Public Finance Blog

Every day is the same. You wake up, head to the office, talk to the same people, and do the same thing.  You feel the same way, but you just go through the motions because you don’t have a desire making change that’s going to really affect your life and those around you.

Is This You?

Do you ever feel this way?  If you do, is this the year you’re going to do something about it?  Or are you going to just “rinse and repeat”?  Why is it that way? Making change, as we have talked about over the years, is difficult, and you shouldn’t believe any person (even a recruiter) who tells you otherwise.  Making change, especially when it comes to your employment,  is even harder.  Why?  Because of that self-talk that says, “What if it’s not better?  What if I am not going to get what I have wanted all these years?” Or do you just respond with the limited belief that the grass is no greener there than it is here.  So you stay put.  This is exactly the position I find myself in while dealing with candidates over the years.  The first call, they are so excited to chat with me. We set that next call so we can do that personal deep dive into their background, and then… silence.

A Waste Or Not?

Sometimes, if I am lucky, I’ll have someone reach out to me and apologize for “taking my time, but right now I’m going to stay where I am at.”  The first thing that I do in those situations is respond with, “There is no need to apologize.”  Why?  Whether you end up making change or not, any time I can chat with a person about public finance, I am truly grateful.  I enjoy these conversations because I get to talk about public finance, and it lets me re-live my days of being a banker.  Please know that you’re never wasting my time, and I hope that you’ll get something from my call that you won’t feel like your time is wasted.  Talking together is the best thing we can do for your career, today or tomorrow.

Will It Ever Change?

Back to Groundhog Day: it does not have to be like that.  Making change is possible. You can make a move that will indeed change the career path that you’re on.  I am here to tell you that no two firms are alike.  What you might not find in one firm that is important for you, you can find at another firm.  However, you have to give yourself the opportunity to find out.  Having a conversation with a recruiter can do just that.  They will listen. If there’s a better fit for you, a good recruiter will help you…and if there’s not a fit, a great recruiter will tell you so.  Look for that top recruiter who will be honest with you and help you avoid that dreadful feeling of it being Groundhog Day again.

Conclusion

You don’t need a resume to chat with us! If you would like to discuss your options, please reach out for a confidential conversation at 760-477-1284 or email at harlan@hfriedmansearch.com. He can also be reached on LinkedIn. Harlan publishes a blog every Thursday here. Subscribe to our monthly newsletter here, which is a compilation of our weekly blogs, so you never miss one. We have also been mentioned in 2025’s Forbes, click HERE to read more.  

About Harlan Friedman, JD & Founding Member, H. Friedman Search LLC. Harlan is a thirty-year veteran Public Finance Banker turned recruiter who specializes in the placement of all levels Public Finance Bankers, Healthcare Bankers, Municipal Advisors, Compliance Officers, Issuers, and Bond Counsels.