I was reading a great article from Harvard Business Review, written by Julia Milner, called Is Your Career Heading in the Right Direction? It was designed for professionals considering a job change, and it got me thinking… As recruiters, we’re always asking candidates about their goals, priorities, and experience, but how often do we encourage them to take a moment and reflect on whether they’re headed in the right direction overall in their careers?

Milner talks about a process she calls a “career detox,” where people pause to reassess their direction, values, and energy levels at work. Our candidates likely aren’t thinking this way, and if we can take them down this path, we’ll increase our rapport, credibility, and deepen the relationship. This is especially valuable the longer our recruiting cycle is. If it takes months (or more) to get traction in your industry, this should be a central talking point,

Here’s how you can apply Milner’s insights to your recruiting efforts:

1. “How are you doing in your career right now?”

We usually ask people how they’re doing when it comes to a project, deadline, or interview. But try asking candidates to reflect on their career overall. “When you think about your career over the past few months, how have you been feeling – energized, bored, overwhelmed? What’s been driving that?”

Encourage candidates to examine their emotional state and work patterns. As Milner notes, it’s not about being happy all the time but identifying patterns that might need change. This kind of reflection helps candidates recognize whether they’re in a rut or headed toward burnout, and it positions us as trusted advisors in their career journey.

2. Help Candidates Reflect on What’s Occupying Their Mind

Instead of asking generic questions about their job, ask candidates to dig a little deeper. Word track: “What’s been occupying most of your mental energy at work lately? Are you thinking about the right things or are you focused on distractions?”

When candidates start to explore what’s truly been taking up their mental bandwidth, it may reveal hidden frustrations with their current role or a deeper desire for a new challe