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Episode Highlights:

  • Learn how Adam raised his average fees from £15,000 to £25,000 without losing clients
  • Discover the game-changing ‘Ronaldo Effect’ that helped him stop wearing all the hats in his business
  • Explore the exact metrics Adam tracks to ensure consistent monthly billings
  • Understand how two virtual team members revolutionised his candidate sourcing and business development

 

Episode Summary:

Ever wondered how a recruitment business owner broke free from the daily grind to double their revenue? Adam Bastick shares his journey from being stuck in a feast-or-famine cycle to building a thriving recruitment firm that’s on track to double its turnover in 2024. His story proves that you don’t need a large team or complex systems to transform your recruitment business – just the right approach and smart delegation.

Tune in to this week’s episode of The Recruitment CEO Podcast to hear Adam’s practical strategies for scaling your recruitment business whilst working less. Whether you’re a solo recruiter or leading a small team, this episode will show you exactly how to work smarter, not harder.

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                   Adam Bastick shares his journey from being stuck in a feast-or-famine cycle to building a thriving recruitment firm that's on track to double its turnover in 2024.

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Background and Business Overview

Description of Real Talk Group

Adam Bastick is the owner and director of Real Talk Group, a headhunting firm that specialises in recruiting top talent within the construction and engineering sectors. The company is known for its focused approach, connecting skilled professionals with organisations in these highly technical industries. Adam’s team works closely with both candidates and companies, facilitating placements that meet the unique demands of these fields. Real Talk Group has carved a niche for itself by understanding the intricacies of these industries and tailoring its recruitment strategies accordingly, ensuring a seamless match between talent and opportunity.

Through targeted recruitment efforts, Real Talk Group is able to meet these challenges head-on, matching the right candidates with the right companies. Adam’s deep understanding of these sectors ensures that both clients and candidates benefit from a highly informed and tailored approach to recruitment, driving successful outcomes for all parties involved.

Operating Primarily in Western Canada, Across the Country, and in the US

While Adam’s operations are rooted in Western Canada, Real Talk Group has grown to serve clients across the entire country and into the United States. Adam’s expertise and reputation have allowed him to expand beyond provincial borders, offering his recruitment services to a broader market. This geographic reach is particularly important in construction and engineering, where projects often span regions, and finding the right talent can be a cross-border endeavour. 

Adam’s ability to work within both Canadian and American markets speaks to his firm’s flexibility and the wide-ranging network it has developed over the years. Real Talk Group is equipped to navigate the different regulatory, cultural, and operational landscapes of these regions, ensuring that they remain competitive in both the Canadian and US markets.

Challenges Before Joining the Rockit Program

Initial Business Operations and Struggles

Before joining the Rockit program, Adam faced significant challenges in managing Real Talk Group. As a growing recruitment business, Adam found himself stretched thin, handling multiple aspects of the company without a clear framework to support efficient operations. He was responsible for candidate sourcing, business development, and every other function that came with running a headhunting firm. This lack of structure led to disorganisation, which stifled the potential growth of his business. Adam recognised that while his company had potential, it was hampered by the absence of a defined plan to move forward.

The struggle to manage the day-to-day demands often left Adam firefighting rather than building a sustainable strategy. He was eager to take his business to the next level but lacked the insight on how to effectively strategise and execute on this ambition. This resulted in a cycle where progress was limited, and the business plateaued rather than expanded. 

Handling Various Roles Within the Business

Adam was essentially running Real Talk Group as a solo operation, wearing many hats at once. He was not only the owner but also the person in charge of candidate sourcing, client development, and managing administrative tasks. This broad scope of responsibilities was overwhelming, especially as he was trying to grow the company. Adam’s involvement in every part of the business, while initially necessary, became a hindrance as he found himself bogged down by tasks that took him away from his core strengths.

This multitasking approach often led to inefficiencies, as Adam could not dedicate enough time to key areas such as client relationships and business growth. His talents, especially in the areas where he excelled—such as client delivery—were being diluted by the need to handle everything himself. As a result, his potential impact on the business was diminished, and Real Talk Group struggled to scale.

Lack of Strategy and Planning

One of the main hurdles Adam encountered before joining the Rockit program was a lack of strategic direction. Without a clear plan, his business operations were largely reactive, responding to immediate demands rather than being guided by a long-term vision. This absence of a structured plan meant that Adam was constantly dealing with short-term issues instead of building a roadmap for sustainable growth. He realised that while he had the passion and drive to succeed, these qualities alone were not enough without a strategic framework to channel them.

The lack of planning also affected the business’s ability to grow efficiently. Without defined goals and actionable steps, Adam found it difficult to measure progress or identify areas for improvement. His business was essentially functioning without a compass, which created uncertainty and limited its capacity to achieve breakthrough success.

Being Reactive Rather than Proactive

Adam’s operational approach was predominantly reactive. Much of his time was spent addressing problems as they arose, rather than putting systems in place to prevent issues or to streamline processes. Recruitment, particularly in the construction and engineering niches, often involves unexpected challenges, and Adam found himself constantly firefighting. His day-to-day activities were dictated by immediate tasks and urgent needs, leaving little room for proactive business development or strategic thinking.

