I do speak with many candidates who express frustration with recruiters. They don’t call back, keep them in the loop, etc. A big part of that is that hiring managers and our clients don’t give up timely feedback, and want to interview an abundance of candidates before making a decision.
However – you may be the victim of discrimination. Not age, not background – but “placeability”. I found this list of “good candidate” characteristics at Greg Savage’s blog.
Since most recruiters only get paid for placing someone, their most valuable asset is time. And if you are deemed to be “unplaceable”, you may find yourself wondering why. It is also a good motivation to evaluate how you undertake your job search.
Here is the list:
- They have skills and experience currently in demand.
- Their salary expectations are reasonable and they present as an affordable option to a potential employer.
- They have legitimate and tested reasons for leaving where they are now. You have dug down and unearthed their true motivators to leave and you believe you can find them these things in a new role.
- You have pre-empted the possibility of a counter offer from their current employer.
- They interview well. Likeable, personable, communicative.
- The candidate buys into your “rules of engagement” where you explain how you and he will work together, and during the process they deliver on that commitment. (For example returning your calls, attending all interviews etc.
- The candidate agrees to allow you to exclusively handle their job search.
This post I left open for comments.
