Publisher's Synopsis
Bored with his career, and searching for the right girl, Jeffrey Jaye, a 31-year-old engineer embarks on a new job as a professional recruiter in early 1989. His friend, Neal, convinces him to join his company, Responsive Services, where he joins a team consisting of five people including Nick, the top billing recruiter in the country, as well as Maddie and Kerri, two dynamic women and strong recruiters. The team is led by Josephine, "Jo", an energetic, no-nonsense leader, they love and respect.
Jeff learns quickly that having a sales job with no product involves a nuanced approach to working with both Clients and Candidates, as he watches and learns from his teams' successes and failures. Along the way, he interviews a Woman who breastfeeds in front him, an ex-con, a racist, a man whose whole family was killed in a car crash, as well as grateful candidates from different cultures around the world. He works with candidates and clients who screw him over, as well as those who are appreciative of his work. He meets various women, some positive, some negative, some confusing. He asks several of them what they are looking for in a guy and realizes that he needs to adjust his approach and presentation to attract the right girl for him.
Finding success early on, Jeff is in contention for National Rookie of the Year, which comes with a trophy and a $10,000 prize. On the last few days of the year, he has a chance to close a deal which would seal the win, but does not meet all the criteria necessary, as the candidate can't resign due to the unavailability of his boss, but assures Jeff, he is taking the job no matter what. Jeff struggles with the ethics of the situation, but ultimately decides to book the deal.
On New Years Eve, Jeff meets a girl, Debra, he thinks he connects with, but she disappears as her friend gets sick before he can get her name. Coming back to work after the first of the year, his final deal blows up, as the candidate decides to stay at his job taking a counteroffer. Dejected and facing the consequences of his actions, Jeff gets some uplifting news before leaving the office, and happens to run into Debra at a happy hour with his work team. Despite the emotional ups and downs of his personal and professional life, the future looks bright.
