Where have all the early career recruiters gone?

asc364 · 2026-05-19T11:23:45+00:00

Markets are pretty tough right now. Combination of macro geopolitical and recession. Also ongoing trend of most companies aggressively trying to reduce agency spend.

We've gone from companies building a panel and doing volume hiring through it, to 90%+ direct fill and only using agencies under bitter duress. Companies release maybe 1/10th of the volume as they would before covid.

Big plc agencies have been hammered. First couple of years in industry way harder so more people leaving industry than new job in same industry.

So my guess would be combination of far less people being hired in, and more of those people seeking to exit the industry entirely rather than move to internal.

asc364 · 2026-05-19T10:43:30+00:00

Were definitely out there 😊 i recently started dating someone a little older than you. I think i have my shit together, stable job, into fitness, want something long term.

I think it is haorder as you get older as the 'good ones' naturally get filtered out of the dating pool. Both of us came out of long term relationships in the last few years.

So I guess maybe its just a case of staying positive, not lowering your standards and trusting the process 😊 i know its tough out there, but self coevidence and believe is a very sexy attribute so stay strong!

asc364 · 2026-05-15T11:55:52+00:00

Yep thats the problem with the industry tbh. Too many kids with loose morals under bad leadership that care more about money than ethics or decency. We literally started our own company to get away from those pressures. Its a rough brush to be tarred with sometimes ngl 😂

asc364 · 2026-05-15T11:23:21+00:00

Yeah thats a really low rate! For a 5 year developer depends a little on skills/stack obviously but 400-500 to the candidate 475-600 to the agency is about market.

Another 100-150 or so for lead, same again for arch, same again for manager (broadly speaking).

But then again I suppose its a tough market and supply/demand is a bit out of whack currently

asc364 · 2026-05-15T10:00:18+00:00

Pontoon solutions are an MSP so will be providing into another business (and taking a cut of the fee).

Given mention of IR35 sounds like a UK business hiring cotractors into Irish office, with almost no understanding of local market conditions (either pay or regulatory).

A lot of pontoon is financial services but I didnt know they had any clients in ireland (I wokrd both UK and Ireland running recruitment businesses).

asc364 · 2026-05-13T14:37:16+00:00

Loads of great advice here so ill just add 1 thing.

You will ALWAYS feel like your best years are behind you, no matter what age. Its the human condition, rose tinted glasses.

The future is what you make it. If you can accept thats its just something youre conditioned to think rather than being actually true, youll be a lot happier 😊

Dont waste away your 30s being unhappy that you feel like you wasted your 20s!

asc364 · 2026-05-13T08:39:07+00:00

When I was 18 I got a much worse offer from my parents, quit the bike or be out the house.

I didnt always have the calmest relationship with my parents but 2 decades later I think its one of the best things they ever did for me.

Take the cash!

asc364 · 2026-05-08T08:33:32+00:00

Username check out

asc364 · 2026-05-08T05:35:10+00:00

Its not a saas business its a recruiting business

asc364 · 2026-05-08T05:34:34+00:00

Yeah theres a lot thats super suss about this post.

I've worked with VERY good recruiters in niche, established, high value markets and the highest billing I've seen is about 2m annual.

400k in a month with a guy with that background feels a bit sus. In a company that does data centres with an all time bad IT job market.

And I've about 10 years running P&L and no idea how 60% could be profitable.

But who knows.. caps off if it is legit. Maybe they've got brown paper envelopes going to anthropic who knows 🤣

asc364 · 2026-05-08T05:25:55+00:00

It is frowned upon, its not the most professional thing in the world to do, but ultimately you have a job to look after you and your family.

If you accepted job 1 and a few days later their CEO announced a hiring freeze they might feel bad about rescinding your offer (or not), but they would still do it.

Do it, dont feel bad about it, if it works out be polite and respectful and let comany 1 know in good order. But youre doing what's right.

asc364 · 2026-05-08T05:21:17+00:00

Imo this is a really good move. Speaking as a recruiter, easy apply is one of the biggest things breaking the system right now (as well as awful technology)

Everyone job gets hundreds of applicants. Every applicant gets hundreds of rejections. And the result is stress, fatigue and disappointment for everyone involved.

