Q: What did you do prior to becoming a recruiter?
A: Sales Manager
at a construction company
Q: Why did you decide to become a recruiter
and what year (xx, xx, xxxx) did you become a recruiter?
A: I think I started
on January 01, 1985
Q: Why did you become a recruiter?
A. I went to
SC / Minneapolis looking for a new job and I was told they couldn’t
place me because I already made more money than anyone in my industry. I
responded the reason I made that money was because I was very commission
oriented and most of my income was based on commissions and overrides. Without
telling me what he was up to he took me to meet his manager. The manager
and I talked for about an hour about hunting, etc., when he finally asked
me if I was interested in becoming a recruiter. I told him I couldn’t
answer that question as I didn’t really understand what a recruiter
did. He had me meet some of the “big hitters” at their office where
I tried to learn what they did and how they did it and what kind of incomes
they made. Well, being the egotistically driven guy that I was back then
I said to my wife that if they were making those dollars, I can make more.
It wasn’t as easy as I thought, but I did eventually do very well there.
One of the big keys was I could be home every night and still make the dollars
I needed.
Q: If you went out on your own as a recruiter what
prompted that decision?
A: A very bad
manager, otherwise I might still be there. I really enjoyed the people I
worked with. We had a great time (pranks, etc.) and we created one of the
top producing offices in the nation. Now I could never afford to go back
and I wouldn’t give up my home office.
Q: Who were your role models and are
you mentoring others now?
A: Bob Rystrom
and Rick Carlson were
my biggest mentors. I still have old friends call me from time to time that
want to brain storm a problem they are having with me. And Bob Rystrom sends
me a lost soul from time to time that needs a kick start.
Q: If you were asked what your job title is,
how would you respond?
A: Headhunter, executive
recruiter. And then I usually have to explain what I do.
Q: Is your primary job function sales
driven or recruiting driven?
A: Yes! A part
of what I love about this business is that you are always selling in all
directions, but if you don’t recruit top quality candidates it
won’t matter how good a salesman you are.
Q: Why did you join USRC and what prompts you to continue
to be a member?
A: Being on my own I missed
some of the camaraderie and I wanted to find a way to make doing splits easier.
Bob Rystrom and I and a bunch of recruiter friends were having lunch together
(a lunch that Bob organized) and we came up with the concept. The next thing
I know, Bob is making the concept a reality. Now I couldn’t afford to
not belong to USRC.
Comment: Bob specializes in placing technical sales/marketing and sales/marketing management talent
for electrical, electronic, factory automation, process controls, test &
measurement and other high tech industrial businesses. Bob's strongest
geographic focus is in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area, however he has extensive experience helping candidates/clients located throughout the USA
and Canada as well as some experience in Europe.
