Staying in the Game Matters

Staying in the Game Matters

A Founder’s Perspective on Recruiting, Rejection, and Long-Term Relationships

One of the biggest lessons I have learned after more than 30 years in executive recruiting is this:

Business is rarely as final as people think it is.

At Tangent West, nearly 20% of our placements happen after a company has already told us they are not going to use us.

That surprises people when I say it out loud.

Sometimes a company decides to work with another recruiting firm. Sometimes they think they can handle the search internally. Sometimes they pause hiring altogether. Sometimes they simply move in another direction.

And yet, months later, we often receive the call.

Why?

Because hiring is fluid. Situations change constantly. The candidate they hired may not work out. The recruiting partner they selected may not deliver. Internal priorities shift. Leadership changes. Business pressures evolve. A role that seemed straightforward suddenly becomes far more difficult than expected.

This happens every single day in business.

The firms that survive — and the professionals who survive — understand this.

They stay in the game.

One of the most important things I have learned as a founder is that ego can quietly become one of the biggest obstacles to long-term success. Rejection can feel personal. Being told “no” can create the urge to walk away, shut down communication, or mentally close the door.

But the reality is, this is how business works.

Very few successful placements, partnerships, or business relationships follow a perfectly linear path. Most involve timing shifts, setbacks, reconsideration, changing priorities, and unexpected turns.

The people who continue showing up professionally through those moments are usually the ones who ultimately win.

That does not mean being pushy. It does not mean forcing relationships or refusing to accept an answer. It means maintaining professionalism, confidence, and consistency even when the immediate outcome is not what you hoped for.

At Tangent West, we have learned the value of staying connected.

We continue nurturing relationships. We continue checking in thoughtfully. We continue showing up with professionalism and value long after many others would have emotionally exited the conversation.

And many times, that is exactly why we eventually earn the business.

The same principle applies to candidates navigating their careers.

Not getting the offer does not always mean the opportunity is gone forever. Hiring decisions change. Counteroffers happen. Candidates turn positions down. New needs emerge inside organizations. Companies rethink what they actually need after a search concludes.

The professionals who stay gracious, connected, and visible are often the people who receive the second call.

Careers and businesses are rarely built in one perfect moment. They are built through consistency, resilience, emotional maturity, and long-term relationship management.

Sometimes success comes quickly.

Sometimes it comes after the original answer was “no.”

But if you allow rejection to remove you from the conversation too early, you may never be there when the real opportunity finally arrives.

Staying in the game matters

Cheryl Grimaldi
President/Founder 
Tangent West
cgrimaldi@tangentwest.com
970-390-0773 mobile
www.tangentwest.com