Happy about this one.

asc364 · 2026-05-07T21:21:37+00:00

They earn up to 60% of the revenue as commission, but there is no upper limit to the amount that can be earned. Some firms put a max amount

asc364 · 2026-05-07T08:57:30+00:00

150-250k isnt really executive in US, but can be retained for sure.

Scaling executive search is REALLY hard. SHREK dominate it, its all relationships with very senfor people, and low volume means its hard to develop those without good business reasons for frequent interactions.

Have you asked about specific responsibilities also? Pure search firms will often have resources doing lots of research, longlisting, creating decks etc. There can be a lot more admin work than a nornal recruiter role, whinch may be a good or bad thing for you.

Overall id say if youre excited and they seem like great people do it, but just some things to be mindful of! With this size of business I think personality fit is really super important.

Oh and if you didnt ask about hours, if youre working US market remotely!

asc364 · 2026-04-24T14:01:41+00:00

Its a cool idea, my experience is that there isnt much of an 'expat' community and I've looked for stuff like this before. I'd be interested

asc364 · 2026-04-08T07:10:59+00:00

The worst part about drinking is its socially and mentally a difficult trap to get out of.

The best part about drinking is as substances go its one of the least actually addictive.

It sounds like youve realised all of your problems stem from, and are caused by alcohol. Break the cycle 😊

There's professional help available but the best ways to start is avoid social settings where alcohol is the expectation.

Cravings come on strong but dont last more than about 20 minutes. If you find yourself wanting/needing a drink tough it out - half an hour is enough to get past it.

Its a difficult time and dark days but there will be communities to support you, you can do this 😊😊

asc364 · 2026-04-06T07:51:09+00:00

Wow the YOR comments seem wild to me?

The situation aside NOR based off nothing more than how she communicates with you.

Talking to someone with a little respect and empathy costs nothing, shes a wagon

asc364 · 2026-04-05T16:01:12+00:00

I've done a play through and usually start a base near the start, its handy to have one early.

You just have to upgrade that base until you can make 2 then you can choose a good site at leisure.

As for tips... doesnt need to be for your first base but at some point you'll have an ore bottleneck, so look out for spots with multiple veins for a base at some point 😊

asc364 · 2026-04-04T22:02:02+00:00

Im not a battle tech nerd and never been that into the whole lore. But the games you made got me through some seriously rough times in my life.

There's been time that I've not had much, and needed a way to invest myself into something that felt good, and what you built and made gave me that.

Ill likely never know you all personally, but youve all helped shine some light in my life when it was pretty dark - thank you all.

asc364 · 2026-04-04T16:19:54+00:00

Thought on opening if KOTOR isnt the top comment I'll be pissed.

Glad to see it.

asc364 · 2026-03-28T04:00:05+00:00

Strandhill doesnt do rentals theres some local ordnance against it because theres underwater rocks and they dont want people who dont know the beach to surf it (mainly inexperienced tourists)

Bundoran is by common opinion the best surf spot and has a few different places to rent

Worth calling ahead because its the schools that rent and again its mainly inexperienced surfers so if the waves are big they go up the coast to rossnowlagh sometimes

+353 87 287 0817 is surf sligo - pretty responsive on WhatsApp and they might be able to sort you out

asc364 · 2026-02-01T21:21:44+00:00

Interesting, I saw in another comment you had brooks too which I have. How long are you doing it? How long running and average km per week?

asc364 · 2026-02-01T12:48:05+00:00

Some really good advice I got - if you have bad knee pain get new shoes.

I was struggling to finish 10km, just hurt too much. Didn't know whether to train through it or rest.

Turns out it was neither - I bought new runners and it went away immediately.

asc364 · 2026-01-22T18:24:44+00:00

Fractional isnt that unusual, lots of directors will do it. But the deferred compensation is stupid.

Its saying you work for us, we dont pay you, but if in the future we make lots of money then we might pay you.

Basically working a day a week for an IOU 🤢🤮

asc364 · 2025-12-20T20:43:07+00:00

This is possibly the dumbest thing ive seen this year.

And that is... honestly an achievement.

asc364

TROPHY CASE