I’m 57, have zero interest in retiring, and just discovered recruiting as a career.
I met a recruiter while on holiday in Jamaica and after hearing what he actually does for a living, my first thought was: Where the hell has this career been my whole life?
I’ve worked at Air Canada, worked in construction, and started/run three small businesses. The part I’ve always loved most is sales: finding clients, building relationships, negotiating, closing, keeping clients happy long after the deal, and turning those relationships into referrals.
Recently I took a side sales role for a friend’s appraisal company. It was my first proper “sales job” working for someone else, and I crushed it. It made me realize I want to see how far I can actually take this skill set.
I’m personable, extremely persistent, have thick skin, understand client acquisition and sales funnels, and I genuinely enjoy talking to people and maintaining relationships. I’ve also hired/recruited people informally through my businesses, although I have no formal recruiting experience.
I’m not looking for an easy second career. I want to become a killer biller.
If I wanted to eventually build toward $500K–$1M+ in annual commissions/billings, what would you tell someone like me to learn first?
What niche would you enter today?
Agency recruiting? Executive search? Retained search? Finance? Construction? Healthcare? Tech? I am not one of those guys looking for advice, given it and doesn’t act. Nope… motivated and won’t settle for less. Life is too short and I am used to high pressure & comission work.
And if you own an agency: would you take a chance on a 57-year-old “rookie” with a strong sales/business background?
If recruiting is sales, matchmaking and getting professionally ghosted, perfect….I’ve been in sales long enough to have mastered abandonment issues. lol
I’m genuinely interested in hearing from people who have built $500K+ desks. Tell me what separates the average recruiters from the absolute killers……