl that if you were able to stand next to her for two minutes, people would look at you and ask, “What in the bloody hell is she doing with him?” You kept looking back at her and wondering, “is she checking me out, or do I have like the biggest piece of old hamburger stuck to the side of my face?” “No, I think she’s actually checking me out!” So, did you grow some kahunas, suck in your gut and actually go over and talk to her? Nope… you stood there and argued with your friends about how there was no way that a girl like that was paying the least bit of attention to you. You actually started to talk yourself out of it… you didn’t want the pressure… you didn’t want to have to have a conversation with someone so good-looking that she makes spit form in the corners of your mouth. Gross! So you stood there and stood there and then sat there and then stood up again… then you paced for a bit, then talked to your stupid friends some more. Then, you swallowed hard and started to walk over to her… only one problem Einstein… now she’s talking to some other guy. That’s right jackass, she has moved on to some d-bag that actually gave her the time of day. You lose sucko!

Time kills all deals! Just like you waited too long to go and talk the saucy Philly in the corner of the bar, often times my [tag]clients[/tag] wait too long to make an offer to a [tag]candidate[/tag] they really like. It’s not that they don’t have every intention of making said offer; it’s that the process is either too long or too jumbled to be able to get results in a timely manner. This is the #1 deal killer… and by a long shot baby! I would venture to guess that 75% of deals that I work on that don’t come to fruition are because of a far too lengthy process.

Some suggestions Lance? Sure thing buckaroo:

1) There should be no reason whatsoever for there to be longer than a week’s time between last interview and an offer letter. Even if you have other candidates to [tag]interview[/tag], you should at least have some idea of whether or not an offer is possible or if you’re planning on passing on the candidate.
2) There should never be more than three face-to-face interviews before an offer is extended. If you can’t get enough information from a candidate in three interviews then you need to seriously think about your interviewing skills or you’ve got a really messed up system for interviews.
3) There is no reason that my candidates should not have feedback for an interview within 24 hours (48 hours at the absolute maximum). No reason!
4) Lastly, if you’re not interested… well, you’re not interested. Letting a candidate hang around and wait for your decision while you have no intention of hiring them right now is just wrong. And, if you ever do decide that the candidate is a good fit down the road, their feelings will have been hurt and you have NO chance of getting them back.

Obviously, these are just a few suggestions. You have to understand that a sense of urgency is important. Without it, people get lazy… and no one wants to work for a lazy company… just like you don’t want lazy people working for you. I know you’re busy and blah blah blah. You have to make the time to get the really good ones in your door. And, if that’s too much for you to handle, just keep losing good candidates. I’m going to place them somewhere!

By the way, I’ve started listening to my Fall CDs now (yes I listen to different types of music according to the seasons) so beware. Typically my Fall discs run anywhere from The Indigo Girls to, what I listened to this morning on the way to work… SLIPKNOT! In case you don’t know who that is, look it up and listen to it. I dare you! I tend to get a little amped up when I listen to Metal in the morning… it makes me a little shaky… a little rambunctious… it makes me crazy! Treat my candidates poorly and face the wrath of a Slipknot-induced Lance! You really don’t want that.

On a second note, HAPPY HALLOWEEN ya pagans! Go out and gorge yourself on Sugar Daddys, Reese’s and Candy Corn. And, while we’re at it, who in the name of sweet fancy Moses enjoys Candy Corn? Seriously! It’s the vilest thing I’ve ever put in my mouth… and I’ve put some foul things in my mouth. I once poured Sawmill Gravy over spaghetti noodles! Please stop handing out Candy Corn! It’s just rude!

“By the pricking of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes”
Mr. Dark