While I wouldn�??t say that the economy is particularly unbearable and horrible, 2008 has not been an easy year for those of us in the talent acquisition industry.  Sure, you might be making your numbers and all, but think of what you could be doing if things that are out of our control were different.  What if gas prices were lower?  Would your candidates be less likely to insist on working from home?  What if companies with historically good reputations were not struggling and laying off people in large amounts every other week?  Would your candidates be more likely to listen to that one opening you have in the one department that is hiring?  What if it was not an election year during this economic burdened period?  Would companies and candidates be less likely to hold off on opening more positions or leaving current positions for new opportunities?  It is hard to answer these questions, and only time will tell if today�??s economic temperature will have lasting effects on the next few years.

There are not many industries like ours that have to weather these types of storms.  A lot of our income and earning potential is based on our ability to place candidates in open positions.  With so many things out of our control, it is hard to pin exactly what we need to do to ride out even the mildest of storms.  Like I said, you can still be making your numbers, or perhaps even surpassing them, but what if�?