--- title: "Chris Murdock, IQTP's Most Experienced Recruiter: Reflecting on My 20 Years in Recruiting" description: Somewhat new to recruiting? Things have changed since day 1! Learn how the industry has evolved from our Co-Founder and most experienced recruiter, Chris Murdock. image: https://blog.iqtalent.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/pexels-photo-886465-e1547052592668-1.jpeg --- [![info.iqtalent.comhubfsIQTalent-Logo](https://blog.iqtalent.com/hs-fs/hubfs/social-suggested-images/info.iqtalent.comhubfsIQTalent-Logo.png?width=1000&height=300&name=info.iqtalent.comhubfsIQTalent-Logo.png)](https://iqtalent.com/) - Solutions Solutions - [![our-solutions-icon](https://blog.iqtalent.com/hubfs/icons/our-solutions-icon.svg) Our SolutionsEmbedded RPO, on-demand recruiting, RecOps, and executive search. 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Get a shortlist ready to engage.](https://www.iqtalent.com/candidate-sourcing/) - [![person-icon](https://blog.iqtalent.com/hubfs/icons/person-icon.svg) RecruitingExpert recruiters who scale with your hiring needs, no contracts, no commissions.](https://www.iqtalent.com/on-demand-recruiting/) - [![search-icon](https://blog.iqtalent.com/hubfs/icons/search-icon.svg) ResearchMap the talent landscape for your role before your competition does.](https://www.iqtalent.com/research/) [![IQT-TA-Audit-Checklist-2](https://blog.iqtalent.com/hs-fs/hubfs/IQT-TA-Audit-Checklist-2.webp?width=1200&height=680&name=IQT-TA-Audit-Checklist-2.webp)](https://www.iqtalent.com/resource/talent-acquisition-audit-checklist/) TA Audit Checklist [Get your copy](https://www.iqtalent.com/resource/talent-acquisition-audit-checklist/) - Areas of Expertise Solutions - [![who-we-work-with-icon](https://blog.iqtalent.com/hubfs/icons/who-we-work-with-icon.svg) Who We Work WithRecruiting support that scales with your stage, from first hires to global enterprise, without the commitment of a full internal team.](https://www.iqtalent.com/who-we-work-with/) - [![industries-we-serve-icon](https://blog.iqtalent.com/hubfs/icons/industries-we-serve-icon.svg) Industries We ServeConsultants with real industry context, not just general recruiting experience.](https://www.iqtalent.com/industry-expertise/) - [![functional-expertise-icon](https://blog.iqtalent.com/hubfs/icons/functional-expertise-icon.svg) Functional ExpertiseWe match you with consultants who've recruited for that function before.](https://www.iqtalent.com/function-expertise/) [![How-a-Cybersecurity-Startup-Cut-Recruiting-Costs-by-78-While-Improving-Quality-and-Speed](https://blog.iqtalent.com/hs-fs/hubfs/How-a-Cybersecurity-Startup-Cut-Recruiting-Costs-by-78-While-Improving-Quality-and-Speed.webp?width=1200&height=800&name=How-a-Cybersecurity-Startup-Cut-Recruiting-Costs-by-78-While-Improving-Quality-and-Speed.webp)](https://www.iqtalent.com/case-study/cybersecurity-recruiting-cost-reduction/)[Read the Story](https://www.iqtalent.com/case-study/cybersecurity-recruiting-cost-reduction/) - About IQTalent Solutions - [![person-icon](https://blog.iqtalent.com/hubfs/icons/person-icon.svg) Who We AreTransparent, flexible recruiting built around your needs. 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Solutions - [![our-solutions-icon](https://blog.iqtalent.com/hubfs/icons/our-solutions-icon.svg)Our Solutions](https://www.iqtalent.com/solutions/) - [![recruiting-operations-icon](https://blog.iqtalent.com/hubfs/icons/recruiting-operations-icon.svg)Recruiting Operations](https://www.iqtalent.com/recruiting-operations/) - [![resume-icon](https://blog.iqtalent.com/hubfs/icons/resume-icon.svg)Sourcing](https://www.iqtalent.com/candidate-sourcing/) - [![person-icon](https://blog.iqtalent.com/hubfs/icons/person-icon.svg)Recruiting](https://www.iqtalent.com/on-demand-recruiting/) - [![search-icon](https://blog.iqtalent.com/hubfs/icons/search-icon.svg)Research](https://www.iqtalent.com/research/) - Areas of Expertise - [![who-we-work-with-icon](https://blog.iqtalent.com/hubfs/icons/who-we-work-with-icon.svg)Who We Work With](https://www.iqtalent.com/who-we-work-with/) - [![industries-we-serve-icon](https://blog.iqtalent.com/hubfs/icons/industries-we-serve-icon.svg)Industries