From Rookie to Recruitment Manager: A Journey of Trust, Tenacity, and True Expertise

“Hey, how’s it going lately?” A booming greeting, brimming with infectious enthusiasm, echoes through KOS’s office. That’s Hans’s signature. He can earn anyone’s trust in minutes, radiating warmth and expertise.

Joining KOS in 2021, Hans was born in 1999 and was the youngest consultant on the team at the time. Everyone affectionately referred to him as the team’s ‘youngest brother’. From Assistant Consultant to Consultant, Senior Consultant, and now Recruitment Manager, Hans has sharpened his business instincts and honed his sourcing skills through performance highs, late-night doubts, and everything in between. Today, he can confidently say: “I put in the time and became a headhunter who truly knows the game.”

I.From “How” to “Why”: Some Paths You Have to Walk Alone

In the beginning, Hans was lost in the fog of “How do I do this?” and “Why does it matter?” He stressed over “what if I fail?” His biggest hurdle was earning genuine buy-in from clients and candidates.

This question has no standard answer. Only through repeated setbacks and practice can one find their own solution. He chose to dive in headfirst, contemplating “why” through action and reviewing “how” after each success or failure.

In 2024, he gained Gllue 2025 China Headhunting Awards – Rising Star. From blind execution to purposeful innovation, every step earned him respect from the team and the industry.

II. The Core of Becoming a Recruitment Manager: How to Achieve “Consistent Delivery”?

Moving from senior consultant to manager isn’t just a title upgrade. It’s a complete capability overhaul. Hans knew the new role hinged on one thing: consistent delivery.

In the headhunting industry, “consistent delivery” is no easy feat. It means sustained monthly output, backed by countless well-planned and executed lead times, and the efficient parallel execution of business development and search processes. Hans offers his own approach:

• Ultimate Responsiveness: Within 48 hours of receiving a requirement, submit the first batch of precisely matched resumes.

• Holistic Forecasting: Comprehensively predict position fulfillment cycles across client relationships, talent pools, and time investment.

• Client-First Mentality: Place client trust above all else and honor commitments with results.

III. Professional Focus: Navigating Industry Cycles with the “1+N” Approach

A headhunter’s career inevitably experiences industry fluctuations and performance variations. Hans recognized early on that one must remain grounded to “survive” while looking ahead to “go further.”

Through over four years of exploration and practice, he has gradually established “Cyber Security” and “FinTech” as his core “1,” building deep industry expertise and network advantages in these areas. Simultaneously, he maintains “N” flexible business touchpoints to stay attuned to market dynamics, ensuring business resilience amid uncertainty.

The strength of this strategy relies heavily on his team and platform. KOS’s FinTech team has accumulated extensive successful cases and talent databases, providing him with solid backend support. Meanwhile, KOS’s diverse client ecosystem spanning retail, real estate, and new energy gives true vitality to the “ONE KOS” philosophy. Amid industry tides, individual teams are not isolated islands. Through seamless collaboration, teams maximize resource and opportunity sharing.

IV. Expansion and Cultivation: Client Trust is the Deepest Moat

As his recruiting skills have matured, Hans has increasingly realized that the deepest moat comes from client trust.

Many long-standing clients have become loyal repeat customers due to satisfying collaboration experiences. Some candidates he successfully placed have even returned to seek his recruitment services after starting their own businesses. His growing portfolio of successful cases and continuously improving professional capabilities also enable him to win new clients’ favor with greater confidence.

Consistent delivery, specialization, and deep client cultivation: these three elements reinforce each other, collectively driving his performance toward stable and sustained growth. From the team’s youngest member to an independent manager, Hans’s journey has been a long practice of professionalism, character, and responsibility.

He knows the road ahead is still long. By staying true to his original aspirations, he will reach his ultimate destination.

For recruitment or job search needs, please contact Hans Xie at hans.xie@kos-intl.com