If you’re guilty of hiding behind LinkedIn, sending scouts, and secretly knowing you’re not doing enough to bring in the bucks – this one’s for you.

Here are 8 ways to short-circuit the slump and get back in your boss’s good graces:

1. Hit the Database
You’ve probably forgotten half the candidates in there – but they haven’t forgotten you. Many have grown into hiring roles since you last spoke. They’re a warm lead, and (gasp) might still have an actual phone number. Make the call. Worst they can say? “No.”

2. Core Hours
You’ll hate this one. But the top billers in the market? They carve out 2 hours a day – often after hours – for pure, uninterrupted sourcing. No distractions. Just pipeline-building. It’s boring. It’s the job. It works.

3. Get Out from Behind Your Desk
Coffee. Drinks. Events. Face-to-face still converts. People buy from people. You already know this. So JFDI.

4. Referrals Still Work
Placed someone good? Ask who they know -candidates and clients. It’s the warmest, fastest route to new business. Don’t do it occasionally. Do it daily.

5. Reverse Market Like It’s 2010
Stop waiting for a job to land in your inbox. Take a standout candidate, pick 5–10 target clients, and pitch them in. Don’t attach the CV – tease the value and build intrigue. Do this every day.

6. Pick Up the Damn Phone
You’re not building trust via InMail. Voice still cuts through. Aim for 10 solid conversations a day. You’ll surprise yourself.

7. Systemise Your Follow-Up
Post-interview is gold for market intel – if you ask the right questions. And let’s face it: clients and candidates miss messages. Have a clean, human follow-up process. No soulless automation. Authenticity always wins.

8. Post with Purpose
Your social content shouldn’t be a flex for your peers. Add value for your clients. Be seen for the right reasons – insight, credibility, consistency. Not ego.

Recruitment is still a contact sport.
You don’t need a new tech stack.
You need to reconnect with the graft.