7 tips for walking away from a recruitment offer (the right way)

It’s the end of the year, and we are knee-deep in recruitment season. Agents new and seasoned, productive and struggling are typically hammered with recruitment calls and emails in the final quarter of the year. 

Agents should be aware that other brokerages will be out there offering different pay plans and perks from their current situation. It never hurts to explore other options and know what is out there. 

Remember that switching brokerages is about more than just splits and free snacks in the break room. You have to look at office culture, lead generation and tech stack. How much support does the brokerage provide? All of these are important to consider. 

If you’re happy where you are and don’t wish to explore other options, it can be hard to field the texts and keep saying no to offers of coffee or lunch with a competing broker. Here are seven steps to make that a little easier.

7 tips for walking away from a recruitment offer

1. Take it as a compliment

Take every attempt to reach out and recruit you as a compliment. Don’t respond with annoyance or anger. Someone has noticed you and wants to talk. They want to see if you are a good fit for their company or team. Maybe you are, or maybe you are not. Either way, it is an opportunity to explore your options if you are open to the discussion. 

2. Do respond

Some agents ignore the emails and texts, hoping they will just give up and go away. Most won’t. They have lists of real estate salespeople and send blanket texts and emails regularly. Some will have recruiters reach out by phone or may even call themselves. 

An invite to meet up in person for a quick bite to eat seems harmless but you know the real intent is to present you with their competitive advantage so you will switch. Ignoring their contact attempts won’t stop them from coming. So don’t ignore them. Deal with it up front and honestly.

3. Say thanks

Be professional and let them know you are grateful for the outreach. “Thanks for the invite but I am swamped right now and not available to meet in person.” Or “Thanks for thinking of me but I am not in the market for another brokerage right now.” 

4. Be brief

You don’t have to explain why you are busy or why you don’t want to leave your current broker. Giving the recruiter details about why you are happy where you are won’t help. Less is more here. If you speak to a broker or manager on the phone, keep the call polite but brief. “Thanks but I’m not interested right now,” is an adequate reply. You do not have to go into a long explanation.

5. Be professional

Always. In all your communications — with consumers and clients, other agents and recruiters. Be polite. Even if you think you would never consider moving to that broker’s company, keep it professional and to the point. Don’t ramble or give the recruiter an earful on why you would never join their firm. Keep the tone friendly but firm. 

6. Keep the door open

Offer to stay in touch with the recruiter. Even if you’re not looking to move brokerages right now, you never know what can happen in the future. Your company could go through a merger, and you might decide to leave. Your company could have a management shake-up, and you and the new staff might not see eye-to-eye. Things change. Don’t slam the door.

7. Reflect and reach out

If the recruiter’s call brought up a few pain points for you, use this to reflect on where you are in your career and what you are looking for. What are your next steps? Where do you want to be in three to five years? If you have not gone over goals and your career path recently with your current broker or manager, make an appointment to see them in person. 

Maybe there is something missing in your firm that you want to address with leadership. How can the company better meet your needs? What guidance and tools do you need that they can provide? 

Reach out to have an honest conversation with your broker to let them know what you are thinking. Ideally, they will step up to help you get where you want to be, and they will keep you not just satisfied but also happy and enthusiastic to be a part of your current brokerage.

If you received a recruitment call, don’t be annoyed. Be flattered. But also remember to be professional in all your communications, especially if you’re walking away from a recruitment offer. You never know what the future holds and what changes may be in store for your company or for yourself personally.