Excerpt from article originally posted on The BRAKE Report

In automotive recruitment, few sectors are as unique and challenging as the brake industry. Early in my career, I spent several years at Akebono Brake Corporation, where I learned about brake parts, manufacturing, and how to hire lots of talented people. But during my time there, one thing was clear: finding and recruiting top brake expertise was no easy task.

When my journey led me to a career in executive search in 2012, I decided to focus my efforts on the brake industry. I thought If I had a tough time finding the best brake talent in the industry, I was pretty sure other companies were, too. I also realized that from all my years working with recruiters as an HR professional, I rarely encountered one with deep brake industry knowledge and expertise. And so it began.

For the last 12+ years, I have met and worked with some of the industry’s best and brightest professionals and clients. From years of building Hagman Search, here are some observations and things I have learned along the way.

Cost Versus Value: The Eternal Tug-of-War

The first lesson I learned in this journey is the delicate balance between cost and value. Brake companies, constantly grappling with the need to stay profitable, often view recruiter fees with skepticism. It’s a tightrope walk, convincing them that the right talent is worth the investment. This challenge has been a masterclass in negotiation, teaching me the art of presenting a compelling case that aligns with their financial goals and vision.

Read full article here.