Why are recruiters so secretive with job details?

20 Comments

1. AnonymousApril 11,2024 at 8:17PM UTC

   These recruiters usually know very little about the role or the company. They are simply trying to line up some candidates. There are usually inside and outside recruiters working the same few openings.

2. AnonymousApril 11,2024 at 8:30PM UTC

   I assume you are talking about independent (outside) recruiters, not a recruiter at the company's site. They are very vague because they don't know. They are paid to send candidates to companies that can check off certain boxes on their JD and skills list so they have no knowledge of day-to-day operations at the company. They get commissions if the company hires you. If the recruiter isn't giving you what you need, bypass them next time and go directly to the company site. You are not obligated to allow them to gatekeep for you unless you signed a contract stating so or the company only uses this recruiter for leads.

3. AnonymousApril 11,2024 at 8:33PM UTC

   Yes, they are cryptic. I was one. I'll give you the secret. They have competing firms. If they tell you their client's name, and you submit your resume directly either through the client's website or their HR group, they cannot submit you. And yes, another secret, many firms have quotas of how many phone calls, emails, etc. they must reach to keep their jobs. I was there and remember it well. But personally, I never worked unethically as I treated my candidates as human beings, not numbers. Many times they hold the key and are hired to find candidates and the employer does not post. But sometimes, the employer does post on their own. Either find a reputable recruiter, staffing firm, or go directly to the site and apply. I know it's exhausting trust me, we are all job seekers. I always told my candidates, though I may be hiring for the same job and company as my competition, remember this, the staffing firms are your employers. Decide which one you want to represent you to the same employer. I still to this day can read the postings of recruiters and figure out the employer if local. When you look at postings from staffing firms for example, see if they sound alike. If they do, it's the same company. Then discern which firm is the best one for you to work or to represent you to their client. I hope this helps some but don't give up. There are wonderful recruiters out there, you just gotta dig to find them.

4. AnonymousApril 12,2024 at 3:26AM UTC

   Any advice on how to find a good recruiter to work with? I found one good one, but unfortunately like you, that person is no longer a recruiter.

5. AnonymousApril 12,2024 at 9:45PM UTC

   If you go with a staffing firm google reviews on them. Look up the recruiters on LinkedIn and see how long they have been with the company. If they have been there at least 2 years, they should be pretty reliable. The lifespan of any recruiter is about 2 years. I did it for about 12. It's a dog eat dog world and highly competitive. Look up national firms. I hesitate to give you the list but firms are more reliable than some dude working on his own and submitting you. Do you live in a large city, such as Charlotte, Atlanta, New York, etc? If a medium sized city, it's easier to find one but the candidate pool is small.

6. AnonymousApril 13,2024 at 6:36PM UTC

   It doesn't sound like the recruiters fault. But it does sound like an odd system we've normalized over the past few decades that's (mostly) based on gatekeeping for relevancy.

   I do however, like working with firms that are the main entry point to getting hired (if the company isn't publicly posting jobs on their own site). The others seem to waste people's time and their own in an effort to create their own need.

7. AnonymousApril 11,2024 at 11:39PM UTC

   Sounds like they have something to hide!! While income is important, not all jobs are worth having.

8. AnonymousApril 12,2024 at 12:59PM UTC

   They never want you to know the company out of fear you will share it and then they lose having control over an exclusive with the employer

9. AnonymousApril 12,2024 at 5:25PM UTC

   I don't know that that is necessarily true. In the last two weeks, I have had 3-4 separate recruiters, from separate agencies, reach out to me for the exact same position. They did not disclose the employer but given the info they did share on the role (including pay range), it matched an open position that I've been seeing for a while (the employer even reached out to me about it last year).

10. AnonymousApril 12,2024 at 9:40PM UTC

    If you work in a very large city the employer may be hard to figure out. But if you live in a medium size city like me with large employers, it's really easy. Which is why I creatively wrote my descriptions on the job boards. Not to dismiss using recruiters, since I was one, but honestly, see if you can find opportunities at companies you are interested in. I am not sure what type of role you're seeking but I work with hundreds of companies across the country. Most have application links on their sites. From financial institutions to Consumer Packaged Goods (aka CPG). Look at your city and see if they offer job fairs, or if your alma mater (if degreed) has a recruiting system. There is much work out there and it's not necessarily through a recruiter. Trust me. Use LinkedIn to your advantage and upload your resume there. LI has tons of jobs listed as well. Good luck to you!

