Recruiting is Like Dating All Over Again…

Remember first dates, when you felt like you needed to be on your best behavior to impress your date? I sometimes feel that interviewing is like dating. You try to put your best foot forward and sometimes, just sometimes, you embellish what you are really like or who you are to impress that other person. Come on; don’t tell me you haven’t. We have all done it. It’s funny, but candidates are the same way.

I have had past candidates who have told me one thing about themselves, and I find out later the truth had been stretched. Not all candidates are like this, but as competitive as the job market is today, candidates feel that they deserve more due to the demand.

The best way to get to know a candidate is to talk to someone they have worked with for a long period of time. You should really probe that source for personality and work ethic. Make sure when you are doing a reference check that you get someone they actually worked for and not just a buddy. This will help prevent any padding of information.

Recruiting through a third party can really come in handy. A third party recruiter can be your buffer. You can be honest with the recruiter about exactly what you are looking for in an employee just as if someone was setting you up on a date. Then, the recruiter can go out and find this person for you. Sometimes it’s easier for candidates to confide in a recruiter because they know they won’t shoot themselves in the foot.

Recruiters can definitely bring the person back to reality of what is expected and acceptable and what is not. They can be blunt with the candidate without leaving them with a negative view of the company that interviewed them. Recruiters are also here to bring you up to speed on industry trends and expectations and tame your candidates at the same time. In the end, its less hassle and headaches for all involved because you can go about concentrating on your daily job requirements and leave all the negotiating up to the recruiter.