1. No feedback. Nada. Zilch. None.

A recruiter schedules you for an interview with a client. You spend a few hours researching the company, practicing interview questions, ironing your dress shirt, and figuring out directions. You go the interview, feel that it went well, and await feedback from the recruiter.

Silence.

More often than not, ones who didn’t get the job never hear about the outcome, missing an important chance to learn why the client passed on them and about suggestions for future interviews.

2. Lack of common courtesies, such as replying to phone calls and emails

A recruiter calls you about a position that sounds interesting, so you tell the recruiter to go ahead and send your resume. Days pass, and there’s no word about next steps.

You email the recruiter. You leave a voice mail.

More silence.

Multiple candidates have expressed frustration about recruiters whose lack of basic professional etiquette and common courtesy casts a negative light over the recruitment firm and even the client company.

3. Submitting a resume without getting your permission

Your resume is your property, and you are entitled to know where and whom it is sent. Do not work with recruitment firms that send out your resume without your permission. While this practice does not happen now as frequently as it used to, stay alert.

4. Withholding the name of the company that receives your resume

Unless you are given a stated and valid reason from the recruiter about the need to keep the client confidential, the recruiter always should provide the name of the company that is seeking candidates.

Why? You want to research the potential employer, learn how your skills qualify you for the position, if the company’s culture is a good fit, etc.

We understand that there are legitimate reasons for keeping a company confidential, but you can ask for *some* details. The last thing you want is two different sources sending your resume to the same company.

5. Making you jump through hoops

One of our candidates shared that an agency told him to complete an application form on their website. No problem.

They then advised him that, in order to be top of mind for the firm, he would need to go into his profile on a daily basis and change one thing to keep his application active.

You are a busy professional, and your time should not be spent dealing with inefficient practices.

6. Contacting you about irrelevant, minor or outdated positions

A Solutions Architect client included on his resume one brief Citrix project from 8 years ago.

He still gets calls about Citrix Administrator positions.

Can be annoying as:

7. Not really listening to your requirements

When a recruiter meets with you, they should actively discuss your professional goals, take notes, and document your preferences regarding the industry, location, salary, position, etc.

The positions and companies that a recruiter, in turn, presents you should align with that conversation.

8. Knowing very little about the position or company

Candidates have told us about being approached for positions even though the recruiter does not know specifics about the company or the position. Much like a recruiter meeting with a candidate before presenting to a client, the recruiter should be able to describe the position and the company in some detail to a new candidate in the first phone call or email correspondence.

9. Not having knowledge in a specialized area such as IT

A candidate told us a story about receiving a call from a recruiter about a .NET position. In the middle of the conversation, the recruiter asked, “Do you have any experience with C Hashtag?”
Make sure the person you’re dealing with has basic knowledge in your field.

Otherwise, you can lose valuable time being presented for inappropriate positions. As you know, there are significant differences among and within professions, and the more experience that a recruitment firm has in a particular field, the better they can connect you with the right opportunities.

10. Treating you without respect

Ideally, a recruiter is a trusted partner in your career. Developing a respectful and candid relationship with a recruiter who has *your* best interests in mind can benefit you for decades.

Fortunately, the Vancouver recruitment industry is very relationship-based, and many recruiters strive to treat you with respect.

If you sense a disingenuous or used car salesperson attitude, keep looking. You deserve a satisfying and fulfilling experience with a recruiter.

Do those situations sound familiar to you? What else would you add to the list and why? Send us an email [OR leave a comment] about your experiences.

Since 2010, SIGnature Recruiting has operated with respect towards all of our candidates and clients, allowing us to become the preferred IT recruitment agency in Greater Vancouver area. If you are seeking such a relationship, let’s talk.