We Serve](https://www.iqtalent.com/industry-expertise/) - [![functional-expertise-icon](https://blog.iqtalent.com/hubfs/icons/functional-expertise-icon.svg)Functional Expertise](https://www.iqtalent.com/function-expertise/) - About IQTalent - [![person-icon](https://blog.iqtalent.com/hubfs/icons/person-icon.svg)Who We Are](https://www.iqtalent.com/about-iqtalent/) - [![functional-expertise-icon](https://blog.iqtalent.com/hubfs/icons/functional-expertise-icon.svg)How We're Different](https://www.iqtalent.com/how-were-different/) - [![team-icon](https://blog.iqtalent.com/hubfs/icons/team-icon.svg)Our Team & Expertise](https://www.iqtalent.com/leadership/) - [![chat-icon](https://blog.iqtalent.com/hubfs/icons/chat-icon.svg)Why IQTalent](https://www.iqtalent.com/why-iqtalent/) - Resources - [![search-icon](https://blog.iqtalent.com/hubfs/icons/search-icon.svg)Resource Library](https://www.iqtalent.com/resource-library/) - [![blog-icon](https://blog.iqtalent.com/hubfs/icons/blog-icon.svg)Blog](https://blog.iqtalent.com/) - [![resume-icon](https://blog.iqtalent.com/hubfs/icons/resume-icon.svg)Case Studies](https://www.iqtalent.com/case-studies/) - [![calculator-icon](https://blog.iqtalent.com/hubfs/icons/calculator-icon.svg)Tools & Calculators](https://www.iqtalent.com/resource-library/#type=tools-and-calculators) - [![guide-icon](https://blog.iqtalent.com/hubfs/icons/guide-icon.svg)Guides & Playbooks](https://www.iqtalent.com/resource-library/#type=guides-and-playbooks) - [![podcast-icon](https://blog.iqtalent.com/hubfs/icons/podcast-icon.svg)Podcasts](https://www.iqtalent.com/podcasts/) [Get Started](https://info.iqtalent.com/start) # Chris Murdock, IQTP's Most Experienced Recruiter: Reflecting on My 20 Years in Recruiting January 8, 2019 [HR](https://blog.iqtalent.com/tag/hr) [Candidate Search](https://blog.iqtalent.com/tag/candidate-search) #### Table of Contents [![The-Process-Standardization-Playbook-LP-Transparent1_5x](https://blog.iqtalent.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Resources/Mockup%20Images/The-Process-Standardization-Playbook-LP-Transparent1_5x.webp?width=1353&height=660&name=The-Process-Standardization-Playbook-LP-Transparent1_5x.webp)](https://info.iqtalent.com/resource/process-standardization-playbook) ### The Process Standardization Playbook [Sync Your Hiring Team Processes](https://info.iqtalent.com/resource/process-standardization-playbook) This October, I will celebrate [20 years in recruiting](https://blog.iqtalent.com/iqtalent-partners-celebrates-five-years-growth-nashville). That’s a long time and I’ve seen a lot of things change in [research, sourcing, professional recruiting and executive search](https://blog.iqtalent.com/candidate-sourcing-strategies-build-talent-pipeline). Over the course of this year, I will write a few blog posts sharing what’s changed since I got started in TMP Worldwide’s Retail Executive Search practice, f.k.a. Lemming/LeVan. [The innovations in #recruiting that have come out in the last 5 years have made us more efficient, more productive and less prone to paper-cuts. Read more from @cmurdock:Click to Tweet](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.iqtalentpartners.com%2F%3Fp%3D986&text=The%20innovations%20in%20%23recruiting%20that%20have%20come%20out%20in%20the%20last%205%20years%20have%20made%20us%20more%20efficient%2C%20more%20productive%20and%20less%20prone%20to%20paper-cuts.%20Read%20more%20from%20%40cmurdock%3A%20&via=iqtalent&related=iqtalent) I remember my first week on the job like it was yesterday. Lemming/LeVan had just been acquired by TMP Worldwide, the parent company of Monster.com. The firm had just made the switch to FileFinder and they were still using note cards sorted in maybe six 3x5 card catalog cabinets. For those of you under 30, here’s an example: [![Recruiting files in cabinet](https://blog.iqtalent.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/image3-300x200-1.jpg?width=300&height=200&name=image3-300x200-1.jpg)](https://blog.iqtalent.