11. AnonymousApril 12,2024 at 4:37PM UTC

    You need to understand and also ask before you engage what kind of recruiter they are. If they are a contingent one then yes they get paid and earn a commission for guiding you through and presenting you to their client. They often have a signed contract but sometimes do not and that is just how they get their business. If they are on a container or retained or exclusive, they have money up front and often will give a bit more info. There is a good link to explain how it works that I will share here.

    https://medium.com/aviahire/the-top-7-types-of-recruiters-in-the-industry-e81e99fdd20

    Additionally, if you are in a state that does require salary disclosure definitely file a complaint if you are not getting that information. They have to provide you with a range even if they are a 3rd party.

12. AnonymousApril 13,2024 at 6:31PM UTC

    Who can we file a complaint with though?

13. AnonymousApril 12,2024 at 5:24PM UTC

    It's been my experience typically when it's a third-party recruiter, what's not immediately disclosed is the company and there could be a variety of reasons for that. I just went through the process a few months (ultimately did not get the job) - it was a confidential hire...confidential because it was to replace the person currently in the role as they were on their way out due to performance. We do that frequently where I work (which irritates me because too frequently this is a manager going outside of process and not doing anything to address an employee's performance).

14. Stephanie Branch LekowskiApril 12,2024 at 6:07PM UTC

    I think it's to keep potential candidates for trying to make an end run around them to speed up the process.

15. AnonymousApril 13,2024 at 6:29PM UTC

    This doesn't seem legal! Stealing job posts from the company and inserting themselves as a middle man takes talented applicants time and energy away from potentially getting a job that they could have applied for directly. I've seen it happen so many times that after applying and talking on the phone, the recruiter is like "Oops sorry the company just closed the role!" after promising a follow up interview.

    Maybe they don't even have a contract with said company... I'd encourage everyone to try and find out if the job is posted through the actual company first.

16. AnonymousApril 13,2024 at 6:36PM UTC

    You should check out the conversation (recently) about hiring processes being a joke! Your comment is so (sadly!!) accurate!!!

17. AnonymousApril 14,2024 at 6:39PM UTC

    Let's not call external contingency recruiters who work on commission like any other sales person slimy. If you get pitched by one and this is how they make their living then just say no. Everyone gets hit up by marketers, sales people, and recruiters. When you do need one just like what you do Ms Hiring Manager please be kind and if you don't need their help or services professionally tell them to take you off their solicitations list. I run an internal talent team for one of the biggest companies out there and they solicit us too but I am firm as are my very professional recruiters when we don't need their help. Let's respect the profession, the job is hard enough without your name calling.

18. AnonymousApril 14,2024 at 11:43PM UTC

    I think the issue is, most people don't know the difference between external recruiters who might be stealing job posts in order to wedge themselves in as a potential middle man, and recruiters that are legitimately employed by the company they're finding good candidates for.

    It wastes candidates time and takes an emotional toll especially during a tough job market when these third party recruiters take up candidates time that could be spent applying directly (and avoid the position being filled faster than non contracted recruiters would be aware of).

19. AnonymousApril 15,2024 at 4:03PM UTC

    Correct but I still stand behind not using name calling here. It's simply not appropriate. We need to educate folks on the vast types of recruiters out there. In-house, contingency, container, retained, executive. Some or all are also on commission like sales people. Some work both sides of the relationship selling the client and finding the candidate and others work only on one. That is how they get paid or they could work for nothing if they don't fill a work order/lead. I tell anyone who is looking for work and is approached by someone who calls themselves a recruiter or talent person to ask how they get paid. If they work on commission then you are bait on the end of their hook. And generally they spend their day fishing for the right fish. If they do bring a role to you that you have not personally identified yourself they might just help you get that job if they have a strong or exclusive listing with that company. Ask the questions people, find out what kind of recruiter you are dealing with and be respectful in all interactions. They are only doing their job which is to help you find employment or to fill a role for a client.

20. AnonymousSeptember 11,2024 at 4:32PM UTC

    How in the world have random spam comments with irrelevant, odd stories and data-stealing links made it to fairygodboss?! This isn't Facebook lol. Please FGB mods, can we start screening for this junk?