Unfortunately, yesterday a recruiter contacted me about a job opportunity, for which he said I "checked all the boxes."

35 Comments

1. AnonymousDecember 5,2025 at 5:11PM UTC

   Unfortunately, there are hiring managers like that. Where I currently work, our recruiter and I did battle with one of our hiring managers on a regular basis a few years back. If an individual's resume showed less than two years at each employer all the way down, he was not open to even interviewing an individual. Where the recruiter went wrong in your case is not vetting your resume first with the hiring manager before scheduling any sort of interview (along with apparently not truly knowing the hiring manager he was working with) because that definitely was a waste of your time.

2. AnonymousDecember 5,2025 at 5:34PM UTC

   Don't think that all employers are like that they are not. If you have have stints that seem short perhaps the way to address that elephant in the room during an interview is to say that you hit all the milestones and worked yourself out of a job or that you got recruited away by a manager you worked with in the past. Or something else that makes the move positive. Generally recruiters reach out because you fit and the hiring managers kick you back out. I run a recruiting team and deal with this nonsense all the time. Hiring managers often have unrealistic expectations about what they want and so recruiters are left to keep plugging folks in hoping something will stick. Sometimes the HM has no idea what is in the market and/or depending upon why the role is open they are tainted in their search criteria and frankly often dump really good people like you for silly ridiculous reasons. He surely made his mind up before you reall even got going. I think in this situation you dodged a bullet and should find a company where the quality of your skills and what you did wherever you have been is portable to the next employer. It's not a waste of time to find out where you don't want to work and who is not a good employer. Imagine what it would have been like working for him with his unreasonable thinking! It was kind of audacious for him to suggest that the role was not for you, that is your choice not his. He simply forgot as well that interviews are a 2-way street and you get to pick too. And for the final comment her as a recruit you really are the buyer. So for the next reach out you get from a recruiter ask these questions up front so as not to have this same experience.

   Why is the role open? and for how long?

   What is the criteria the manager is considering for making their decision- skills, tenure at previous companies, salary, etc.?

   What is your interview process-how many steps, what duration, any testing, or portfolio /project work?

   When do you need to have someone in the role to start?

   Why did you choose me to reach out to?

   What will this person be expected to do in the first 30-60-90 days?

   If the recruiter cannot answer these questions be cautious about moving forward. A good internal recruiter should be able to.

   Move ahead with confidence here knowing that you will find an employer who will judge you more fairly next time! Good luck.

3. AnonymousDecember 5,2025 at 9:03PM UTC

   This happens more often than people realize. Recruiters screen for skills, while hiring managers screen for risk and stability; so the expectations don’t always align, and unfortunately the candidate gets stuck in the middle.

   That said, “longevity” is something you can address directly in future interviews. A simple, polished approach is:

   “Yes, my last few roles were shorter. Each move had a clear reason and a learning outcome. I left Company A because __, where I gained __. At Company B I developed __, and I’m now looking because __. What I’m seeking next is a long-term role where I can grow and contribute.”

   Framing it this way shows confidence, intention, and stability. Job tenure is shorter for many people today. The key is helping the hiring manager understand the why behind your choices and the commitment you’re ready to make now.

   Good luck.

4. AnonymousDecember 5,2025 at 9:17PM UTC

   I agree here. Be prepared and address the questions head on. Good luck.

5. Coach Nancie Kay ShumanDecember 5,2025 at 9:03PM UTC

   I work in the Entertainment Industry. Even in Corporate, which I have worked in, most jobs only last between a year and 2 years. Companies come and go, executives are expected to move, simply because of the preception that they are more valuable when they have left, thus gathering more information and expereice from another competitor. When I have applied for jobs in other industries, I have had to explain the. Results vary.

   In this case, I would simply write it off as someone who has a very closed mind and, unfortunately, can't see the bigger picture. It has nothing to do with you, personally. This need to see long term employment is about their need for security and a demonstration of loyalty. Which is all good, but somewhat unrealistic in this time period.

   You will find something perfect for you, and they will understand.

6. AnonymousDecember 6,2025 at 6:40PM UTC

   No, I did not get my foot in any doors. The recruiter's own manager said this. Also, I am not unemployed. I work as a contractor on an hourly basis, meaning that I do not have a lot of time. A lot of your assumptions here are incorrect.