This reactive model not only kept Adam in a cycle of short-term fixes but also created a sense of stagnation. While he was busy, the business itself wasn’t moving forward in a meaningful way. Adam was aware that to grow Real Talk Group, he needed to step back from the reactive approach and put strategies in place that would allow him to work on the business, rather than simply in it.

Discovering and Joining the Rockit Program

Hearing About the Program Through YouTube

Adam Bastick first came across the Rockit program while watching recruitment-related content on YouTube. Being someone who keeps a close eye on the recruitment industry, Adam regularly browsed various platforms to stay informed about the latest trends and tools in the field. One day, while exploring YouTube for insightful resources, he discovered the Rockit program. It immediately piqued his interest, offering strategies and insights that appeared relevant to the challenges he was facing in his business at the time.

The content on YouTube not only showcased success stories from other recruiters but also provided a glimpse into the structured approach the program took towards business growth. Adam, already feeling the strain of managing his firm single-handedly, saw the Rockit program as a potential solution that could help him scale Real Talk Group more efficiently and strategically.

Interest in Learning and Personal Development

Adam has always been driven by a desire to learn and grow, both personally and professionally. Over the past five years, he had developed a strong interest in personal development, consistently seeking out ways to improve his skills and knowledge. This commitment to self-improvement is what led him to explore new approaches to business and recruitment. The Rockit program aligned perfectly with his mindset, as it focused not just on tactical recruitment solutions, but on holistic growth for business owners.

His interest in personal development made him receptive to the ideas presented by the Rockit program. It provided him with a structured path to enhance his leadership abilities, delegate tasks effectively, and implement strategies that could significantly impact his business’s growth. For Adam, joining the Rockit program wasn’t just about improving his business—it was also an opportunity to grow as a business leader, enhancing his ability to make smarter, more informed decisions.

Changes Implemented After Joining the Rockit Program

Restructuring Business Operations

After joining the Rockit program, Adam Bastick made significant changes to how Real Talk Group operated. One of the most impactful shifts was the restructuring of his business, particularly in the way he handled day-to-day tasks. Adam realised that trying to manage every aspect of the business on his own was not sustainable, nor was it the most efficient way to grow. As a result, he began delegating key tasks to virtual assistants, allowing him to focus on higher-level functions where his skills were best utilised. 

This restructuring helped him move away from the all-encompassing 360-degree recruitment model he had been accustomed to. By assigning candidate sourcing and business development tasks to his virtual assistants, Adam could dedicate his time to building relationships with clients and candidates—areas where he truly excelled. This shift not only freed up his time but also allowed him to scale the business more effectively by focusing on his strengths.

Strategy and Tools

The Rockit program introduced Adam to a range of strategies and tools that transformed how he approached recruitment and business management. One of the key changes was learning how to implement structured, data-driven processes. Adam started to track and analyse critical business metrics, such as the number of candidate placements, interview-to-hire ratios, and other KPIs. By understanding these figures, he was able to make informed decisions that improved the overall efficiency and performance of Real Talk Group. 

In addition to strategy, Adam also began using tools to streamline operations, particularly in the areas of candidate outreach and lead generation. By leveraging these tools, Adam and his team could automate repetitive tasks, allowing them to focus on building stronger client relationships and closing more deals. The combination of strategic planning and the right tools created a framework for sustainable growth, positioning Real Talk Group for long-term success.

Outcomes of Implemented Strategies

Projecting to Double Last Year’s Revenue

Since implementing the strategies from the Rockit program, Adam Bastick has seen remarkable growth in Real Talk Group’s financial performance. The company experienced a 30% increase in revenue last year, and Adam is now on track to double that figure by the end of this year. By streamlining operations and delegating tasks, he has been able to increase the business’s capacity to take on more clients and make more placements. This revenue growth has been life-changing for Adam, not only boosting the profitability of his business but also reducing his stress and providing a clearer vision for the future.

This projected doubling of revenue highlights the transformative impact of focusing on the right strategies and implementing efficient processes. Adam’s ability to focus on client relationships and high-value tasks, while his virtual assistants handle the administrative work, has played a crucial role in scaling Real Talk Group. 

Average Fee Increases

Along with revenue growth, Adam has seen a substantial rise in the average fees his company charges. Previously, Real Talk Group’s average placement fee ranged between £15,000 and £18,000. However, through improved client relationships and expanding services, Adam has been able to increase the average fee to between £20,000 and £25,000. This rise in fees reflects both the enhanced value that Real Talk Group delivers to clients and Adam’s strategic focus on higher-margin placements.

By tapping into more lucrative projects and leveraging the expanded capacity of his team, Adam has positioned his business to attract larger contracts. This shift not only increases revenue per placement but also enhances the overall prestige and reputation of Real Talk Group within the industry.

Expansion into the US Market

One of the most significant outcomes of Adam’s strategic changes is the successful expansion of Real Talk Group into the US market. While the firm initially focused on Western Canada, the Rockit program’s strategies equipped Adam with the tools and confidence to explore opportunities south of the border. Working in the US has not only increased the firm’s reach but also led to higher fees, as the US market typically commands greater financial rewards for recruitment services in specialised sectors like construction and engineering.

This expansion into the US has opened up new avenues for growth, allowing Adam to work with a wider range of clients and take on more diverse projects. It has also enabled Real Talk Group to remain competitive in both Canada and the United States, positioning the firm as a key player in the North American recruitment landscape.