Recruitment in 2022 is like dating

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The worlds of recruitment and of dating both changed astronomically in the last few years. But who would have thought that in 2022 recruitment would be more like dating than ever before?

It’s a two-way conversation

Traditionally, recruitment processes have given employers the power of choice, holding their cards close to their chest, making candidates jump through hoops to be considered for a role.

Fortunately, for the candidate market, this dynamic is quickly changing. Given the high volume of roles currently in market in most sectors, candidates have more say in the future of their career journey. Just like finding that spark with a special someone, finding a job is about candidates interviewing an employer to find a job and connection that’s right for them as well.

To make the most out of this process, job seekers need to ask the right questions to better understand the role and business. Make sure these are things that will demonstrate your interest in finding the right role (partner), rather than basic questions like “what are the working hours?”

Check our article on asking high impact questions to an interviewer – often, interviewers are disappointed if you don’t ask good questions.

Introductions are becoming less formal

Given how much time we spend at work, making sure it’s the right fit is important for all parties. Because of this, we are seeing a change in the format of the interview (dating) processes to ensure a good future relationship.

In many businesses, we are seeing a casualisation of the recruitment process, with initial stages being focused on the right culture and job fit rather than technical aspects, with more coffee-style catch-ups (or in the peak of COVID even “walking interviews”) as a first step to getting to know each other.

While this takes the pressure off in the first instance, job seekers need to still put in the right amount of preparation prior to any interview, as you can only make a first impression once!

It’s always a great idea to show a little personality in your resume and online profiles: join relevant groups, follow thought leaders, share interesting content, and feel free to include key interests.

It's all online

Just like how dating has gone digital thanks to the likes of Tinder and Bumble, your online profile in your job search is more important than ever. Recruiters and hiring managers alike will often check out a candidate’s online profile alongside their resume.

So if you’re getting active on the job search, your LinkedIn profile should be up to date and optimised to ensure you appear in relevant searches and potential employers can clearly understand your capabilities. While you’re at it, it probably doesn’t hurt to make sure your personal social profiles are set to private too – just in case!

Don’t just swipe right at something good looking

To ensure your next career step is the right one, do your research to find out more about your potential employer, the culture, and opportunities. You can ask your friends and network for advice and check out social media and websites like Glassdoor. Speaking to a specialist recruiter who knows the industry can also provide you with the insight you need to ensure a lasting relationship.

​Ghosting is a NO-NO

Just like dating, ghosting from any side is not cool.

​Employers and candidates alike are guilty of ghosting recruiters, just as some recruiters can fail to respond to candidates about a job opportunity. If a recruiter hasn’t responded to you, it’s a good idea to follow up and check in. Especially in the current market, recruiters are often hiring for many roles at once and can easily miss getting back to a candidate.

Hiring managers can be guilty of ghosting too, often delaying providing feedback on candidates to recruiters after an interview. This makes it difficult for recruiters to keep candidates updated on the recruitment process and dampens the overall candidate experience. In a competitive job market, companies that are slow to respond during the recruitment process will miss out on hiring the people they need.

As a job seeker, if you are in a recruitment process at any stage and decide the opportunity is not right for you, let your recruiter know. We are all busy, but it doesn’t reflect well if you’ve started down the road and then disappear altogether, especially for future career opportunities. Even if you are not quite sure or are interviewing for another role, be honest with your recruiter and keep the lines of communication open.

Recruiters are the matchmakers who can connect you with your perfect job, so to avoid future heartbreak it pays to stay in contact.

Create a jobseeker profile and talk to a specialist recruiter to kickstart your next career move.​