Stop Trying To Reinvent Recruiting

Seriously. Just stop. STAHP. You’re embarrassing yourself and the community at large. If I see one more ridiculous, self-serving post about the “recruitment agency of the future!” and how y’all are going to CHANGE EVERYTHING I will probably just burst into tears out of pure frustration. You. Are. Full. Of. Crap. Recruiting, recruitment, whatever the hell you call it is a pretty freaking simple process. Get paid to find people for jobs. THAT’S IT.

Social Media is not going to save you. Your false promises about personally hand delivering every single resume you ever receive to companies DESPERATE for your services stink to high heaven. I am beyond irritated with your nonsense. A recent post on here (I refuse to link to it - I will NOT provide click bait) promises that recruitment agencies treat every individual differently and only short-lists after each and every application is examined, thereby insuring only the most talented candidates get first preference.

You sir, are full of caca.

Here’s why. Most recruiters, including yours truly, will use a variety of methods to identify qualified candidates. I will review applications that come in. I will source on LinkedIn, various job boards, social media sites (sometimes) and anywhere else I think people with the right skills might be found. I will then make contact with said candidates, hoping they’re interested in the role as well. And so it goes. The funnel tightens, with people being rejected or rejecting the opportunity. It happens. I will use Boolean strings, key words, any number of ways to narrow the pool. Because that is my job. I will do my best to get back to everyone who took the time to apply and CERTAINLY everyone who gets a 2^nd look – if you’ve interviewed you deserve the courtesy of closure, you better believe it.

We have to stop making false promises to candidates. This pisses me off more than anything else. I do what I can to help candidates get visibility in my (very large) organization, but I also try to be very honest about what I can and can’t do. I’ll give advice on resumes, always with the caveat that it’s one recruiter’s opinion, your mileage may vary. For special skill sets I’ll do everything I can to create an “opportunity hire” – basically finding a home for someone AWESOME that my company can benefit from. This is more common on the agency side, let’s face it. Still, most hires happen because there’s an open position.

As both a former agency recruiter and current corporate recruiter, let me tell you what I REALLY want from you. Find qualified people in a timely fashion for a decent price. As a former candidate who’s found plenty of gigs over the years through agencies, let me tell you what I expect. Be honest with me about the companies (and kinds of roles) you can present me to. Give me honest feedback on my resume, interview skills, and presentation. I know you’re being paid by the client, but I also know it’s possible we can help each other out by making the hiring manager happy.

I’ve been doing this for almost 15 years, and with the exception of the internet making information easier to come by, the basics of finding jobs, finding people, and bringing them together has not changed. Stop trying to make recruiting something it’s not.

Comment by Tim Spagnola on February 5, 2014 at 8:41am: Stop trying to make recruiting something it’s not. <- where do I order this t-shirt?

@Amy - thank you!

Comment by Pete Radloff on February 5, 2014 at 9:05am: Yes, Amy. Just.... Yes. (slow clap)

Comment by Amy Ala Miller on February 5, 2014 at 9:14am: @Tim we definitely need tshirts. RBC should make some! Here's another - "Recruiting - so easy a Liberal Arts major can do it" ;)

Comment by Amy Ala Miller on February 5, 2014 at 9:14am: @Pete - thank you! My work here is done :)

Comment by Derdiver on February 5, 2014 at 9:15am: hence the reason I have said I do not want to use the agency, I just want access to their database.

Comment by Frank Zupan on February 5, 2014 at 9:51am: "Stop trying to innovate...no one will ever carry a telephone with the power of a mainframe computer around in their pocket"...said lots of people in 1980. Discounting valid attempts to change and improve the process of companies acquiring people will be discounted at your own peril :)

Comment by Matt Charney on February 5, 2014 at 9:53am: @Tim @Amy as discussed with Levy, we're all behind making shirts - ideas welcome for sure. Some inspiration from the master, Mike Cardin:

Comment by Recruiting Animal on February 5, 2014 at 9:53am: "O Oysters, come and watch with us!" The Walrus did beseech. "An innovative webinar a thought-leader will teach." The eldest Oyster looked at him but never a word he said. That wise old dude just winked his eye and shook his heavy head.

But four young Oysters hurried up, all eager for the treat. Their coats were brushed, their faces washed, their shoes were clean and neat. Four other Oysters followed them and then another four; and thick and fast they came at last, and more, and more, and more.

Comment by Amy Ala Miller on February 5, 2014 at 9:56am: I'm all for innovation. I remember BEGGING for an internet connection at one of my early agency gigs. :) I'm against fluffy nonsense and spammarific posts that make no sense.

And very much in favor of tshirts ;)

Comment by Frank Zupan on February 5, 2014 at 10:03am: so we agree: up with innovation, down with stupid, uninformed blog posts and UP WITH T-SHIRTS! :)

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