Bank jobs, finance jobs, recruitment in the financial markets, accounting and investment banking. Find jobs, post resumes and browse job market news

Job News & Views

Search

Post Your Resume

 

Print

Recruiters Warn Against 'Crazy Candidates'

Mar 30, 2009

Sarah Butcher

From London, Sarah Butcher writes:

With more and more people pursuing fewer and fewer jobs, recruiters say some candidates are exhibiting strange and unusual behaviors in an attempt to catch their attention. These apparently include:

Sending in their CV for every single job going: “These are the serial appliers,” says Recruiter A. “They apply for everything we advertise across every function.”

Repeatedly sending in their CV for the same job: “If someone sees an advert they like, they will apply 15 times in a row,” says Recruiter B.

Telephoning immediately after sending a CV: “We have people who send in their CV at 9am and are on the phone at 9.05am asking if we’ve received it,” says Recruiter C.

Pretending to casually drop by: “There are some people who buzz downstairs and say they happened to be in the neighbourhood, saw the nameplate, and wondered whether they could come up for a quick chat,” says Recruiter B.

Needless to say, none of these techniques work. Recruiters point out that most of the better firms in the industry have comprehensive databases, and that once you’ve sent in your CV once there is absolutely no need to send it again and again as different jobs come up.

It is, however, necessary to take no for an answer. “You get people applying for the same job again and again and who keep asking why they are not right for it,” says one recruiter.

He adds: “In most cases, a job that is advertised for a long time is there because the client is particularly choosy. Eventually you have to point out that at the top of the bull market they had a job at a Landesbank and in a bear market Goldman Sachs won’t want to hire them.”

Comments (16)

"Most recruiters these days do not have a spot to fill. They are simply shopping for talent that they can take to potential employers when they do their cold calls."

View all comments

Bookmark

  • Blinklist.com
  • Reddit.com
  • Digg.com
  • Furl.com
  • Google.com
  • Del.icio.us
  • Yahoo.com
  • Netscape.com
  • Stumbleupon.com

Comments (16)

  • I personally am  job seeker and I know this could be happening in this market and could really be very annoying to the recruiting companies. However, I 've dealt with recruiters who don't care even if you are working with them for a couple of postings. For example, one recruiter called me just few days ago left me a voicemail to call about a job opp. I called spoke with him he said he would present me to the employer. Two days later I called to check on the status and ended up leaving him a voicemail. He has not returned my call yet. I am experiencing and hearing a lot of these lately. So, if the recruiters are working with you they should call as a curtesy.

    Dee 30 Mar 2009

    RECOMMEND Recommended 0 times | Alert Moderator

  • Regarding it being "necessary to take no for an answer", that's a perfectly reasonable expectation, however that assumes that said recruiter has the courtesy to gratify your resume and cover letter with a response, which is becoming extremely rare (even when one sentence would suffice). Also, in response to “In most cases, a job that is advertised for a long time is there because the client is particularly choosy", I would venture to say that in most cases, this job doesn't exist and is there purely as a resume-fishing expedition

    cgagnon1 31 Mar 2009

    RECOMMEND Recommended 2 times | Alert Moderator

  • I've given up expecting anything even remotely resembling courtesy from recruiters after almost two decades of dealing with them in two different industries. To be clear, I've landed two great jobs through recruiters so my opinion is not just sour grapes.

    The bottom line is that recruiters deal with many many people so common courtesy is just not practical. The unfortunate reality in this market is that you're only getting called back if your resume is a spot on match for the position.

    To those using recruiters out there - don't expect courtesy because you're just not going to find it, especially in this market. You should view recruiters as parasites that have the rare potential to be very helpful so grow some thicker skin and don't take it personally.

    To recruiters out there - I know its a stretch to expect some humanity but how about having a little empathy for those desperately looking for jobs in an industry that has just disappeared?

    Dash 31 Mar 2009

    RECOMMEND Recommended 1 time | Alert Moderator

  • When I read an article of this nature, I despair.  What has happened to our humanity?  Have these, so called, consultants been entrenched in their positions for so long that they forget what it is like to be without a job, with bills and a mortgage to pay?
    On further examination of these, so called, crazy people, it is very likely that most of them have previously experienced poor customer service from a poor recruiter.  As a Rec2Rec head hunter, I deal with people who forget what common courtesy is on a daily basis, and, in my experience these are the very same people who are the first to complain should someone dare to treat them in such a discourteous manner.  They seem to forget it’s the same job, just a different sector.
    What I am trying to say is we in the recruitment industry should all try, especially in these difficult times, to live to the old adage: Do unto others as you would have others do unto you.

