The top 20 recruitment myths and why they are all untrue!

 

This post was originally inspired by an an article I read within one of the LinkedIn groups I am a member of. Then the inspiration took a mad turn....... after I posted an innocent question on Twitter this morning, asking what recruitment myths are a load of rubbish!!

In the original article, Rebecca Sargeant, talks about the biggest summer rumour of all - No one recruits in the summer.  Obviously, we all know that while it slows down in the summer, recruitment doesn't stop just because of the holiday season - after all not everyone has the same two weeks off do they?

Thanks to all the people that responded on Twitter today, because it has just expanded some of the things I was going to say! So here is a comprehensive list of recruitment myths that are complete bunkum:

1. No-one recruits in the summer. Read the post by Rebecca, as she is right. But the verdict from me is that it is bunkum - recruitment slows down and decision makers are hard to track down, but it still goes on!
2. Cover letters make a big difference. No they don't!! The only people that will tell you different are the career coaches that write them for a living, and all the 'older' candidates who do them, because they always have. If the content is good enough for a 'super' cover letter then put it in the CV!
3. Attaching (or embedding) a photo of yourself on a CV will enhance your application. For the models maybe (and maybe the entertainment industry), but for the vast majority of roles it may even have an adverse effect. (Check out my previous blog post to see what I mean.) My advice, don't do it!
4. Recruiters will call you back about a job. (via @andybold) This is so wrong but it happens - they promise to call you back about a job, but they never do. Don't take it personally they don't call anyone back!! Just make sure you call them instead!
5. Recruitment is easy and anyone can do it. (via @simonlewisomj and @nataliejayw )NO IT ISN'T >> as much as people think recruiters have an easy job making loads of ££££, they are sadly mistaken. Good recruiters are much sought after, because of their vast range of skills. Bad recruiters lack many core skills including communication, listening and relationship building. They should re-train as estate agents or car salesman where they would be better suited!!
6. There is a war for talent. (via @mervyndinnen) Mervyn, obviously believes this is a myth - the only myth I would like to de-bunk is that the war for talent has never stopped - it has always been hard to find good people (SEE No.5)
7. Recruiters are heartless sales people. (via @nataliejayw) & @callumsaunders She is right they are not (well not all of them anyway!) There are many that will listen, help and advise job seekers without having to be asked. I for one have taken the time to help as many people as I could, with free and useful tips and advice about finding a new job. A good number of recruiters do actually care.
   
8. Recruitment is just a sales business. (via @mervyndinnen) It is a sales business, of course, but it is so much more than that, and just because you can sell a product, doesn't mean you will succeed in dealing with the most unique product of all - one that answers back!!
9. Recruiters work on commission and therefore are only concerned about money. (via @callumsaunders) This is a biggy! Many recruiters are motivated by many other things, not just the money they can earn. Yes of course it comes into it, but many are driven by achievement and satisfaction as well.
10. Social media will change recruitment for ever. (via @alcartwright & @garyfranklin ) They both believe that it is over hyped and that recruitment via social media channels won't fundamentally change recruitment. (I actually disagree, I think it has done already - but that is another day's post).
11. LinkedIn is the holy grail for resourcing. (via @jamesswift) Absolutely. There is so much more to resourcing than relying on one channel - however good it is. Just don't forget your own databases and the work you have done to build your own candidate communities - they are vital to the lifeblood of it.
12. Recruitment is a complex process that needs managing by experts. (via @grahamsalisbury ) Recruitment is a straightforward process as Graham says, but while experts aren't needed, competent recruitment professionals are. Certainly over-complication is not needed.
13. Online recruitment will take over the role of recruitment agencies. (via @keithpotts ) Complete load of trash - they work hand in hand together, end of story!!
14. There is never enough talent. (via @garyfranklin) Rubbish - there is always enough talent - you just need to know where to look!!
15. Recruitment consultants generally add enough value to justify the fee. (via @grahamruddick) The recession has proved that many companies have seen through some of the crap service some of the agencies have been giving their clients. No longer will agencies get away with just post adds on jobboards, giving then the best four candidates and charging a full fee.<
16. A sourcer is a junior recruiter. (via @thesourceress) This is such a simple response - they are not!! They are a separate and sought after stand alone skill.
17. Placing a job spec for a recruitment advert will do.  (via @andsomepeople )No it won't - it is just damn lazy and short sighted! You need to write different types of advert copy for different mediums.
18. Recruiters are brand and HR experts as well. (via @mattalder) Why would they be? Just because you work in recruitment, it doesn't make you automatically qualified to be a brand, marketing or HR expert.
19. One man band recruitment companies are cowboys. (via @cloudninerec) This is complete rubbish - many of the best consultants out there work for themselves and provide a superb service to their clients. It is the service not the size that counts.
20. Recruiters are as bad as estate agents. I absolutely hate this general sweeping statement that I hear from people. In every industry there are good and bad examples of poor performers. Judge recruiters by your own experiences, don't be a lemming and jump on this bandwagon. There are plenty of good recruiters and estate agents out there, you just need to find the right one for you!

Thanks to everyone that joined in the debate on Twitter, and sorry if you didn't make the list above, but I had to draw a line somewhere.

Well there you go - some for to agree with and some, no doubt , you will disagree with! Please do, as this is what it is all about. The debate starts here (well actually in the comments below!)

And of course if I have missed any out, then please tell me below!!

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