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/image3-1.jpg)As each of the partners had a call, we would grab the candidate record from the cabinet and then update and/or create their profile in FileFinder. Once they were fully integrated with TMP, they used their database which had a lot more people in it. I vaguely remember them using Encore by Cluen. ## Pre-Google Recruiting As the Research Assistant, my job was to make sure we didn’t miss anything. Back then, there wasn’t really a Google to google on. We had Altavista and DogPile. We also had paper directories. Specifically, we used the 3 or 4 directories put out by The Chain Store Guide. Again, for those of you under 30, here’s a picture: ![Image 1](https://blog.iqtalent.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Image%201.jpeg?width=264&height=300&name=Image%201.jpeg)Think of it as a large volume of text relative to a phone book. But again, I’m thinking that a lot of people don’t know what that is and I’ve aged myself yet again.[![Tangible recruiting materials](https://blog.iqtalent.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/image1-300x200-1.jpg?width=300&height=200&name=image1-300x200-1.jpg)](https://blog.iqtalent.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/image1-3.jpg)If a client needed a Wool Buyer, I would use a ruler and scan each page line by line looking for anything related to wool. My eyes and brain were the original search window and boolean search string. I would scan the pages looking for wool, sweaters, scarves, suits and various other words. I would type the names into a spreadsheet and then call into the operators at the various retailers and get the email addresses and phone numbers for these people. Most of the time, they were provided freely and without question. Today, this wouldn’t happen. Heck, it’s rare to get a live person when you call into company HQs. At the end of my first year, The Chain Store Guide put out a CD ROM version of their databases which wasn’t much better than scanning the pages of the paper directory. The search functionality was archaic when you compare it to what we can do today. It was slow because computers were slow and you had to search for each word versus multiple words in a single field. That’s right, you couldn’t use ‘OR’ or ‘AND’ in your searches. Of course, now the Chain Store Guide is online and fully searchable. [If you’ve only been in #recruiting for last 5 years, you don’t know how good you have it. See how recruiting has changed from @cmurdock, Senior Partner at @IQTalent:Click to Tweet](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.iqtalentpartners.com%2F%3Fp%3D986&text=If%20you%E2%80%99ve%20only%20been%20in%20%23recruiting%20for%20last%205%20years%2C%20you%20don%E2%80%99t%20know%20how%20good%20you%20have%20it.%20See%20how%20recruiting%20has%20changed%20from%20%40cmurdock%2C%20Senior%20Partner%20at%20%40IQTalent%3A%20&related) ## Adapt to Survive The Chain Store Guide, like recruiters, has adapted as technology has changed. Too many vendors don’t adapt and they get pushed aside for tools that have kept pace or accelerated change. Recruiters and Sourcers that don’t adapt may also find themselves getting pushed aside. I’m now about to come across as an old curmudgeon, but if you’ve only been in [recruiting for the last 5 years](https://blog.iqtalent.com/growth-of-iqtalent-partners-infographic), YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW GOOD YOU HAVE IT! The innovations that have come out in just the last 5 years have made us more efficient, more productive and less prone to paper-cuts. So in conclusion, get off my lawn and where’s my Geritol?   [![The recruiting you need. When you need it. Contact IQTalent Partners today](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/5284302/ef9ca8c0-6d7a-4961-ba2e-72ef423f9e2a.