Recruiter boundaries, what to share and what not?

11 Comments

1. Lea BeatriceAugust 6,2024 at 2:16PM UTC

   Is the recruiter from the company that gave the offer? Or is it a recruiter from an outside recruiting firm?

   Either way, recruiters want to fill roles quickly and successfully; they're measured on it. I've always been honest with recruiters, but I'm more open when it comes to working with recruiting firms (as opposed to inside recruiters). External recruiters have many jobs you might be a fit for and they honestly have no preference on which one - they get rewarded no matter which job you accept as long as it's through them.

   I'd tell the recruiter you weren't expecting the offer to be 10k lower and this is what's causing you hesitation. If you'd be willing to sign if the offer is raised back to the original amount, I'd tell them that too. If you truly want to wait out the interview process with this other firm, I'd tell the recruiter that, too. They may rescind the offer, but I've never seen that happen. I've had colleagues in your same position that have received extra time to review.

2. AnonymousAugust 6,2024 at 6:25PM UTC

   Thank you.

3. AnonymousAugust 6,2024 at 3:27PM UTC

   The correct response back to the recruiter and or the HM is that you are considering all the options you are currently being vetted for and if you are faced with a deadline you will let them know that and other than that you prefer to keep your other discussions private as you are being considered where they may not be publicly sharing their open roles. Let them know that your decision is a very important one and when you are making a long term decision about where to park your career you want the respect to not be forced into a one day decision for something so very important. You need the time to see if there are any final questions you need answered to independently make your decision about them specifically.

   This way you respond in a fuzzy way about the others but also let them know your choice of them as an employer is independent of anything else.
   As for the compensation question, ask for one brief phone call directly with the hiring manager. Ask them about the compensation, bonuses and stock program. Ask about how they reward star performers because you plan on being one of them. This way the conversation is more about performance than money and you can clear up any confusion in the phone call then. If things don't align in that call you can ask for them to follow the details within the written offer. Most companies (I am assuming the recruiter is internal) give a verbal and then follow up with a written for you to sign off on. This becomes a part of your personnel folder and employment file.
   I would also find out why the first person they hired failed if you can. Best way to ask this is to say: I know you has some great candidates to choose from when you first made the choice, what led this person you hired to not be the right fit? You may not get a clear answer but you should check that out too.
   End of story.

4. AnonymousAugust 6,2024 at 6:25PM UTC

   Thank you.

5. Nicole JohnsonAugust 6,2024 at 3:59PM UTC

   Agreed with Tahlora. I would make sure to do your diligence on the company one more time. I dont think it is a good sign when there is such quick turnaround even if not a good fit, most people can make it to at least 9 months.

6. AnonymousAugust 6,2024 at 6:25PM UTC

   Thank you.

7. AnonymousAugust 6,2024 at 4:15PM UTC

   Did you interview and they hired someone else but the hire didn’t work out and the recruiter has you back in the fold? If so I would heed caution. Why did the other person leave? Why didn’t they hire you originally? This is a red flag.

   The pressure is on the recruiter, not you. If they said you must accept in one day. What was the day of the month? End of month? The recruiter has metrics they must meet to stay employed.
   I was one. I know the inside trade secrets so to speak. Ask the recruiter to get your answers but sounds like the recruiting firm may not fit your needs. If you are going perm with their client (not contracting) that means you will need to know the employer’s benie’s. The recruiter should know this but if not they can find out. I hope this works out for you!

8. AnonymousAugust 6,2024 at 6:25PM UTC

   Thank you.

9. AnonymousAugust 6,2024 at 6:25PM UTC

   Thank you.

10. Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistAugust 8,2024 at 3:55AM UTC

    I always ask my candidates to keep me in the loop with other potential offers they have going on. I'm not asking for specifics of the offers necessarily but I can't help them navigate timing if I don't know what's going on.

    I would ask first off about the 10k discrepancy in the base salary - find out if it's a mistake or if they've changed the offer.

    They're having either lost the previous person they made the offer to or had that person leave after a short time, is not your problem - they should not be trying to rush you into accepting an offer in 24 hours - especially with a 10k discrepancy in the base salary.

11. Nicolette ThompsonAugust 9,2024 at 1:32PM UTC

    Be honest and open-ish about it.

    a couple years ago I was in a spot of two companies making me offers. I was honest about the situation with both. The one I went to was a startup, which ran out of money just a few months later. My openness with the recruiter allowed me to call the company I hadn’t gone with, and they made me an offer in 2 weeks. Keep those good honest connections, you never know when you need them!