I was really interested to read a piece courtesy of Recruitment Dad this week on the results of his study into recruiters. It created a lot of buzz on Twitter so I'm sure some of you have already seen it but in case you haven't, have a read here - it is definitely some food for thought.
The study basically illustrated what may have come as a shock to some, but was to be expected for others: recruiters weren't very good at their jobs. Here are a few particularly shocking statistics:
- Only 7 out of 20 asked Recruitment Dad (the fake candidate) his name
- Only 3 took a phone number
- Only 1 made him feel confident that they could help
- 0 asked about personal circumstances
- 0 asked if he had applied for any other jobs
And that is just a small selection!
Unfortunately this study just reinforces what many people already think about our industry - that recruiters don't really care about candidates. And that is very frustrating. Not only are these individual companies creating a bad name for themselves, they're stopping the rest of the sector getting the respect it deserves. Knowing the right questions to ask really is in the basics of recruitment that every consultant should have perfected.
These results really highlight the importance of investing in your staff. We don't only say this because it's our business - it's because it's true! Yes, giving your recruiters a ‘recruiters for dummies' guidebook is one way of doing it but the chances are that what they read won't stay with them for long, and they'll be repeating all the mistakes that those surveyed above did. Only by learning interactively, providing feedback / analysis and putting new skills into action at desk level is that learning going to work.
Yesterday evening a friend of ours was complaining about the job market. As the frustration began to vocalise itself I expected it to be about the volume of jobs available and choice. But to my surprise job availability was not the complaint!
The fact that there are currently not as many roles around in the jobseeker's particular field due to the recession, was not in fact, the jobseeker's main complaint.
The real bug bear was the poor and rude behavior of the recruitment industry.
After searching for that suitable job and then tailoring the CV to apply; being treated with zero respect and no manners was felt to be totally unacceptable. It was being faced with total unprofessional behavior from the recruitment agency and from direct applications that caused this candidate to be passionate about telling everyone possible about the 'waste of time' companies.
Most companies and agencies failed to reply at all. Some rang up, suggested the candidate was perfect, agreed to put forward the CV - great. But then they never called back. This action left the candidate excited and hopeful; but a few weeks later after failed attempts at getting back in touch with the recruiter, just filled with anger and frustration!
I know the recruitment industry is tough and hard work, but this approach only makes it harder for everyone.
The agencies that got it wrong were a mix of large international brands we all know, and small, one-branch private firms. The fact that so many agencies behave so badly is not an excuse. Now all the candidate's friends and social networks will think twice before using any of them!
Please, please look after your candidates and turn around the reputation of recruitment agencies!
If you are can not see the business case to reply to all candidates and act professionally then you need help! Clearly preventing individuals en masse slating your firm, should motivate you to change your ways, if not then perhaps you better throw in the towel now and line up at the Job Centre yourself.
Taken from www.allthetopbananas.com/blogs/dave
