Another recruiter here. Recruiting is still a relatively new career field for me. I have not dealt with all aspects of recruiting yet. As one respondent notes, recruiters do start by casting a wide net. An even better analogy might be that of a funnel with a wide diameter. Throughout the process of trying to find the most ideal candidates for a job, the potential pool of candidates narrows, so that, at least in theory, only the most qualified candidates who are open to exploring a new opportunity are ones that are submitted to client companies for consideration.
Yes, sometimes recruiting tasks are automated and sometimes algorithms are way off. There are humans behind those tasks. Also, humans create the tools that recruiters and job seekers use in the hiring process. No one is perfect. Nothing is perfect.
Some recruiters are more meticulous and more careful than others. There are recruiters who review details in the job description of the open role against details in a LinkedIn profile or resume to discern if the prospective candidate might be a good match (hand up here). And, there are recruiters who spend less time getting to know the role and the prospective candidate. Recruiters might be assigned to an open role that is of a job type and/or career area unfamiliar to them. Some recruiters have the opportunity to communicate with client companies' hiring managers and HR representatives, and some do not. Another issue to consider is that client companies do not always have clear, consistent and reasonable expectations for their hiring needs. Some recruiters work on commission, and for those who do, the pressure to succeed is very high. Quantity might rule over quality.
As with most organizations, recruiting firms have a chain of command. Lead recruiters and account managers have more of a say on whether or not a potential candidate is contacted or submitted to an agency than recruiters who report to lead recruiters and account managers.
There are so many variables in the hiring process. Clients, recruiters and account managers of recruitment agencies, job seekers and passive candidates alike seem to agree that the hiring process is usually too long, too frustrating and imprecise. It is often unfair.
Unfortunately there can be bad apples in all of the bunches involved. If you are a passive candidate, and you do not wish to be contacted by a recruitment agency, you have the right to make this request. If you are uncertain about the legitmacy of an agency, do an online search for the company's website. Use the contact page's information to reach out to the company to be asked to be removed from the company's applicant tracking system's database.
It was not that long ago I was a job seeker. Although I had more negative and neutral past experiences with recruiters than positive ones, I chose to respond to any legitimate recruiter who reached out to me. When you are a job seeker, you never know if a networking opportunity might lead to your next role. If you are networking with fellow job seekers, by communicating with recruiters you might find out how you can help not just yourself but someone else. Of course, there is competition built into the hiring process. But, we are truly all in this together!
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