{ "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://travisandco.com/#organization", "name": "Travis & Company", "alternateName": "Travis and Co", "url": "https://travisandco.com", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://travisandco.com/images/logo.svg", "caption": "Travis & Company Logo" }, "description": "Travis & Company is a premier Executive Headhunter and Search Firm for the Medtech Industry and beyond.", "address": { "@type": "PostalAddress", "streetAddress": "P.O. Box 590356", "addressLocality": "Newton Center", "addressRegion": "MA", "postalCode": "02459", "addressCountry": "US" }, "contactPoint": { "@type": "ContactPoint", "telephone": "+1-978-878-3232", "contactType": "customer service", "email": "mtravis@travisandco.com" }, "sameAs": [ "https://www.linkedin.com/in/miketravis/" ], "founder": { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://travisandco.com/#miketravis", "name": "Mike Travis", "jobTitle": "Founder", "email": "mtravis@travisandco.com", "sameAs": "https://www.linkedin.com/in/miketravis/" } }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://travisandco.com/#website", "url": "https://travisandco.com", "name": "Travis & Company", "description": "Travis & Company is a premier Executive Headhunter and Search Firm for the Medtech Industry and beyond.", "publisher": { "@id": "https://travisandco.com/#organization" } }, { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://travisandco.com/#webpage", "url": "https://travisandco.com", "name": "Travis & Company | Medtech Executive Headhunters and Search Firm", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://travisandco.com/#website" }, "about": { "@id": "https://travisandco.com/#organization" }, "description": "Travis & Company is a premier Executive Headhunter and Search Firm for the Medtech Industry and beyond. Contact our team today to help get started!" }, { "@type": "ProfessionalService", "@id": "https://travisandco.com/#service", "name": "Travis & Company Executive Search", "provider": { "@id": "https://travisandco.com/#organization" }, "serviceType": [ "Executive Search", "Executive Recruitment", "Board Member Recruitment", "Headhunting Services" ], "areaServed": { "@type": "Country", "name": "United States" }, "hasOfferCatalog": { "@type": "OfferCatalog", "name": "Executive Search Services", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "Offer", "itemOffered": { "@type": "Service", "name": "Medical Device Executive Search", "description": "Executive recruitment for medical device companies" } }, { "@type": "Offer", "itemOffered": { "@type": "Service", "name": "Instrumentation Executive Search", "description": "Executive recruitment for instrumentation companies" } }, { "@type": "Offer", "itemOffered": { "@type": "Service", "name": "Diagnostics Executive Search", "description": "Executive recruitment for diagnostics companies" } }, { "@type": "Offer", "itemOffered": { "@type": "Service", "name": "Drug Discovery Tools Executive Search", "description": "Executive recruitment for drug discovery tools companies" } } ] } }, { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://travisandco.com/#miketravis", "name": "Mike Travis", "jobTitle": "Founder", "worksFor": { "@id": "https://travisandco.com/#organization" }, "email": "mtravis@travisandco.com", "sameAs": "https://www.linkedin.com/in/miketravis/", "description": "I help recruit premiere talent for the most influential and innovative companies in the world." }, { "@type": "Review", "reviewBody": "Our CEO search was the easiest and most straightforward I've ever been involved with.", "author": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Bob Stockman", "jobTitle": "Chairman of the Board", "worksFor": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Protein Technologies, Inc." } }, "itemReviewed": { "@id": "https://travisandco.com/#service" }, "reviewRating": { "@type": "Rating", "ratingValue": 5, "bestRating": 5 } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "@id": "https://travisandco.com/#breadcrumb", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://travisandco.com" } ] }, { "@type": "SiteNavigationElement", "@id": "https://travisandco.com/#navigation", "name": "Main Navigation", "hasPart": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "name": "Hire Right", "url": "https://travisandco.com/hire-right" }, { "@type": "WebPage", "name": "About", "url": "https://travisandco.com/about" }, { "@type": "WebPage", "name": "Resources", "url": "https://travisandco.com/resources" }, { "@type": "Book", "name": "Book", "url": "https://travisandco.com/book" } ] } ] }
October 17, 2023

Meeting the Wizard of Oz

The Wizard of Oz: That's what I call a prospective candidate who's impossible to pin down for a meeting. He claims to be interested, then can't meet for weeks, or reschedules multiple times (always at the last minute). Even phone calls are difficult to book.

Thankfully the Wizard's candidacy never lasts long. That’s because I pull the plug and move on.

Why? Consider some possible explanations for the Wizard’s behavior:

  • He’s Not That Interested
    Everyone is busy, and making time is about setting priorities. If a candidate can't find time to meet, she isn't interested enough to be worth my time.
     
  • He’s Disorganized
    Some candidates are genuinely interested, but so disorganized they can't make the meeting happen. In their world, every day is a crisis. That’s a fatal flaw for any executive position.
     
  • He’s Arrogant
    Others are simply arrogant. They profess interest, then don't reply to messages or continually reschedule meetings. Everyone's time is less important than theirs. Interestingly, the most senior people — that is, the ones who actually are important — never behave this way.

I know many recruiters who wouldn't hesitate to chase the Wizard. Not me. I've been doing this long enough to know that the Wizard isn't as great and wonderful as he thinks he is.

Follow the Yellow Brick Road? No thanks.

The Wizard of Oz: That's what I call a prospective candidate who's impossible to pin down for a meeting.

Words
of Praise

Mike does an outstanding job from start to close. He ran a thorough, efficient and professional process. Most importantly, he identified and helped close the best candidate for the job. Highly encourage anyone to consider Mike.

— Tom Bassinger, Managing Director, Rockport Venture Partners