Fire These Troublesome Staffing Clients
1. “You get paid when I get paid.”
No, that’s not really how this works. Except in cases of headhunting for an executive position, this shouldn’t be a client you hold on to. If you’ve run several successful staffing campaigns, filled multiple openings or provided preliminary screening sessions for someone ongoingly, it means they are happy with your service. And service should be paid for up front or in a very timely fashion. Don’t get caught up in waiting for the projects your hires are responsible for to “pan out” for the client.
2. “Do you have a reduced rate for startups/small businesses?”
Do you have lower expectations than my bigger clients? The answer is likely no. In fact, many startups and SMBs want a great deal for their dollar (which is shrewd), but that doesn’t mean it’s going to cost your agency less to fill their openings? Cultural fit, less traditional benefits and a post-recession cautious fervor could make it harder to staff for positions in smaller organizations, so unless you like the founder a lot, don’t discount.
3. “You don’t want to disappoint me.”
In staffing, there are a lot of disappointments. It takes time to find the right person or people and as I like to say, people are the ultimate variable. There is literally, no predicting what they will do. So to put that kind of pressure on a staffing firm shows that a) you motivate with fear and/or emotion or b) you have no idea how hiring works. Either way, that’s not a client you want in your stable. Collaboration is the name of the game here and you need it from prospective clients or you’ll be sorry you signed them.
4. “Anything you can do, I can do better.”
These clients don’t need you, but they hired you. At least they don’t think they need you. Seems like a dream client right? Wrong. In fact, these clients can be the most frustrating of all, because they won’t let you do your job but expect to pay less or not at all because of their interference. In the long run, they aren’t worth the hassle and will run you ragged.
5. “It’s not show friends, it’s show business.”
You don’t have to be friends with every client that walks through the door, but some potential clients have values that are so different from yours that it’s nightmare-ish to work with them. Whether it’s uncomfortable ethics, bad language, a culture you can’t understand or the way they treat their staff, if the sight of them makes your stomach clench, time to cut them loose.
6. “We’ll pay you in equity.”
Unless you have a knack for seeing a sure thing, don’t take this bet unless you have lots of free time. Not only will your work be valued less by any new business this brings in but unless you’ve got an iron-clad contract, these don’t usually hold water. And if you have an established agency, they aren’t going to want to run at a startup pace. Pass on this HUGE gamble.
Have you ever fired a client? Tell us about your experience in the comments!