As recruiters, we’re often seen as matchmakers between talent and opportunity. But unlike a simple job posting and application process, recruitment is a nuanced and deeply human endeavor. It’s not just about ticking boxes or scanning through CVs; it’s about uncovering potential, understanding aspirations, and aligning individuals with opportunities where they can thrive.
Let me share a story that illustrates why truly getting to know your candidates can make all the difference—for them, for your clients, and for your own professional fulfillment.
A Tale of Two Recruiters
Recently, I encountered a candidate whose CV had been passed over to our client from another recruiter for a position that was only a small part of their capability and forwarded for a lesser role with significantly lower stakes and responsibilities. I can’t help but wonder if this recruiter had even spoken to this wonderful candidate. On paper, their experience seemed to align with that role, but something about their demeanor in a brief initial call caught my attention.
Rather than making a quick decision, I decided to dig deeper. Over a series of conversations, I explored not just their professional history but also their ambitions, achievements, and the challenges they’d navigated. I asked about the projects they were most proud of, the leadership roles they had taken informally, and their vision for their career.
What emerged was a picture of a deeply capable individual whose CV simply hadn’t captured the depth of their skills and experience. They had led transformative projects, mentored teams, and exhibited the kind of
strategic thinking that organisations and our client in particular in this situation craved in their senior leadership team. The “lesser role” they had been forwarded for was not only a mismatch but a disservice to their potential.
The Game-Changing Decision
Armed with this fuller understanding of the candidate, I presented them to our client for a senior leadership position that required vision, strategy, and high emotional intelligence. The result? They not only secured the role but are excelling beyond expectations, driving growth and innovation in ways that have earned them accolades from our clients imperative role.
This experience reinforced a fundamental truth about recruitment: knowing your candidates is not optional; it’s essential.
Why Surface-Level Assessments Fall Short
In today’s fast-paced recruitment landscape, it’s tempting to rely on CVs and surface-level assessments to match candidates with roles. However, CVs can only tell part of the story. They’re often condensed, overly modest, or fail to capture the candidate’s true potential. Here’s why deeper engagement matters:
- Uncovering Hidden Strengths: Many candidates undersell themselves on paper. Through conversations, you can unearth the breadth and depth of their experience, including transferable skills and untapped potential.
- Understanding Aspirations: A CV can’t tell you where a candidate sees themselves in five years or what truly motivates them. These insights are invaluable in aligning them with the right opportunity.
- Building Trust: Taking the time to get to know your candidates shows that you value them as individuals, not just as a means to fill a vacancy. This builds trust and rapport, which can lead to stronger outcomes for all parties involved.
- Enhancing Client Satisfaction: Clients rely on us to present not just qualified candidates but the best candidates. By delving deeper, you’re more likely to make placements that exceed client expectations.
How to Truly Know Your Candidates
- Ask Open-Ended Questions: Move beyond the CV by asking about their proudest achievements, challenges overcome, and lessons learned.
- Listen Actively: Pay attention not just to what they say but how they say it. Passion and enthusiasm are often as telling as the content of their words.
- Explore Beyond the Obvious: Look for examples of leadership, innovation, or resilience that might not be immediately apparent.
- Build a Relationship: Stay in touch, offer guidance, and support them throughout the recruitment process. Your investment in their success fosters long-term loyalty and trust.
Why a Solid Recruitment Partner is Vital for Clients
This story also highlights another key point: the importance of having a reliable recruitment partner who goes beyond the superficial. For our client, the other recruiter’s surface-level approach could have meant missing out on a game-changing candidate. It was only through our commitment to truly understanding the individual’s potential that the right match was made.
Here’s why partnering with a diligent recruitment agency matters:
- Deep Candidate Insights: A great recruitment partner invests time in understanding not just qualifications but character, ambition, and cultural fit. This ensures that the candidates presented are not just capable but the best fit for the role and the organization.
- Access to Hidden Talent: Some of the most exceptional candidates don’t fit neatly into traditional CV templates. A skilled recruiter knows how to identify and highlight these hidden gems.
- Time and Resource Efficiency: Clients often don’t have the bandwidth to dive deeply into every candidate’s profile. A trusted recruitment partner does the heavy lifting, presenting only the most suitable candidates.
- Reduced Risk: Making a bad hire can be costly. A recruitment partner’s rigorous vetting process minimizes the risk of mismatches, saving time, money, and resources.
Recruitment is about more than filling roles; it’s about shaping careers and contributing to the success of organisations. By taking the time to know your candidates, you’re not just doing your job—you’re transforming lives and creating value that ripples far beyond the immediate placement.
So, the next time you’re faced with a stack of CVs, remember: the gold is often in the conversations, not just the paper. Get to know your candidates . You might just uncover a diamond in the rough, ready to shine.
