They say "Good things come to those who wait - but only the things left by those that hustle". Then there's a more modern day saying that "If is smells bad - it usually is bad".
The final chapter of my candidate "in waiting/start date 9 weeks out" post is now officially in the books,
and it goes down as one of the greatest train wrecks in the search business I have personally ever witnessed. Remember the epic train wreck scene in the 1993 version of The Fugitive starring Harrison Ford? It was sort of like that scene.
Let me reset the stage and take you back a couple of months (seems likes years at this point) to remind you of the scenario. The candidate's start date was nearly 90 days out from the offer/acceptance date so he could collect a much deserved bonus in late Q3 in his current job. Once the offer was made and accepted, the family relocation trip was scheduled and went over very well - as planned. The family found and bought a home - actually ahead of schedule. The candidate's wife had the opportunity to visit the schools in the area and this excited and enthusiastic couple had already selected the moving company. The stage was set for the family's big day.
Then last week, just before the final countdown was to begin... my client decided to push the candidate's start date out 4- 6 months. OUCH!
I could hear the train tracks buckle under my feet.
As it turned out the company was being aggressively targeted for an acquisition by one of their largest competitors and due to SEC rules under REG-FD, nobody at the company was allowed to share any of this information with me, or my star candidate. They informed my candidate about the delay and he immediately bailed. What an unbelievable end to a story that had so much potential. Oh well...
I am in the planning stages to have a priest visit my office next week with holy water. I have asked him to spend as much time as he needs to perform the complete and full blown exorcism.
My client called me last week and left several messages apologizing for what happened. I have not been able to return their call yet as I am currently out of the office and in an in-patient setting for therapy treatment. Unofficially, it's been diagnosed by healthcare professionals as "search-went-bad-shock syndrome".
Hey...that's the business we are in. Period. Regardless of how good you might think you are - circumstances beyond your control will come into play - and all of a sudden, this business will humble you... again.
OK, enough is enough. It's off to the next search assignment...and I can assure you this too will pass. Let me repeat what I have said many times here at FOT - God, I love this business!!!
Editor's Note - Tim Tolan is a partner at Sanford Rose Associates and specializes in Executive Search in Healthcare IT. He's a closer, and you really don't want to call him unless you're ready to bring out the bazooka to bag some big game...
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