5 Reasons to Walk Away from a Search, Even If the Fee Looks Great
Sep 23, 2025
Not every req is worth your time.
Even if the fee looks tempting, some roles are doomed before the search begins.
Here are five red flags that tell you it’s time to walk away:
1. The hiring manager can’t (or won’t) commit to a start date.
No timeline = no urgency = no close. Simple as that.
2. There are no serious consequences if the role goes unfilled.
If the business and hiring manager can operate just fine without this person, your search has no weight behind it.
3. The role’s already been run into the ground by other agencies.
And nothing has changed. Same JD, same expectations, same outcome waiting for you.
4. Something about the role makes it nearly impossible to fill.
Whether it’s location, comp, remote policy, or internal red tape, you know it won’t land the candidate your client actually wants.
5. Your intake meeting is just “Here’s the job description. Go for it.”
No partnership. No insight. No collaboration. If they’re not invested upfront, they won’t be invested later.
Here’s the truth:
You can always go find another req.
But you can’t get back the hours lost chasing roles that were never going to close, no matter how strong your candidates were.
Protect your time.
Walk away earlier.
And fill the roles that are actually fillable.
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