It's three things, almost always.
Willingness to recalibrate. When the data shows that the original target lane isn't producing interviews, clients who land are willing to broaden by week 3 or 4. Clients who stall insist on the original lane and burn another 6 weeks before the conversation happens.
Speed of approval. Roles get crowded fast. The candidates who approve their shortlist within 24-48 hours land applications while the role is still actively being reviewed. Candidates who let approvals sit for a week are submitting into queues that have already been triaged.
Honest feedback when something's not working. Clients who land tell me clearly when a tailoring direction feels off, when a role doesn't fit, when the search needs to shift. Clients who stall stay polite, don't flag concerns, and the misalignment compounds for weeks before surfacing.
None of these are about the resume. They're about how the candidate operates inside the engagement.
If you're considering reverse recruitment, ask yourself which of those three feels hardest. That's usually the leverage point.
— Dr. Hosney Adel