The JobSync Blog
Sympathy for the overwhelmed recruiter
August 31, 2011
If you are a corporate recruiter in today’s job market, you’re probably feeling less like a head hunter and more like your head’s hunted.
And it should come as no surprise. With over 14 million U.S. workers looking for employment, recruiters are not only inundated with requests for help at the office but are also confronted routinely outside of work by those desperate for tips and advice. Whether it’s help tweaking a resume, advice for interviewing, or guidance to a new job, recruiters report being approached with greater frequency by friends, acquaintances, friends of acquaintances, and acquaintances of acquaintances.
What’s making matters worse for recruiters is their presence on social media. While social media has expanded their networks and allowed recruiters to interact with far larger circles of job seekers, this access has come with a price. To their chagrin, it is now easy for recruiters to be approached by acquaintances and strangers on sites such as Facebook and LinkedIn. In response, many recruiters are now sharply restricting access to their social media profiles. In addition, they are also trying to limit distribution of their cell phone numbers and email addresses.
If you are a recruiter who is feeling bewildered and overwhelmed by unfamiliar job seekers, it’s worth keeping a few things in mind:
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Try and be helpful. Yes, it may be aggravating and time-consuming at times, but today’s charity case could be tomorrow’s prize candidate.
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Don’t put off candidates. That job hunter trying to get a hold of you may very well be supremely talented and just the kind of candidate you’re looking for right now.
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Empathize. As a recruiter, you probably know all too well how difficult it is to court someone on the phone who just isn’t into you.
With a little patience and understanding, hopefully companies will soon make these jobless solicitors feel as wanted as you are.
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