Solo Recruiter Burnout - Looking for Advice
I've been running my own solo shop for over 5 years now. I do a mix of quant finance and tech, and even did a little construction during the tech slowdown in 2023. This year has been a slow start. I went all-in on a couple of searches for a client that I struck out on and I am getting a little tired of working alone and dealing with the swings. I'm also 40 with 2 kids, and my wife doesn't work, so the lack of benefits, etc., is wearing on me. My average billing is around $450k, but I had a couple of great years and a couple of bad years. Thinking about exploring working for more of an executive search firm like Korn Ferry, or even something more boutique but with an actual team. The cash upside of solo is nice, but when you factor in paying for insurance, no 401k, etc. the take-home takes a big hit. Has anyone been in the same position? Thoughts? Suggestions on firms I should explore? Don't be a baby and stick it out?