7. AnonymousDecember 7,2025 at 1:30AM UTC

   The reason we are given for not being selected is rarely the truth, they just find something to pin it on. Take this lightly, but, take it as a warning.

   Develop your story so there is fluidity around your career and job changes. What are your reasons for leaving the companies?

   Did you work for a co which was acquired, and instead of looking like a longer stretch, it's broken into 2 distinct co on the resume? Were you actually recruited to a new co (excellent reason for leaving).

   The world isn't going to go with your program. Try to see how you can reframe your mindset and your resume, so it is more positive. Maybe you left co to do something important to you: school, missionary work, caregiving, raise a child, then slipped back into the marketplace. This can be woven into your story.

8. AnonymousDecember 8,2025 at 3:24PM UTC

   But definitely don't "weave" those last things into your interview because that's way too personal to share at that point. They'll automatically be questioning when you'll leave THEIR company for similar things.

9. AnonymousDecember 7,2025 at 1:08PM UTC

   So the Manager didn't specify that to the recruiter in advance? You dodged one as that's such an old school way of thinking. Especially with all the layoffs over the years.

   I had one hiring manager tell me the same thing. He then left that job and stayed at his next one for less than 6 months.

10. AnonymousDecember 7,2025 at 1:32PM UTC

    It's really weird that you wold make those assumptions without knowing the backstory. Lots of people get recruited while employed. Plus, being unemployed doesn't mean you have all the time in the world - you have no idea what is going on in someone else's life.

11. AnonymousDecember 7,2025 at 2:05PM UTC

    This happens to me a lot because I’ve don’t gig work in IT which is common now. I would chalk this one up to being happy you dodged a bullet - doesn’t sound like anything you’d be happy at with this guy anyway - he was checked out from the beginning

12. Jennifer WehrendDecember 7,2025 at 2:21PM UTC

    You can't win anymore. I've been at my current position for 15 years now and started looking and interviewers are shocked that I want to do something different. I don't get it.

13. AnonymousDecember 8,2025 at 4:09PM UTC

    You should do something different. New skills are in demand now.

14. Kayalucia LauwerysDecember 7,2025 at 2:58PM UTC

    Gwen, my career has similarly been chock-full of praise for my detailed attention to business partners.

    However, I also got feedback about being "too detailed" in Presentation decks, and on speaking events.

    The best advice I EVER had in this mixed message input was from a management course that started with "personality types".

    Basically, each of the 4 primary personality types are critiqued for their strengths when seen by an external audience.

    Realizing that my detailed and thoughtful responses ( which I still say are the real things, not the fluff ) were sailing through executives ears because they didn't get the importance of them, was game changing.

    I still have to work on "summarize", "keep it simple" ( KIS, koff ) and don't use AI for that. Have to rewire the brain, which is some work.

    Note, I see my detailing as a huge part of my success... and see the need to dumb it down as "playing to the crowd". Which helps. Don't need to educate or inform these folks.

15. GirlBossanova934974December 7,2025 at 3:06PM UTC

    Sounds like the recruiter and hiring manager are not on the same page. This goes on a lot these days. Hiring managers are playing a lot of political games these days. The problem is that the internal recruiter becomes the fall guy or fall girl for all their whims. Eventually, the internal recruiters put a big hard pass on the position. The position is then dropped or handed to a staffing agency where the same thing repeats.

16. AnonymousDecember 7,2025 at 3:50PM UTC

    Had the same issue the recruiter thought I was great and then the manager said I didn’t have management experience…

17. AnonymousDecember 7,2025 at 3:53PM UTC

    Anyone hiring these days who's using the "longevity" excuse is extremely out of touch with how the world has been since 2020. And if it was such a concern, the supervisor could have said no to a meeting based on your resume. Did they bother to ask why you were there for those durations? I had an interview once in which I was asked and do you know what this idiot said to me? "Wow, you're just really unlucky". Yup, that happened. It is NOT you. It's them.

18. AnonymousDecember 7,2025 at 6:33PM UTC

    Oh my gosh, I had an interviewer say almost the same exact thing to me! He followed it up by saying with my "unlucky history of working for companies that shut down, they would not feel comfortable hiring someone with such bad luck" as the last thing they wanted was their company shutting down!

19. AnonymousDecember 12,2025 at 2:35PM UTC

    Seriously. These idiots exist.

