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A couple of years ago, we spent New Years Eve in Thornton Park, at the end of Balmain, with a great view of the Harbour Bridge. We got there around 4pm, set up our chairs, and prepared to wait for the fireworks. There was about 100 people there, one of whom was a talker. He was floating around, talking to people, most of whom were doing their best to pretend he wasn’t there. He sat on a bench about 10 feet from me, and identified me as his next victim.

To be honest, I can’t remember the first few things he asked me, and I didn’t really mind. What got me nervous was when he asked me what I did for a living. As I said, he was about 10 feet from me, and there were plenty of people around. Why didn’t I want everyone else to hear that I worked in recruitment? I tried it a couple of times quietly, but of course this guy couldn’t hear me. “I’m a pilot!”, I would have preferred to say.

Recruitment is a valuable profession - everybody needs recruiters whether they like it or not. But unfortunately many people claim to hate recruitment consultants. Like car salesman and real estate agents (hey, we need those guys too). Even recruiters engage in rec con baiting. Agency recruiters hate in house recruiters, and everybody hates rec to recs. So why is this?

We use recruitment consultants when we are looking to make a big change in life. When things go wrong, or you are not happy with the service you have received, naturally you are going to curse your consultant. How many people have had only positive experiences when looking for a new job? Not many, I’d say. And of course there are a lot of crap consultants out there. These guys don’t help.

However this is no different to any other profession - there’s a lot of crap everywhere to be honest. It’s just that we can hang up the phone on those people; those people who may not have a face, or a name, or that can be easily replaced. Recruiters are the ones who help us with our careers, so it matters.

That’s an important thing for us to remember. When you are dealing with a candidate, no matter how rubbish, or annoying, or C grade with poor comms you deem them to be, they are in a difficult position and need help, guidance, and support. Give feedback, return their calls, and approach them with a sensitive honesty. Same goes for the top candidates!

Finally, it amuses me that everyone gives out about ‘bloody recruiters’, but most of the people I know that do that love to share a drink with recruiters, because we can be great company!

Please share with me your thoughts - do you agree that recruiters are disliked? What about the reasons for it? Is it deserved? What about why hiring managers hate recruiters? I can think of a few reasons, but can’t be bothered going on anymore about it!

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