What candidates want from a recruiter

Now that it’s become a candidates’ market, knowing what a potential hire wants from a recruiter can make all the difference.

In an attempt to get some answers job board CV-Library polled 2,400 active job hunters from a variety of demographic groups across the UK, in a bid to answer top recruiting questions such as; ‘why am I having a problem getting through to candidates?’ and ‘how can I improve my job adverts?’

Questions were split into three categories, pertaining to what candidates want from recruiters, their job hunt and the interview process itself. The survey aimed to provide an honest insight into the needs of the UK’s job hunting population.

When asked about their method of choice to begin a job search, 35% of candidates said they would initially look on a job board. This is almost double the number whose first port of call is to contact recruiters (18%).

The survey also found that majority of candidates like to have the option of searching and applying for jobs on the move. 55.5% of those polled use a job hunting mobile app or would consider doing so in the future.

With today’s working population often time-poor, job hunting can be a productive way to spend those precious moments on a commute – it should no longer be necessary to spend evenings and weekends hunched over a computer writing cover letters.

In turn, recruiters can expect to receive a more even distribution of job applications throughout the day. To secure the best candidates for vacancies, recruiters need to get rid of ingrained habits and employ reactive tactics.

CV-Library said this means that top candidates can appear at any time during the day. Don’t leave it to chance and only hit the job boards first thing in the morning – create alerts that actively inform you when a candidate has uploaded their CV.

Researchers then asked respondents to comment on their relationships with recruiters. Data shows that most candidates prefer to conduct an initial meeting with a recruiter in person (46.5%). 30.8% would rather use the phone, 20.5% email, and a mere 2.1% would choose to video call a recruiter in the first instance.

In regards to maintaining relationships with recruiters, 52.7% of UK job seekers would prefer email contact, 43% to converse by phone, 3.8% text, and a minimal 0.6% by video call.

In conclusion, CV-Library commented: “With agencies often targeting consultants on phone time, the mere suggestion that they may have more luck corresponding via email might send recruitment managers across the country reeling in shock. Now, we’re not suggesting that email could ever replace the flow of human conversation, but you can’t ignore the data – the people have spoken and our research suggests that job seekers are more comfortable communicating by email than they are on the phone.”