Life Of A Recruiter

Dedicated to all the recruiters, unsung heroes of the staffing world

Opportunity, Req, Requisition, Requirement, Candidate, Consultant, Placement, Offer. These are some of the words that form a recruiter’s workspace. They live and dream in this realm.

Let us look at a typical work day of a recruiter.

He treads into office and promptly logs on to his computer. Eyes lit up at the sight of an e-mail response from a candidate who he had tried to reach out to the previous day. But then he sees the candidate’s pay rate expectations. Hopes dashed. And so the day begins. Day filled with Boolean searches, resume reviews, phone calls, voice mails and e-mails. In between, there are enquiries from the ‘Account Manager’, “Where are the resumes? It has been over a day now since you got that req. Client is moving fast. We have to deliver.” Race against time begins. Every resume in the search is opened with the hope that this could be the one bringing in the next placement from the client. After what seems like an eternity, there comes a breakthrough. A promising profile of someone who seems to be out of a job, has the right match of skills and seems like may fit in the client’s budget. Hopes raised. A phone call is made, pleasantries exchanged and then comes the all-important question, “Are you in the market right now for a new job?” “Yes”, is the reply from the other end. After the mandatory screening questions and scribbled notes, the next important question, “What are your rate expectations?” “What are you willing to pay?” is the reply from the candidate. Now the recruiter is in a quandary. Should he tell the candidate the rate range or should he push the candidate to name his price first. A judgment call is made and recruiter discloses the rate range. Reply from the other end is swift, “I will be okay with the upper limit of this range”. The recruiter proceeds to ask some other questions and then sends the customary ‘Right to Represent’ e-mail to the candidate, requesting him/her to reply quickly so the resume can be submitted to the client. After a couple of curt reminders, the candidate sends the reply for the ‘right to represent’ e-mail and then the recruiter quickly submits the resume to the account manager for further processing. Account manager skims through the resume, points out some mistakes or expresses some doubts about the candidate credentials, but after some coaxing and cajoling, sends the resume forward to the client.

Now another waiting game begins. Client likes the candidate, client likes him not is the question. Client likes him, requests an interview. Yippee! Recruiter is happy, says to self, “I knew it”. Candidate is contacted over the phone but no response. Voice mail box is full. E-mail is sent. No response. Recruiter is biting his nails. What if the candidate does not respond on time? It has already been 2 hours, since e-mail has been sent. Another phone call is made. No response. More nervous moments. It is almost end of the day now. Phone rings. It is the candidate. Phew! But he is not available to take interview for next 2 days. Well, you see, he is the candidate. He is in demand. He has other interviews. Time is an issue. Recruiter pushes a bit and gets a time slot of 3 days later. Interview happens as scheduled. Candidate says, “Interview went well. I think they like me”. But then, which candidate tells you that the interview did not go well. Now more wait. Account manager follows up with the client for feedback. Client is non-committal, “We are interviewing more candidates. Will let you know soon.” Soon turns out to be 3 days. They want to hire the recruiter’s candidate. Hip, hip, hurray!.

Recruiter is all excited, calls the candidate. Mr. Candidate is excited too but asks, “What was the pay rate again?” Recruiter is aghast. How come he does not remember the rate we agreed to? Why is he asking for the pay rate again? Is he going to ask for more money? These and some more questions pop into the recruiter’s mind at the same time. Candidate is reminded of the pay rate. “Hmm’, is the reply from the other end. Recruiter’s mind is racing. What does ‘Hmm’ mean? A ‘yay’ or ‘Nay’? Candidate tries his best to get the rate increased but recruiter stands his ground. Candidate says he has other opportunities, would need some time to think. Recruiter is at wit’s end but ‘Candidate is King’. Tells him that he has to get back to the client, so an early decision will help. Background checks have to be done, contract paperwork has to be completed etc. etc.

Recruiter is in luck. The candidate has agreed to work on the previously agreed upon rate. Drumroll!

Background check is completed on time and candidate is on-boarded successfully. Ka-Ching!

All’s well that ends well!

I wish all the recruiters more happy endings. But remember, all stories do not end happily. Keep your spirits up, smile and dial!