Author: Harlan Friedman

What Does The Team Approach Look Like? As many of you are aware, over the last couple of weeks I have been helping my wife recover from a spinal fusion.  Not an easy surgery to say the least, but she is doing great.  The surgery was on the 27th of...

This week we conclude the two-part series about what opportunistic hiring really entails.  We left off with the first interview being completed, now let’s address the conclusion of the process.  Once again, we will demonstrate the effectiveness of the opportunistic hiring process compared to traditional job hunting with or without...

I shared last week that hiring managers are being inundated with a plethora of unsolicited candidates for one reason or another.  With the advent of a reduction in force and disappointment in bonuses, it's no surprise that managers are being inundated with applications.  However, as I shared last week, our...

2023 is in full force now. Everyone is back from their long holiday retreats, and current hiring managers are being inundated with unsolicited calls by bankers that are now looking at reality - their actual bonus checks.  Most bankers at this time have either received their actual check or at...

Unfortunately, this week we laid my mother-in-law who lived to the ripe old age of 94 to rest.  She left a family of ten grandchildren, and as the designated two grandchildren got up to speak and share their thoughts about their loving grandmother Ethel, they decided to build a theme...

As we get ready to wind down the year, I want to offer a few final suggestions for 2023 regarding the significance of relational recruiters: To The Candidate: Do Not Hesitate To Reach Out To Relational Recruiters First, if you have ever started with a relational recruiter and you did...

Throughout the many years of these blogs, I have referred consistently to the term and world of opportunistic hiring.  In this week's blog, we are going to dive deep into the term and what it can mean for your future.  Not only are we going to talk about the term...

As the year winds down, more and more firms are deciding to trim their excess fat going into 2023 whereas other firms are trying to add to their personnel roster, now the need for recruiters is continuing to grow.  However, some people are reluctant to use the services of a...

Last week we discussed the cost of hiring the wrong person from the company’s perspective and how important that was.  In this week’s blog, we continue with the cost to the candidate of choosing the wrong new employment situation.  This is such a significant question and one that should not...

In this week’s blog, I want to address the technical area of the debrief.  This will only apply to those candidates that choose to use a recruiter.  The debrief is after the interview conversation where you share your interview with your recruiter.  Not only does a candidate have a debrief,...

Over the last couple of years, I have touched on what I deem as “secret sauce.” In today's blog, I am going to delve into it in great detail. By utilizing this one idea while interviewing for any position, you will be a much better candidate. When using the words...

As we wrap up this series, I cannot stop thinking about all the other questions that are asked of me during the year.  Yes, these are the top 10 questions, but more importantly, there are many more questions that each individual candidate or prospective candidate wants to be answered in...

Last week we discussed the benefits that a candidate would receive by working closely with a recruiter. We shared numerous reasons why a candidate should always be talking to a recruiter; the main one being that you never know what's going to happen, and you want to have that ongoing...

In the next two weeks, we are going to be a little bit self-serving, which I tend not to be.  Today we will discuss the benefits a candidate receives by engaging the service of a recruiter.  Next week we will look at why a company would also engage a recruiter...

It’s time to pose the question: Why it is so hard to say yes? You've had your interview, you know it's the right place to go, you've asked yourself the right questions, you know it's the right timing; and yet, you're reluctant to say yes. What is it that's holding...

Congratulations! You've now had the first interview with the hiring manager, you've done what's been suggested, and you’re ready to answer the question: Do I want to learn more? At this point you only have two choices “yes I do” or “no I don't.” This blog will share with you...

I want to share with you what I consider to be the most important question that you should ask yourself at the conclusion of your first interview. People will have many different thoughts as they start the interview process; however, I believe by asking this question you will be more...

As many of my loyal readers know, I like to share experiences that are prevalent in the week that occurred, but more importantly relevant to my readers. This week I was fortunate enough to get to collaborate with a candidate that I had not worked with for quite a while. ...

I want to address the whole issue of background checks. This will pertain to both public finance bankers, bond counsels, and other people outside of our cottage industry. Since we are dealing with money, assets, and fiduciary relationships, the background check that all the firms do is paramount for someone...

I truly believe that because of COVID all industries across the board have changed drastically. We used to be able to make a phone call to make an appointment and maybe wait on hold for a minute (maybe two at the most). Why now is it almost 25 to 45...

As I sat down today to write, I started thinking about all the people that I've worked with over the last 12 years. The one thing I would say to each candidate after they moved was, “This is not the end of our relationship but rather the beginning of our...

I must be honest with you; I've written about 150 of these blogs and sometimes the subject matter comes easily while other times it can take a while to percolate. This is one of those that had to percolate. The title itself may seem nonsensical at first. I can hear...

As a continuation of yesterday’s blog, let’s fast forward through the resignation process now that you know more communication daily is needed.  Regarding my daughter’s situation, they accept her resignation, and she gives her two weeks’ notice. As many of you know my dad passed away last week. My daughter’s...

Hopefully, this topic will be eye-opening for anyone who has employees working for them in a remote environment. It does not matter if you are leading a team of two or leading a team of 5,000. The information I want to share with you is extremely valuable. I usually write...

