The situation: A Performance Analytics specialist role was opened in a thin market. Partway through, the requirement shifted to Platform Analytics, a narrower, rarer skillset and the process hit two more snags: a candidate’s interview was cut short by a technical failure, and the leading candidate was placed on hold by the client mid-process. None of that moved the deadline.

What actually happened: No volume dump to compensate for the disruption — 3 candidates sourced, 2 submitted, both re-screened against the revised Platform Analytics brief instead of restarting the search from zero. When the lead candidate went on hold, daily contact kept them engaged and available rather than letting them accept another offer elsewhere. When the client reopened the process a week later, the candidate was still there and went on to two further stakeholder interview rounds.

Result: Offer made and accepted 27 days after the brief was received. Onboarding began the next day.