20. AnonymousDecember 8,2025 at 2:36AM UTC

    Unfortunately, this hiring manager didn't get the memo that this is the year 2025. People don't stay at jobs or the same company for 15 plus years. Layoffs are a reality. Top talent gets recruited away by companies that see their potential. People find opportunities to grow their career or feel as if they have done everything they can in their current roll. People take stop gap jobs to keep the lights on and food on the table while they are looking for something that is a better fit. In a world where staying in one roll too long can lead to career stagnation and being paid less than market rate, there is nothing wrong with and every incentive to move on every few years. If you were changing jobs every few months, this might be a different story. However, this manager sounds behind the times and out of touch with reality. You probably wouldn't want to work in a company with such a negative mindset.

21. AnonymousDecember 8,2025 at 1:38PM UTC

    I'm sensing that the supervisor wasn't being dismissive out of concern of your longevity but that he probably had someone else in mind to fill this role. And was looking for and found an excuse to not move forward with you. Otherwise, I'm not at all sure why would your length of employment even be an issue, especially if you're qualifications meet the role requirements.

22. Mary PattersonDecember 8,2025 at 2:13PM UTC

    They need the best people out here but they don’t want to pay!! Just want to waste your time. Prejudge the book by the cover because they don’t want to read it. Fear you are going to take their job!! The list goes on for foolishness!! Not rocket science but go figure.

23. Chinedu BenjaminDecember 8,2025 at 2:32PM UTC

    Surreal

24. AnonymousDecember 8,2025 at 3:46PM UTC

    I am so sorry, and I could not agree with you more. I have been in that space before where you are darned if you do and darned if you don't. Sounds like they had an internal candidate all along but had to post the position and hold interviews to make it look legit so they can hire the favorite but say we held dozens of interviews and we had our perfect candidate all along right here under our own roof.

    At the same time, if you had been at the same job with the same company for 25 years they probably would fault you for that - claiming 'well, in retrospect you've only just had the one job, and for that reason we can't move you forward due to the fact that you don't have that depth of vast experience that we are looking for.'

25. AnonymousDecember 9,2025 at 4:03AM UTC

    Didn't this interviewer have your resume in advance and would have said "no" to the recruiter? Sorry this happened to you.

26. siobhan taylorDecember 9,2025 at 2:49PM UTC

    You were probably not a good cultural fit for them but without knowing what the organisation was and being able to research them, you can't know.

    You need to do a deep dive into the interview - it sounds like something you may have said wrong was the deal breaker.

27. AnonymousDecember 9,2025 at 10:23PM UTC

    I believe the OP said that the interviewer mentioned her time at other positions “immediately.” Doesn’t even sound as if she had the opportunity to get a word in.

28. AnonymousDecember 12,2025 at 1:11PM UTC

    She doesn’t need to deep dive anything lol. Move on and prosper elsewhere.

29. AnonymousDecember 9,2025 at 6:00PM UTC

    What do you mean most jobs don't last that long? The majority of the people I know have been in their job for many years. I've been with my employer since 2004, my husband since he was a college student 30+ years ago. I know some industries are more transient - tech comes to mind. But I don't believe that is the majority.

30. AnonymousDecember 15,2025 at 1:36PM UTC

    Actually, I think you and yours are the anomaly. I was at one job for 12 years, once that ended I've found most jobs are wrapping up every two years or so. It would be so nice to have longevity again.

31. Bernard ClarkDecember 9,2025 at 7:07PM UTC

    Most likely, he just needed someone to be interviewed.

    Somewhat like a car salesman needs to have so many contacts.

32. AnonymousDecember 9,2025 at 10:25PM UTC

    This strikes me as rude.

33. Janet ParkhurstDecember 10,2025 at 5:07AM UTC

    Two years or so at a job or jobs is fine, in my opinion. It's certainly better than constant job gaps in your resume. I don't pay much attention to recruiters these days. They have quotas they must meet and really don't care about how they reach them. Conduct your own job hunt if you are looking.

34. Kim W.December 15,2025 at 1:33PM UTC

    I am so sorry. It sounds like an excuse, have they not heard or seen the news about this economy?

35. Darcie ThomasDecember 15,2025 at 1:54PM UTC

    Contract positions with agencies that are set to end at a certain time. Entrepreneurs that do consulting contracts would also be disqualied as a candidate. These people are worried about the time and not what skills you provide. It sounds like they would be a terrible employer. You dodged a bullet.