Like a really good first date, the recruitment process may contain a certain amount of nervous energy and infatuation. It should. If both sides aren’t enthusiastic from the outset, I usually urge the client and candidate to end the courtship early.

In fact, most successful placements are made before the love fest ever begins and are the result of properly managing everyone’s expectations. If you don’t have a good recruiter to help walk the right couple to the altar, here are a few pro tips for managing expectations.