Stuck in the mid-career madness?

In this market it’s very easy to get stuck chasing your tail, trying to turn over whatever business you can find just to keep things moving.

That “mid-career no man’s land” is feeling it the most. If that’s you, it’s probably time to change the plan.

Method beats madness. High-quality work will outperform high volume with poor results every time.

A few ways to actually move the dial:

• Own the senior conversation
  Outsource admin, absolutely. But if you’re working on senior roles, your voice should be the first one clients and candidates hear. That’s where the relationships, referrals, and long-term value sit. If your researcher is doing it, you’re missing the point.

• Move up the chain
  Lift your work by 1 to 2 bandings. Start building relationships two levels above where you typically operate. Even if it doesn’t convert immediately, it strengthens your positioning and keeps you relevant to future hiring decisions.

• Create value beyond “I have a role”
  If your only reason to call someone is a job, you’re interchangeable.
  
  Some ideas that actually land:
  • Market mapping of competitor team structures
  • Insights on where talent is moving (and why)
  • Introductions between relevant people (without expecting a fee)
  • Succession or team design conversations
  • Interview / hiring process benchmarking
  • Honest feedback on how their brand is perceived in the market

• Get out from behind your screen
  Events, industry meetups, kids’ sports, school parents, all of it counts.
  People are far more open when there’s a human connection first.

• Do things before you’re asked
  Share insights. Make introductions. Offer observations.
  The best relationships are built before there’s a live role.

• Look after your internal network
  The people around you influence access to clients, meetings, opportunities.
  If they rate you, they’ll bring you in. If they don’t, you’ll stay on the sidelines.

A couple more that make a real difference:

• Be selective with your jobs
  Not every role is worth working. Choose roles where you can add real value. The more selective you are, the stronger your positioning becomes.

• Go deeper, not wider
  Fewer clients, better relationships. Understand their business properly, not just their hiring needs.

• Say no more often
  Step away from low-probability roles and difficult clients. It frees you up to focus on what actually converts.

At this stage, progress comes from being deliberate, commercially aware, and focused on the long term.