{"id":84936,"date":"2024-06-07T11:58:35","date_gmt":"2024-06-07T15:58:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/rbach.net\/blog\/index.php\/"},"modified":"2024-06-07T11:58:35","modified_gmt":"2024-06-07T15:58:35","slug":"dont-let-a-bad-recruiter-control-your-job-search","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rbach.net\/index.php\/dont-let-a-bad-recruiter-control-your-job-search\/","title":{"rendered":"Don’t Let A Bad Recruiter Control Your Job Search"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Don't<\/a>I have seen several people changing jobs with a recruiter lately. It\u2019s common knowledge that transitioning between jobs can be stressful, and poor recruiters can exacerbate this stress. I\u2019m sure many of us have received calls, voicemails, or emails about the next \u201cgreat opportunity\u201d because our resumes contained the right keywords.<\/p>\n

\"When<\/a>When you return their call, perhaps feeling desperate or a bit masochistic, the recruiter begin to demand information. Often, they haven\u2019t even read your resume. Liz Ryan<\/a> CEO\/founder of Human Workplace<\/a>, author of Reinvention Roadmap<\/em><\/a>, and a blogger at Forbes<\/a><\/em>\u00a0offers some advice on how to handle poor recruiters in her article,\u00a0Ten Things Recruiters ‘Need To Know’ — That Are None Of Their Business.<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Some recruiters are amazing<\/h3>\n

Ms. Ryan points out the obvious, that some recruiters are amazing<\/strong> partners who can assist you in landing a new job when you\u2019re ready. A good recruiter<\/strong> will ask pertinent questions and keep you updated on the status of your application. Unfortunately though, it is very easy for almost anyone to become a recruiter. This is why there are so many unprofessional, rude, and pushy ones out there, and you need to be prepared to deal with them.<\/p>\n

\"something<\/a>It\u2019s important to communicate to a recruiter when they\u2019re asking you to do or say something with which you’re not comfortable<\/strong> with. One of the first signs that you\u2019re dealing with a rude and unprofessional recruiter may appear in your initial phone call or email conversation.<\/p>\n

The unprofessional recruiter<\/h3>\n

Unprofessional recruiters will ask questions \u2014 like the ones below that are none of their business<\/strong> whatsoever. They might ask intrusive questions and insist, \u201cI need to have this information<\/em>.\u201d They may even become irritable with you.<\/p>\n

\"control<\/a>If a recruiter tells you, \u201cYou must answer my questions, or I\u2019ll remove you from my candidate list<\/em>,\u201d you should respond with, \u201cGo ahead and drop me!<\/strong>\u201d and then end the call. They don\u2019t truly \u201cneed\u201d your answers; they just want them desperately so they can control the conversation<\/strong>. Ms. Ryan provides some potential responses to the most inappropriate questions from poor recruiters.<\/p>\n

How to respond to bad recruiter questions<\/h3>\n
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Bad Recruiter: <\/em><\/strong>What is your current salary?<\/strong><\/dt>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
You: <\/strong><\/em>If I decide to change jobs, I’ll be targeting a position that pays around $75,000.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
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Bad Recruiter:\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>What other companies are you interviewing with?<\/dt>\n
You: <\/strong><\/em>I\u2019m actively job-hunting, but as you can understand, my job search activities are confidential, just like the identities of the other candidates being interviewed for this job.<\/dd>\n
Bad Recruiter:\u00a0<\/em>Can you provide proof of your last year’s earnings?<\/strong><\/dt>\n
You:\u00a0<\/strong><\/em>If your client requires written proof of my compensation then they are not the right employer for me.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Bad Recruiter: <\/strong><\/em>Can you send me your list of references immediately?<\/dt>\n
You: <\/em><\/strong>I can provide that when an employer has expressed strong interest in me, and I have reciprocated that interest, further down the line.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
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Bad Recruiter:<\/em>\u00a0I must ask all my questions first. Then, I can listen to your questions.
\n<\/strong><\/dt>\n
You:<\/strong><\/em> Recruiters should respect your time. Selling candidates on job opportunities, and selling employers on candidates, requires listening. Any recruiter who insists that their questions must be answered before the candidate gets to ask any questions is not competent.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n

More bad recruiter questions<\/h3>\n
\n
Bad Recruiter:\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>What’s the lowest salary you would accept?<\/dt>\n
You:\u00a0<\/strong><\/em>I\u2019m targeting $75,000 in this job search.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Bad Recruiter:\u00a0<\/em>What makes you an exceptional candidate?<\/strong><\/dt>\n
You:\u00a0<\/strong><\/em>You reached out to me based on my LinkedIn profile, correct? What aspects of my profile piqued your interest?<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
\"Bad<\/a>Bad Recruiter:\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>What did your manager say about your performance on your most recent performance review?<\/dt>\n
You:\u00a0<\/strong><\/em>If you have concerns about my qualifications or competence, there\u2019s no point in continuing this conversation. If you believe I\u2019m a suitable candidate for a job opportunity you\u2019re working on, please share the details with me.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
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Bad Recruiter: <\/em><\/strong>What size pay raise did you receive last year?<\/dt>\n
You:\u00a0<\/strong><\/em>I\u2019m targeting jobs in the $75,000 range. Does this job offer a salary close to that number?<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
\n
Bad Recruiter:<\/em><\/strong> Are you considered a top performer in your current job?<\/dt>\n
You:\u00a0<\/strong><\/em>I haven\u2019t heard enough about the opportunity you contacted me about to determine whether it makes sense for us to continue our conversation. Could you please provide more details about that position now?<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
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Bad Recruiter:<\/em><\/strong> Don\u2019t call me or email me to ask for status updates during your interview process. If I have any news from the client, I\u2019ll let you know.<\/dt>\n
You:\u00a0<\/strong><\/em> Run away! A good sales person should keep you updated, no matter what is happening or not happening. A Recruiter should have good follow-through and build relationships to get feedback from their clients who are interviewing one of their candidates.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n

rb-<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Don’t be afraid to walk away from a bad recruiter interaction. Remember, it’s your career, and you deserve to be treated with respect. By learning to identify red flags and advocate for yourself, you can navigate the job search with confidence.
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