11:45 – Q&A w/ Jim Ashburn and Tim LaBruyere
Edit
Kimmel veterans Jim Ashburn and Tim LaBruyere have a combined 67 years of experience and $25 million in career placements between them. In this week's 11:45, they shared their insights on maintaining success through decades of industry evolution.
Key Takeaways
Trust Your Gut and Build Real Connections:
- Follow your instincts on candidate fit: "If you don't like the candidate, don't present them!"
- Jim acknowledges that while relationships can change over time, focusing on the influential decision makers is always the best approach: "Sometimes you can get back to them and work with somebody you worked with years ago... but sometimes it fades away. The best thing is to find the person that can make it happen - that one person who can make it happen instead of a group of people, because then you're out of control."
- Remember that genuine relationships, built on mutual respect, lead to quality referrals - or as Tim puts it, "I'm lazy, I like referrals!"
Master the Art of Honest Communication:
- Share transparent feedback that helps candidates understand their market position
- Guide candidates toward practical solutions, even when they're not placement opportunities
- Build trust through candid conversations about market realities and career paths
Create Your Success Routine:
- Establish a consistent workspace that helps you perform at your best
- Show up ready to engage, even when motivation isn't at its peak
- Remember Tim's wisdom: "Put yourself in your seat - that's where the work happens"
Navigate Modern Challenges with Wisdom:
- Craft personalized outreach that demonstrates genuine interest and insight
- Address market realities head-on, like how mortgage rates affect relocation decisions for candidates
- Sustain success requires sustained persistence, even in the most challenging times. As Jim said:
"It's like being a person dehydrated crawling out in the desert. And I'm looking for an oasis. And when I get to the oasis, I have something to drink. And after that, I'm crawling out in the desert again."