Time is precious, so having in mind this, the following writing (long read) will explain the most common mistakes that you (a recruiter) are doing while approaching me (maybe others also — unfortunately). If you want/need to continue (knowing what’s this about) please do so, otherwise please do not 🙂
Preamble:
I’ve started 2019 with one promise to myself:
Respond to all emails and/or messages from recruiters! They are people also, and can feel disappointed if I will not!
It was harder than I’d ever expected…
The case:
I am currently employed. I have a job that I like, doing the things that I love to do, and I’m choosing to work here because the people are great, the environment is relaxing/motivating and the benefits provided encourage me to continue.
The facts:
You want me on your team. You want to recruit me for your current or future projects. Nice! I’m very excited to hear that I’ve caught your interest so far. But if your approach towards me or anyone else for that matter is not at least correct, catchy with some “sprinkles” of joy, you will only attract my deepest and respectful rejection.
Below I’ve put together a list of things that really bother me when contacted by recruiters:
1. COPY/write my name correctly — If you are called Global Senior HR Manager and have all the other possible titles in the field(or not), do that extra effort to call me by my name: STEFAN, not Alex, or other copied name from a previous offer/message. The name of your candidate is no small detail.
2. Your message contains only the role for which you are recruiting without any details on the job, the employer, etc. This is wonderful! You are inviting me to a chat. My mind is on the time — spent time reading your invitation — almost always finalized with “Are you interested? Drop me a line!” — and I will spend some more time replying because I’ve done that 2019 promise. How could I be interested or intrigued by an “excellent opportunity” with no details?!?
3. Read my Linkedin profile — it’s important.
3.1. Don’t ask for a CV or contact details — everything is on my profile — if you are asking for those either you haven’t looked at my profile or you don’t know what you are searching for. Really.
3.2. Don’t propose jobs that are not relevant to my skills or knowledge. It’s awkward for both.
3.3. Don’t propose project-based / contract-based jobs — just a preference — you can also get that from my profile.
4. Job proposals outside Bucharest. That is super! Give me from your first mail/message an overview of the relocating package for my family and me, that this firm may offer, a general overview of the cost of living in Wonderland and so on. Don’t tell me you are comfortable asking for me to move without a relocation package. Don’t leave me without details on “how we can do this”, or you haven’t noticed that I’m from Bucharest, Romania, or you thought that this is a state in Germany or near London ha?
5. F*** GDPR I bought a list of emails/telephones and I want to invite you to an interview. Nope. No. Nono.
6. Excellent job INCREDIBLE salary — this really falls under point 2. but with a twist — the INCREDIBLE salary. Ok so maybe this is just me but I will never ever work for someone for only the sole purpose to have an INCREDIBLE income. I’m sorry — an incredible salary with no details on the job or a crappy work environment equals a nono from my side.
7. Talk to your peers! I have days when I receive the same copy/pasted message from all your HR department from different people. It’s funny and annoying but mostly annoying.
8. Long JDs with no benefits — I understand that I need to know four pages or more of the required technology but what about benefits?! Why should I work there? Do I live to work for you or do I work for you to live? (hopefully, working for you will improve my life and not damage it) What do you think?
The conclusion:
I will use this writing to “filter” inappropriate proposals from my point of view and give (maybe) a second chance to anyone contacting me because I did that promise. So dear recruiter if you’ve received the link to this from me or anyone else, maybe, just maybe your approach is not the correct one.
The disclaimers:
This writing comes from my pure frustration with:
- my precious time
- the effort that I’m doing to keep my promise to myself
- the dozen emails and messages generalized above, that I receive daily
I’m representing my subjective point of view on things in the above; I’m requesting more efficiency, less time spent on back and forth pointless discussions and in general a more dedicated approach.
This is not in any way a critique to HR or recruiters in general but to some — people that in general approach their jobs as robots without any desire to know the possible candidate. If this writing has made you feel uncomfortable, please forgive me — it was meant to be eye-opening and not in any way harmful.
The fact that I love my workplace hasn’t changed, and with the approaches like the ones described here, it is hardly going to happen. Again if you feel that I’m a good fit for your team you should match what I have and go a little beyond.
Last but not least I’m not a native English speaker so for any misspelled words or grammatical incorrect syntax please forgive me. Let’s just blame it on the frustration 😛
Originally published at https://www.linkedin.com.