Description

In this conversation, I catch up with Dandan Zhu, a recruitment business owner and coach and chat about the state of the recruitment industry in 2024 and the challenges many recruiters are facing. 

Dandan shares that 2023 was a difficult year for many recruiters, but 2024 is showing signs of improvement. She emphasizes the importance of both sales and delivery in recruitment and the need for recruiters to upskill in business development. 

Dandan also discusses the common struggles recruiters face in finding new clients and winning new business, such as not knowing how to effectively use most placeable candidates (MPCs) and lacking the confidence to ask for exclusivity or pitch retainers. 

She advises recruiters to go back to the basics and believe in themselves and their value. Dandan also shares her own journey of starting her own recruitment business and the challenges she faced along the way. 

Dandan reflects on the challenges and rewards of being an entrepreneur and business owner. She discusses the transition from being an employee to managing multiple income streams and businesses.

Dandan emphasizes the importance of enjoying the journey and finding personal fulfillment in addition to financial success. She shares her goals for the future, including creating coaching content, writing a new book, and building her real estate portfolio. Dandan encourages others to embrace their strengths and put themselves out there, while also acknowledging the difficulties and anxieties that come with entrepreneurship.

Takeaways

• 2023 was a difficult year for recruiters, but 2024 is showing signs of improvement.
• Recruiters need to upskill in business development and focus on both sales and delivery.
• Many recruiters struggle with effectively using most placeable candidates (MPCs) and lack the confidence to ask for exclusivity or pitch retainers.
• Recruiters should go back to the basics, believe in themselves and their value, and have a confident mindset.
• Starting a recruitment business comes with challenges, but it's important to stay vigilant and believe in the value you bring. Transitioning from being an employee to a business owner is challenging but rewarding.
• Success is not just about financial achievements, but also about personal fulfillment and enjoying the journey.
• Embracing your strengths and putting yourself out there is crucial for branding and success.
• Entrepreneurship comes with its own set of difficulties and anxieties, but it's important to keep going and find ways to manage stress.
• Setting goals and continuously learning and developing are key to professional growth and success

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Dandan Zhu
04:50 Challenges Faced by Recruiters
08:22 The Importance of Confidence in Recruitment
11:22 Mastering the Art of Cold Calling
13:56 Starting Out in Recruitment: Do's and Don'ts
22:32 Building a Successful Recruitment Business: Lessons Learned
25:33 Transitioning to Business Ownership
27:42 Achieving Work-Life Balance
29:55 New Skills as a Business Owner
31:48 Productivity and Personal Development
33:46 The Importance of Personal Branding
35:46 The Power of Content Creation
41:06 Shifting Priorities and Enjoying the Process
46:18 Looking Ahead: Future Goals and Expectations
48:09 Navigating Challenges and Prioritizing Well-being

Check out Dandan below:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/dandanzhu/

https://www.dandanzhu.com/