Recruiting can get monotonous and tiring. Whenever we talk about jobs and recruitment, we consider it to be a serious notion. But let us take some time off today and look at recruiting in a new light. Job seekers consider recruiters nothing less than devils standing at the door of hell and they believe whatever the recruiters say is right. But sometimes even experienced recruiters blurt out funny things during interviews, which do not make sense.
As Asia’s top recruitment company, we have interviewed a lot of recruiters and candidates and thought of shedding some light to the situations which usually occur during an interview.
1. “We are looking for someone with the insight of a 50-year-old, knowledge of a 40-year-old, drive of a 30-year-old and remuneration of a 20-year-old.”
Recruiters inadvertently look out for the best of candidates with the least amount of salary expectations and remain oblivious to the facts that are important to everyone including the people who work for them.
2. “We provide opportunities for growth and development.”
Wow, is that true? I was actually in search of a job where there is no room for growth or progress. I really wanted to work here, but growth? No, that isn’t in my itinerary. So, are recruiters lying? Not really but saying redundant things like offering growth could be a waste of time because candidates are most often looking to grow and most companies offer that.
3. “We need a Rockstar employee.”
I’m at a complete loss of words. Yes, I do love my own daily set of performances during my showers, but that’s about it. Rockstar and employee together? Contradicting, isn’t it? Honestly, I have noticed that recruiters use these terms a lot of times without realizing that most candidates would not understand such jargons.
4. When interviewing a fresher: “You have no experience, how can we hire you?”
So, you are saying I have to get experience before I get experience? Sure I have experience in making resumes and looking for jobs every day. I owe all my experience to recruiters like you, who wouldn’t take me due to my lack of industrial knowledge. Recruiters usually miss out on good candidates, who mightn’t have much experience but can bring in a lot of difference to the company.
5. “We seriously mean business and there is no time to waste.”
Recruiters often tend to get pushy with an expectation of getting the job done efficiently. Creating a sense of urgency can be a good sales tactic, but in this instance, employers can make prospective candidates wriggle out.
6. “We believe in a balanced work life”, immediately followed by “Would you be flexible with working extended hours, and on weekends?”
Didn’t you just contradict yourself? How can a balanced work life comprise of extended work hours? Recruiters might want to avoid the labor love and come to the point. This can save a lot of misunderstandings in future.
7. “We believe in the motto work hard, play harder.”
Seriously? With the amount of work you are going to pile on me, I am expected to work on weekends. The only thing I will be playing is, playing fake in front of you! Such things just make us wonder, do recruiters lie during interviews? Companies have the tendency to use such phrases when in reality the situation might not be so. A recruiter needs to be honest when recruiting a candidate.
8. “Do you think you could have performed better in your last job?”
Now, that is a million dollar question. Why would anyone answer this question with honesty? Who does everything perfectly? Given an opportunity anybody would want to perform better on their last job. Questions such as this are unnecessary. No particular outcome would come out of this.
9. “What are your weaknesses?”
My weaknesses? Well, I am a victim of procrastination. Plus I tend to get bored fast, I fail to complete my targets on time and I am pretty fickle-minded. No employee would reveal his/her weakness in front of a recruiter with the fear of failing the interview. So why ask?
10. “What were you making on your last job?”, “What is your salary expectation?”
Well, I would be comfortable with anything that you offer me, provided it pays off my insurances, loans and the weekly parties that I splurge on. The recruiters should do some research and always offer employees a competitive wage rather than paying the employee what their last job paid. Can I get an Amen?
Recruiting can be a grave task. Interviewing so many candidates each day is taxing. So sometimes it is justified on the recruiter’s part to make mistakes and say funny things during recruitment. But they have to keep in mind that “you can’t teach employees to smile, they have to smile before you hire them”. The key to successfully tackling such questions is to stop whining about how most recruiters lie and speak your mind.
Looking for an amazing career opportunity? Drop in your resumes at careers@sutrahr.com or call us now on +91 922 221 3194.
