Placement Report
Result Placement
Days to Present Placed Candidate 119
Days to Placement 139
Total Candidates Presented 5
Total Candidates Interviewed by Client 4
Total Prospects DDI Spoke With 10
Lead Consultant

Ryan Feimer

Project Manager: Paper, Packaging and Printing

Company Description

Independently/Family-Owned Corrugated Sheet Plant

Job Title

Sales Support Specialist

How long was client searching prior to our involvement?

The client reached out to DDI immediately to execute on this search given this was a critical need and urgent to fill.

Did client have internal recruiting resources?

No, the client does not any formal internal recruiting resources. We started this search on a contingency basis and had been executing on it for almost 60 days. During that time we spoke with more than half of the known market and presented 3 candidates whom they spoke with 1. Ultimately, we were running into issues with commuting distance and also a limited source environment due to their internal relationships with other companies. We proposed an engagement payment to continue and to expand the search outside of the industry norm. This also allowed us to utilize more resources internally and kept it as a priority until we completion. Ultimately, we found the candidate within 20 days of starting the new search and they hired their candidate within 40 days.

Why was this a real problem for the client?

They were navigating the planned retirements of two long-tenured Sales Support Specialists, both of whom had extensive institutional knowledge and deep experience supporting the sales organization. As a result, the business identified a need not only to backfill those roles, but to bring in someone with enough experience, leadership capability, and business acumen to operate at a higher level. The goal was to hire an individual who could quickly step into the day-to-day responsibilities, maintain continuity for the sales team, and ultimately be developed into a management role when the current leader in that area retires as well. This approach allowed them to address both immediate operational needs and longer-term succession planning in a single hire.

How did this opportunity help the candidate?

The candidate expressed interest in making a change after experiencing significant cultural differences with their former company. Over time, it became clear that the organization’s values, leadership approach, and overall working environment were not well aligned with the candidate’s own professional expectations and work style. This misalignment impacted their ability to feel engaged and supported, ultimately prompting them to seek an opportunity with a culture that better emphasizes collaboration, respect, and long-term employee development. The candidate was specifically drawn to an organization where there is stronger alignment between stated values and day-to-day practices.