It’s never a perfect fit. Whether it's with your current firm or even potential next firm. A strange way to start a blog that's supposed to be optimistic and forward thinking, huh? If you've been a regular reader of mine, you know I tend to take the “high road” when...

As 2022 is unfolding there are a plethora of new opportunities being created. As I mentioned in a previous blog, now is the time to be in public finance. However, you must put aside your preconceived notions about the firm or management. It’s time to realize that the aging of...

In Part 1 of this series, we started to explore the relationship between candidates, clients, and recruiters. Now we are going to conclude by delving deeper into the type of recruiter that you would want to represent you, and the questions that you should ask to determine which potential recruiter...

Today we are going to address the issues of finding the right recruiter for you and how to deal effectively with them for your optimal results. On the face of it, this should be an extremely easy topic to address; however, it is much more complicated than you may think....

In my last few writings, I have been accentuating my process of opportunistic hiring and the benefits to both you (the candidate) as well as the hiring managers. It is the best of both worlds. But I do not want to be laborious. Now I want to share with you...

As I mentioned in my previous two blogs, this year is going to be a prolific year for both issuers as well as movement of both bond counsel and public finance professionals. Last year everyone was busy working on existing deals and figuring out how to work within this COVID...

I want to share another trend that I am becoming aware of way too often. I hope you do not see this blog as too self-serving, that is not the intent of it. It is to open both candidates and hiring managers perspectives. If you really believe that recruiters in...

Imagine my surprise when I checked my email and received the following message, “We are deeply sorry, but after 10 years of operation we have to shut down our fitness center.” At first this may not seem important or life changing; however, it’s difficult when you have developed a habit...

In the past we have discussed timing about when to make a move, but this blog is not about that at all.  Before I share the contents of today’s blog, I want to ask a question.  Have you watched the Lost Symbol on Amazon Prime? It’s the next portion of...

Recently I had the pleasure to be a guest on the Resilient Recruiter, a worldwide podcast for the recruiting industry.  In my episode I stressed the two most important areas that both the candidate and hiring manager want to feel good about.  When a recruiter works with a hiring manager...

What factors can become a concern for candidates considering making a move? As a continuation of the previous blog, I am going to jump into more concerns for candidates that have been shared with me, or I have heard about these from other recruiters in the industry (non-public finance). A...

When I'm working with a candidate that considers making any sort of change in their career, I try to put myself in their position. This is different from empathizing with somebody. This is allowing me to see what I am suggesting through their eyes. I believe this is one of...

It is time to discuss the bonus structure that firms are offering. This is a continuation from last week where we discussed the differences between bulge brackets and regionals.  I did not want to convey that bulge brackets have only one type of bonus structure that they offer, or on...

I want to address how you choose between two competing offers for public finance bankers.  Similar questions can be raised by our bond counsel candidates as well.  For example, the differences between a bulge bracket type firm or a regional based firm.  In a candidate driven market, which does exist...

Last week we looked at the junior banker and analyst and how they went about communicating with a recruiter about their current circumstances. The essence of the article was that for one reason or another they did not want to be honest with the recruiter and/or themselves. As we look...

Recently I have seen a new trend with junior bankers and analysts that may be surprising to you.  They are not admitting to themselves, or least of all to a recruiter, their true feelings about their current situation.  I am not sure what is causing this; whether it’s the lack...

The Candidate And The Company: What To Expect After The Initial Interview Process In this three-part series, last week we covered the initial contact, the resume, first call and the debrief.  We ended with the prospective employer asking for a business plan for those revenue producing bankers or bond counsels....

What does a qualified recruiter really do? The simple answer to that question is we get people hired.  Let us delve more into what that entails.  Most hiring managers think all we do is present a resume, sit back, and collect “fat checks”. Recently I was being interviewed for a...

When looking at trends recently, I have noticed one regarding what a “no” really means. Previously, a “no” meant that it is over, move on, or anything else that your mind may hear.  I grappled when choosing this as a message for a blog, but I felt as though it...

One of the trends that has changed drastically over the last three to five years is the reference check.  When I was first in the industry, it was the responsibility of myself as the recruiter of record to do all reference checking before a final offer would even be contemplated....

As many of my readers are aware, I look at trends that are occurring in the field of public finance and bond counsel recruiting. This current trend that I am seeing is not as applicable to the bond counsel world but is most definitely applicable to the world of public...

Continuing with the theme of new firms reaching out to us, I must share an observation that will shed some light on what opportunities really exist. When I talk to a potential candidate about a firm, I try hard not to share the name of the firm until I have...

As I started reviewing my previous blogs, I realized that all I frequently talk about are bankers and attorneys. The reason being that these are the professionals we are consistently representing. However, this week I saw a new trend occur. I saw firms reaching out to me looking for not...

Every conversation that I have with a prospective candidate or client I discuss the elements that make us are different from other recruiting firms.  During those daily conversations, I always reference the term opportunistic hiring. I also reference opportunistic hiring situations in many of my blogs.  Over the next two...