post #7

I know this is not going to sit well with recruiters but I feel their personal biases are one of the reasons so many candidates are having a hard time finding a job right now. Here are a few of the posts and comments I've seen recently posted under the guise of being "helpful":

° don't answer the phone with "hello", you should always answer with "this is so-and-so". This isn't the 90's, there are SO many scammers out there, why would anyone answer with "this is so-and-so" these days, unless they were expecting the call? And really, even if they are expecting a call, when did "hello" become an offensive or unprofessional greeting?

° don't use an old email address like @aol.com or @hotmail.com, use something more current like @gmail.com - right, because Gmail isn't decades old 🙄

° be careful of what's in your background on a video call. Two things specifically called out were a garbage can and open cupboards. Now, I get wanting a neat and tidy appearance but some people just don't roll that way. Unless they're interviewing to be a maid or housekeeper, do either of those things negate the skills they have to do the job they're interviewing for?

° don't ask about money first. Look, we need to normalize understanding that people work to pay bills, so if the job doesn't pay what they need to make, why waste everyone's time?

° don't go around the recruiter, we will do EVERYTHING in our power to make sure you don't get the job. I totally understand the recruiter's role and wouldn't go around them, but many recruiters ghost candidates, so honestly, I can see why some candidates do it. However, this vindictive comment not only shows what kind of professional you are, it actually shows what kind of person you are.

Maybe it's just me, but all of these "helpful" posts and comments don't seem to have anything to do with the actual job (except asking about the pay), yet recruiters have admitted that these things have gotten candidates rejected.

I get it, it's a competitive market and candidates are being judged, but so are recruiters, hiring managers and companies. Maybe show candidates a little grace and stop rejecting them for things like answering their phone with "hello" or having their resume come from an @aol.com email address.

One last thing, it may be something you're proud of, but seeing a recruiter say they're a gatekeeper is just so cringy for me to read. I really can't think of an instance where this doesn't come off as arrogant, but maybe that's just me 🤔

Recruiters and candidates: be respectful, be professional, be mindful, don't ghost each other, both sides are actually working towards the same goal, aren't they?

#TLDR:
° recruiters - stop rejecting candidates for things that have nothing to do with the job

° recruiters and candidates - treat others the way you want to be treated

#JobHuntingChronicles