Have you ever, in the midst of life's chaos, suddenly realized that your life and goals are gradually deviating from the trajectory you worked so hard to create? I accompanied one such candidate during my journey as a Headhunter at Navigos Search. She used to be a Sales Director with 15 years of experience, holding important positions at many large companies in the manufacturing industry. A progressive environment and focusing on people are always her priorities.
So, how did that dream career journey go off track? How did Navigos Search and I help her find a new "landing"? Let me reveal more!
Before I approached her, she had experienced two tumultuous years during which she had to leave two companies due to cultural incompatibility. The new boss "scolds better than he sings," bluntly fires anyone who doesn't obey him, or employees spend hours talking about drama instead of working,... These all contradict the beliefs she wants to uphold in her job. She departed after numerous futile attempts to change, despite Headquarter's best efforts to keep her.
After listening to her story, I have more confidence in my decision to invite her to apply for the position of Market Development Director for the customer of Navigos Search - a multinational company in the manufacturing and cultural industry focused on openness and sustainable development. Although the income range for the post fell short of her expectations, the environment was exactly what she was looking for.
I have been with her throughout the application process, from the earliest steps to the final interview. I looked up and provided her with all the data I could find, including the company profile, Vietnamese BOD information, and the vision and expectations of the recruiter for this position, to enable her to be as prepared as possible before meeting the employer. I also shared with her the challenges and the career prospects for this role should she join the company.
Amazingly, her significant experience, appropriate mindset for the job, and diligence during the interview process have all combined to help her consistently outperform other candidates and be invited for the final interview rounds. Nevertheless, she and I still faced new challenges. It's a common joke that if anything is too simple, it's not the life of a headhunter.
The customer agrees to deliver the results within a week after the final interview. At the same time, she received a job offer from firm A, which paid 30% more. She gave this invitation a lot of contemplation. But with the principle of cultural compatibility and sustainable development, our customers are still her number 1 priority.
One week, two weeks, then three weeks passed, and the customer still did not have the final results as scheduled because they needed to interview other potential candidates. I'm perplexed. Although her success in this position is critical to me and Navigos Search, in the context of a difficult labor market and infrequent job opportunities for senior positions, I still suggested she accept the job offer at company A. I don't want her to lose the chance in her hands.
And you know, after nearly a month of waiting, our customers were completely conquered. The job offer letter was sent out with a salary exceeding the expected range for both of us! She thanked me and remarked that it was her first time working with a headhunter who was so eager.
On the contrary, she taught me a lot, not just because of her vision but also because of the "mindfulness" she showed during the interview and even after successfully completing the company's probationary period. A journey that ended ultimately with many good opportunities waiting ahead. I'm so happy to have "lived the journey" with her.
As a headhunter at Navigos Search, I always try to be "mindful" when helping people find rewarding careers. This difficult road is especially tough at each job change milestone. However, an excellent professional journey will be full of beautiful accomplishments if the candidate has strong confidence and is a committed recruiting consultant. This is the value that Navigos Search and I constantly strive to achieve.
Even if there are still many things to attempt, I want to say that I appreciate Navigos Search, the clients, the applicants, and myself for being patient and sincere. Thank you for reading the whole thing. I hope we never lose the concept of "mindfulness."