    Daren Pegg 31 Mar 2009

    RECOMMEND Recommended 1 time | Alert Moderator

  • I, as well am a job seeker, and understand exactly the type of candidate you speak of.  I myself, in this climate, refuse to join the frenzy, prefering to keep my professional dignity intact.  I am not flooding anyone or the job boards with my resume. I know my skills are strong, but that is because I am experienced and dedicated, and can apply these skills in many other directions.  So, I do not want just a job, have never wanted just a job.  If those companies that are hiring are picky, and so busy weeding out sub-quality candidates, they may eventually come to me, but I won't lower myself to gorilla tactics.  The high road, or no road.  In keeping with my professional principles, I remain the most qualified, when all those crazies eventually disappear, or get hired, then fired again.  So, how do I compete? I apply myself to learning new skills, to expand my universe, to better myself. In so doing, it may be a while for the right employer to find me, but I won't ever be mistaken as a crazy.

    kristin 31 Mar 2009

    RECOMMEND Recommended 1 time | Alert Moderator

  • I second Dash's comments, 100 percent. This is simlar to what I have advised job-seekers since joining eFC two years ago: Be selective in who you deal with, but always be courteous and professional even if the recruiter isn't. And don't expect a recruiter to return a phone call or email. Even employers won't return a candidate's call or email, not even after they've met with you in person 2 or 3 times! So why expect recruiters to behave like saints?

    For more about this topic, see this thread on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/groupAnswers?viewQuestionAndAnswers=&gid=3761&sik=1238524390248&discussionID=2282832&readyToAnswer=readyToAnswer&trk=ug_qa_usrcomm&goback=%2Eana_3761_1238524390248_3_1

    Also, the common wisdom is you should cooperate with recruiters (such as by referring them to someone you know, if a recruiter calls you about an opening you aren't suited for), so they'll be more motivated to cooperate with you when you need it.

    Alas, I tried that advice and found it wanting. Sadly I learned that some recruiters, even heads of large well-respected shops, treat favors as a one-way street: they take but don't give.  - Jon Jacobs, eFinancialCareers news staff

    Jon Jacobs 31 Mar 2009

    RECOMMEND Recommended 0 times | Alert Moderator

  • Recruiters lack common courtesy. They are vultures.

    Bobby 01 Apr 2009

    RECOMMEND Recommended 0 times | Alert Moderator

  • I've been on both sides of the fence - as a 'headhunter' (recruiter) years ago and too, as a job seeker (but once again presently). Apologies for the following generalization but it rings true from both personal experience as well as that of friends, colleagues. It is an unfortunate, sad and disparaging commentary that many recruiters seem to have forsaken empathy, compassion and understanding and replaced this with discourteous behavior and their own self interest. There are better ways to 'service your clients'. During these challenging times, a bit of humanity... a returned call... a reach out... a follow-up... is more important than ever. Given, the volume of resumes and job seekers is enormous... but that said, better business practices can still be employed. Recruiters should remember that a person placed today can well be a future hiring manager tomorrow... 
    Marleen

    Marleen Levi 01 Apr 2009

    RECOMMEND Recommended 1 time | Alert Moderator

  • Recuiters have completely failed in this crisis.

    There raison d'etre should make them heros.

    Instead they have revealed that a large majority of them are ex-professionals who could not progress past middle management in real jobs and became lazy lackeyes waiting for easy retainers in boom times.

    The markets has noticed too.... the 2009 Kennedy Recuiters Directory has a 25% invalid rate for phone/email/fax#....ie, 25% have gone bust already

    Kayvan1 02 Apr 2009

    RECOMMEND Recommended 0 times | Alert Moderator

  • Instead of blaming recruiters for YOU not finding a job, maybe you should realize that it is YOUR responsibility to find yourself a job.  A good recruiter will speak with at least 40 candidates a day.  Now do the math on how they are supposed to get back to everyone.

    Perhaps you should stay on top of your own job efforts, and FOLLOW-UP with recruiters on the phone UNTIL YOU GET A HOLD OF THEM, instead of thinking that we're just ignoring you.  Keep in mind that a recruiter's responsibility is to their client, first and foremost, and that if we are to do a good job by our clients, we will be reaching out to as many qualified candidates as we can in the few hours of the day that we have to work.

    My advice is to take charge of your own job search, and make it your business to get an answer, instead of just getting offended and blaming.

    Seriously 06 Apr 2009

    RECOMMEND Recommended 0 times | Alert Moderator

Add your comment

* Mandatory

You have 1200 characters left

Enter the code shown here or sign in / register to skip this step. (What is this?)

Post comment

Jobs

More jobs

Col3
Col4
Col5
Col6
bottom

Site Information

eFinancialCareers is a Dice Holdings, Inc. company. Dice Holdings, Inc. is a publicly traded company listed on the New York Stock Exchange (Ticker: DHX)