This is a frustrating incident. I was 'headhunting' a manager for this Client. She specifically stated that her salary budget was to be capped at S$70,000 per annum. On the other hand, her specifications and experience requirements are ridiculously high that I did not think I could find a good candidate (at that salary).
I called the Client and verified the salary budget and was bluntly told: "Do not send me anybody whose expected salary is more than S$70,000." Ok, that was the Client's ultimatum. I had always learnt that the Client was always right and never to argue with the Client.
Searching for a candidate meeting those specifications and requirements and willing to accept that salary was almost impossible. I managed to find a couple of good candidates: good experience, stable career, good communications skills. I thought: "Great, another successful placement."
After the Client had interviewed the candidates, the feedback was that they were not good enough. I explained to the Client that with her salary budget, those candidates were the best in the market place. Guess what was the Client's rebuttal? I nearly fainted.
The Client told me that even though she had stated her salary budget, she could still pay more!
"No, you told me not to send you anybody whose expected salary was more than S$70,000," I explained.
"Even if I had told you that, I can still pay more if they are good," replied the Client.
I was caught in a lose-lose situation. Do you think the Client is always right???
Cheers,
The Singapore Headhunter
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