5 Things Recruiters Won't Tell You

Posted by Staff Editor in Career Advice • Aug 13, 2012

You would think that with today's tough job market, recruiters would have it made. After all, their job is to find that absolute best talent for any job opening. Now, with more and more applicants to choose from, it should be easier than ever. However, the truth is that many recruiters are simple overwhelmed by the sheer volume of resumes they receive. It makes it difficult for them to find the right person for the job and to save time, they are even quicker to put a resume in the "no" pile and move on.

But doesn't that mean that some qualified people get passed over? Absolutely, but it doesn't matter. Eventually, the recruiter will find the person who has the exact same training and experience, only this time, the person will be more marketable and able to make a better first impression.

So what does this mean for you? Well, it simply means that first impressions are even more important. When the competition is fierce, everything you do counts. Of course, if you don't stand out, the recruiter isn't just going to tell you. Most of the time, they will simple just never call you again. Recruiters are paid to find the candidate, not break the bad news to the people who didn't get a job offer, so it's not likely that they will ever let you know what you did wrong.

If you've applied for a job through a recruiter and never heard anything back, it's possible that you aren't very marketable. Without any feedback, it's hard to know for sure, but here are 5 things that would make a recruiter put you in the "no" pile:

Your interview clothes are all wrong. They could be too tight, too messy, out of date, too flashy or just not a good look for you.
Your physical appearance is poor. Maybe you wear too much perfume, you smell bad, you look sloppy or you just don't look professional.
You didn't make great eye contact.
Your handshake wasn't firm and confident.
You talk too much, use poor grammar and/or swear when you answer interview questions.

Have you ever worked with a recruiter? What was your experience? Please share your thoughts in the comments.

Melissa Kennedy • Jun 22, 2013

Thanks Abdullah! You're right, having a positive attitude makes a huge difference.

Abdullah • Oct 17, 2012

Harry, great article and one that I imemliatedy retweeted. The best job seeker understands that they are more than just a resume. Who you know, the connections you've made, and the interpersonal and communication skills you've picked up along the way are just as important (if not more so) than your purely technical skills for a particular job. Having a positive attitude and fitting into the culture of a company can not be underestimated by job seekers or recruiters.

Melisssa Kennedy • Aug 27, 2012

Thanks for the great comments. It's hard to accept that recruiters aren't always your friend. They are trying to fill their quotas and don't mind throwing job seekers under the bus. However, a great recruiter can help you find a job, just remember that they aren't working for you. They are being paid by the employer, so that is where their loyalty lies.

Ferd D • Aug 24, 2012

Melissa is right, IF you can get to the interview stage. But there's more to it, as explained to me by several recruiters over the years.1. The recruiter works for the employer, NOT for you. Even if he signed you up to potentially find you a job. His commission is paid by the employer so that’s where his loyalties lie. If the employer is not excited by you then your recruiter will file you into his black hole. If you cannot make him money quickly then he jumps to the next prospect.2. As Melissa implies, most HR departments and recruiters have no audit trail for their own job performance. So employers rarely realize when they are missing good candidates or providing poor customer service (to potential hires). If the employer becomes concerned that he is not getting enough high quality candidates, it is easy for HR and recruiters to blame the talent pool. 3. Nobody likes to screen applicants – especially the initial flood after a job is advertised. So screening is often assigned to the lowest person in the office, who will probably also have the least experience and has the poorest understanding of what the company really needs. Keyword-finding software is an inefficient crutch. So lots of excellent candidates get cut.4. Recruiters don’t get back to you because they feel that the candidate supply is endless. They don’t care how they treat you because they assume that you’ll be desperate enough to overlook it (or be afraid to complain). Some have no clue or concerns about customer service.5. Often HR does not understand the nuances of the jobs they’re trying to fill, and don’t communicate well with hiring managers. “Nice to have” qualities become “requirements” and expectations become unrealistic. They may throw in age biases too.6. Some job listings aren’t real – they’re just “testing the waters”. Some are artificially created by HR trying to justify their own jobs, or by recruiters trying to manufacture opportunities. Sometimes the company is trying to posture better prosperity, or are looking for potential staff for contracts that they hope to win (but haven’t). Some post jobs to calm overworked staff, but do not intend to actually hire. Some listings are just “following procedure to find the best candidate out of a pool” for a job that management has already decided to give to a specific person. Usually one of these explains why HR or a recruiter seems excited by you at first, and even interviews you, but no offer or explanation ever develops.Sorry for the long post. Reality can be ugly.

JOSE O • Aug 15, 2012

You forgot age discrimination. I was told that my age was a liability rather than an advantage, despite 40 years of experience. The interviewer told me I should retire. He said employers prefer younger applicants with little or no experience because they will work for less money. Partly because they have less financial responsibilities

Kasey H • Aug 15, 2012

Very interesting - I didn't know there was that thing called "eye contact" these days (everyone seems to be looking "down" at their phones while texting). Proper grammar? Ain't happnin either!

5 Things Recruiters Won't Tell You

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