If a recruiting firm are not contacting you or returning your phone calls, you may be violating one of the unspoken rules of job hunting. An October 2012 survey conducted by online recruiting software company Bullhorn polled 1,500 recruiters and hiring managers about what annoys them most in the hiring process. Here are the most common things Bullhorn’s survey uncovered that irritate recruiters:
Applying for jobs outside your field of experience:
If your experience is in marketing, don’t apply for a job that requires a Master’s in Finance. More than 40 percent of recruiters surveyed noted applications from job hunters who have no experience or expertise for a certain position as their reason for not returning a candidates phone call or email. This can also be branched out into applying for jobs you are not qualified for. Recruiters and hiring managers don’t want to be inundated with resumes from people who don’t have the experience and skills required for the job. As the person who reviews website resume submissions, 9 out of 10 resumes I receive are from candidates who do not meet the job requirements that are posted.
Exaggerating your qualifications:
You want to sell yourself in your resume and during an interview, but do not make claims about your experience that you cannot back up. According to the Bullhorn survey, 21 percent of recruiters and hiring managers cited exaggerating skills and qualifications as a major turnoff. It is perfectly fine to say that you speak Spanish if you can fluently carry a conversation; but if your claim is backed up by the one Spanish class you took in high school it is best to leave it off your resume. If you really don’t possess the skills or qualifications that you detail on a resume and during an interview, it will become exposed eventually. (see our other post on Interview Tips and why honesty is always the best policy during an interview!)
Having too much contact with your recruiter
Following up on a resume, phone call or interview is one thing, but excessive calling and emailing is a major turnoff. Bullhorn discovered that 11 percent of recruiters said that they don’t want to hear from a job candidate, looking for a status update, more than once a week. It is okay to have more frequent communications if you are going through multiple interviews or have an understanding with the recruiter. AtlasAdvancement, Inc. Recruiting Manager Mija Saracevic says that she likes to keep in contact with candidates during the recruiting and hiring process, but excessive communication, every day for example, can be too much.
Salary is the most important thing to you:
Everyone wants a better salary but there are other things to take into account when making a job change including benefits, commuting time and overall workplace happiness. When money is your only focus, it can send the wrong message and annoy recruiters and hiring managers. A quarter of the recruiters surveyed cited this as bad behavior. It is also difficult to sell a candidate who is only in it for the money to a company.
Recruiters can be the bridge to your next opportunity. It is in their best interest to negotiate a higher salary so they will work hard to place you. Take our advice, and Bullhorn’s and steer clear of violating any of the unspoken rules of job hunting.