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/5284302/ef9ca8c0-6d7a-4961-ba2e-72ef423f9e2a) ## You'll Love These Posts Too [Building an HR Team From Scratch: A Stage-by-Stage Hiring Guide](https://blog.iqtalent.com/building-hr-team-from-scratch-guide) Your company just raised Series B. Headcount will double in 12 months. Your solo "HR person" (who's really an office manager doing HR on the side) is overwhelmed. [Keep Reading](https://blog.iqtalent.com/building-hr-team-from-scratch-guide) [The Complete Guide to Recruiting Sources Effectiveness: What Actually Works in 2025](https://blog.iqtalent.com/recruiting-sources-effectiveness-evaluation) The Truth About Sourcing Channels (Ranked by Data) Let's cut through the marketing BS and look at what actually works, ranked from best to worst based on real data. [Keep Reading](https://blog.iqtalent.com/recruiting-sources-effectiveness-evaluation) [7 Candidate Relationship Management Strategies for Lasting Recruiter-Candidate Relationships](https://blog.iqtalent.com/7-candidate-relationship-management-strategies) The $5 Million Relationship Management Wake-Up Call Virgin Media lost $5M annually from poor candidate relationships 95% of candidates would reapply after positive ... [Keep Reading](https://blog.iqtalent.com/7-candidate-relationship-management-strategies) [![www.iqtalent.comwp-contentuploads202207IQTalent-White-Logo-1](https://blog.iqtalent.com/hs-fs/hubfs/social-suggested-images/www.iqtalent.comwp-contentuploads202207IQTalent-White-Logo-1.png?width=2001&height=600&name=www.iqtalent.comwp-contentuploads202207IQTalent-White-Logo-1.png)](https://blog.iqtalent.com/) PO Box 150709 Nashville, TN 37215 [629-255-0709](tel:6292550709) [info@iqtalent.com](mailto:info@iqtalent.com) [Contact Us](https://www.iqtalent.com/contact/) ### Solutions - [Our Solutions](https://www.iqtalent.com/solutions/) - [Recruiting Operations](https://www.iqtalent.com/recruiting-operations/) - [Recruiting](https://www.iqtalent.com/on-demand-recruiting/) - [Sourcing](https://www.iqtalent.com/candidate-sourcing/) - [Research](https://www.iqtalent.com/research/) ### Areas of Expertise - [Who We Work With](https://www.iqtalent.com/who-we-work-with/) - [Industry Expertise](https://www.iqtalent.com/industry-expertise/) - [Functional Expertise](https://www.iqtalent.com/function-expertise/) ### Resources - [Resource Library](https://www.iqtalent.com/resource-library/) - [Case Studies](https://www.iqtalent.com/case-studies/) - [Podcasts](https://www.iqtalent.com/podcasts/) - [Blog](https://blog.iqtalent.com/) - [Recruitment Glossary](https://www.iqtalent.com/recruitment-glossary/) ### Specialties - [RPO On-Demand](https://www.iqtalent.com/recruitment-process-outsourcing-services/) - [Data Scientists Recruiting](https://www.iqtalent.com/data-scientist-recruiting/) - [Information Security Analysts](https://www.iqtalent.com/information-security-analyst-recruiting/) - [Physician Assistants Recruiting](https://www.iqtalent.com/healthcare-recruiting-physician-assistants/) - [Healthcare Leadership Recruiting](https://www.iqtalent.com/medical-health-service-managers/) ### About IQTalent - [Who We Are](https://www.iqtalent.com/about-iqtalent/) - [Why IQTalent](https://www.iqtalent.com/why-iqtalent/) - [Our Team & Expertise](https://www.iqtalent.com/leadership/) - [How We're Different](https://www.iqtalent.com/how-were-different/) - [Our Approach](https://www.iqtalent.com/about-iqtalent/#our_approach) - [Press & Awards](https://www.iqtalent.com/press-awards/) - [FAQs](https://www.iqtalent.com/faq/) ### Connect With Us - [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/iqtalent-partners) - [Find My Dream Job](https://www.iqtalent.com/dream-job/) - [Get Started](https://info.iqtalent.com/start) - [Caldwell](https://www.caldwellpartners.com/) © 2025 IQTalent Partners Site by [Red Branch Media, Inc.](https://redbranchmedia.com/) - [Privacy Policy](https://www.iqtalent.com/privacy-policy/) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Chris Murdock", "url" : "https://blog.iqtalent.com/author/chris-murdock" }, "dateModified" : "2025-09-17T13:16:07.349Z", "datePublished" : "2019-01-09T00:00:00.000Z", "headline" : "Chris Murdock, IQTP's Most Experienced Recruiter: Reflecting on My 20 Years in Recruiting", "image" : [ "https://blog.iqtalent.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/pexels-photo-886465-e1547052592668-1.jpeg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://blog.iqtalent.com/chris-murdock-reflecting-20-years-recruiting", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://blog.iqtalent.com/hubfs/IQTalent-Logo.png" }, "name" : "IQTalent Partners" } } ```