Regrets, I've had a few.
David Stone
Chief Executive of MRL Consulting Group - the semiconductor recruitment company. Est. 1997.
But then again.....
LinkedIn was kind enough to remind me that today is the 20th anniversary of my joining MRL (Microscape, as she was) and helping get this magnificent machine moving.
So here's a photo of me from 20 years ago. Not much has changed*. Honest....
International tech recruitment has, however, seen a lot of change in the last 20 years. The advent and rise of the internet (remember recruitment life without that?!). Job boards. The rise of RPO and Internal Talent Acquisition teams. Monster, which was meant to kill us (where are they now, anyway?). LinkedIn, which was meant to kill us (nah, don't think so). And now AI, which some people think will kill us.... (Nope, it won't).
But some things have held true for 20 years. Grafting hard always pays dividends. Pick up the phone. Make things happen. Build and nurture relationships. Keep your promises. Maintain an ethical approach to business and be humble. Humility wins.
Some people have said I'd be a lot richer if I were harder and more brutal in the office. But you know what - I can sleep easy at night. I regret few, if any, of the tough decisions I've had to make in the last 2 decades. I don't always get it right, but I did my best. Tough times can call for tough decisions. Like I say to my kids before exams or sports day - just do your very best, every single time. Nobody can ask for more.
Life is good.
And there's plenty more to do, always more to do.
But, enough with the reminiscing already. Let's pick up the phones and do some good. Help companies hit their hiring objectives and become more successful. Help candidates land dream jobs and advance their careers. Celebrate success and learn from defeat. Graft hard and be humble. Have fun.
Let's go!
Here's to the next 20.
*the main thing to change from this photo is that the tiddler on my shoulders is now 21 and a 3rd year student at The University of Manchester. The apple of my eye. And, perhaps, I'm a little more rotund and less hairy. Apart from that, we're good. :)
(This article originally appeared as a LinkedIn status update, but due to the character limitation size constraints has been reproduced here in full)
Chief Executive Officer at Absolute Magazine
7 年Keepin’ it real David, as has always been your way. Respect for all you and your friends and colleagues have achieved through hi’s and low’s. It always started as an idea with friends remember. Its not always been about suits and glamour. Much of it comes from hard graft, determination and a strong relationship with friends and colleagues. We all started somewhere, somehow. Its about taking that leap of faith in yourself to take you to the next adventure in life, or for those that are only career focused, the next level.