He sold me the job well!

I can’t even begin to tell you how many times I’ve heard people tell me that the recruiter who hired them did a great job of selling the role.?

It’s not meant in a positive tone. This is them expressing that they were not properly informed of the realities and expectations of the job. It implies that the recruiter covered the truth and, glammed it up to close the deal or purposely left out significant details to secure the hire.

I always felt that it is better to share more than not enough. Since this is often true in our personal lives, it is just as important in the workspace and when shopping for your next gig.

Whether we are dealing with a passive candidate we sourced or with a direct motivated candidate, offering a detailed description of the day-to-day operations, environment and expectations is crucial to land a great hire - one who will grow and thrive at the company.

Would you eat at a restaurant without looking at the menu or price range? Would you settle into a home you never visited (virtually or in person)? Would you buy a car without test driving it? Would you go on a trip without packing some luggage? I think you get the point.

Preparation is a shared responsibility between the recruiter/headhunter and the candidate.

Great recruiters understand their mandate. They conduct intake meetings, ask all the right questions, and collect all the knowledge they need so that they can advocate for candidates who align with hiring managers’ expectations, but to also set the candidate up for success by setting proper expectations through a realistic job preview. ?

Could you, as a job seeker or passive candidate, put the blame on recruiters who do not do their homework? Definitely. Recruiters are human, they make mistakes, and some are more seasoned than others. Could they really have (intentionally or unintentionally) withheld certain aspects of the job just to close? Certainly.

Remember to do your research before the interview and interview the company just as much as they’re interviewing you.

No one should ever walk into a job blindly or missing crucial information that can determine the outcome of their success and happiness.

Taking the time to carefully review the job with candidates is beneficial for their own well-being, but also to help prepare them for the next step in the interview process.

He sold me the job well should be replaced by, he prepared me well!

#insidearecruiter