A Recruiter’s Perspective: What We Look for in Candidates

A Recruiter’s Perspective: What We Look for in Candidates

As a recruiter, our job is to connect the right candidates with the right companies. But what do we actually look for during the hiring process?

If you’ve ever wondered how we evaluate applications, conduct interviews, and make hiring decisions, here’s a quick look at what we prioritize when working with candidates.

1. Looking for the Right Fit

I’m not just looking for someone with the right skills, but someone who will also fit well within the company’s culture. It’s about finding a balance between experience, personality, and long-term potential.

2. Resumes/CV: Keep It Clear and Relevant

Your resume is my first impression of you, so it needs to be clear, concise, and tailored to the job. I’m scanning for relevant experience and measurable achievements that match the role’s needs. Avoid clutter and focus on your top skills and accomplishments.

3. The Interview: Communication Is Key

During interviews, I’m looking for strong communication skills, enthusiasm for the role, and whether you’ll thrive in the company’s work environment. It’s not just about what you know, but how you present yourself and your ability to connect with the team.

4. Feedback and Communication

Keeping you informed is important to me. If you’re not selected, I aim to provide constructive feedback. I also work to keep you updated throughout the process, whether you’re moving forward or have received an offer.

5. Negotiation and Support

Once an offer is made, I’m here to help with salary negotiations and ensure you get a fair deal. I also support you throughout the onboarding process, ensuring a smooth transition into your new role.

What is a Partnership?

Ultimately, our job as a recruiter is to find the right fit for both you and the company. Clear communication, a tailored resume, and enthusiasm go a long way in helping you stand out. By understanding what I’m looking for, you can increase your chances of success and make the hiring process a partnership.

Essential CV Tweaks: What to Add and Remove to Land Your Dream Job

Essential CV Tweaks: What to Add and Remove to Land Your Dream Job

5 Important things to ADD

Tailored Professional Summary – Craft a tailored professional summary or objective at the top of your CV that highlights your most relevant skills, experience, and career goals aligned with the job you’re applying for.

Summary of Technical Skills – A separate section detailing your technical expertise such as coding languages, software, and many more that’s relevant to the job you’re applying for.

Keywords from the Job Description – Incorporate relevant keywords from the job description into your CV, particularly for technical and soft skills. Many companies use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) that scan for specific keywords.

Leadership Experience – Even if you haven’t held formal leadership roles, showcasing instances where you’ve managed teams, projects, or initiatives helps demonstrate leadership potential.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) or Metrics for Past Achievements – Whenever possible, quantify your achievements “Increased sales by 30% over 6 months”. This makes your achievements more tangible and impactful.

5 Things you have to REMOVE

Irrelevant Job Experiences – Only list job roles that are directly related to the position you’re applying for. Remove jobs from many years ago that don’t contribute to your qualifications.

Unnecessary Personal Information – Personal details such as your date of birth, marital status, or Social Security number are not needed in modern CVs. They may even lead to unconscious bias or privacy concerns.

References to Age or Graduation Dates – Avoid mentioning your age or graduation dates, as these can lead to potential bias and don’t add value.

Unnecessary Academic Details – Once you have a degree, you don’t need to list your high school diploma Focus on your higher education and relevant training.

Unprofessional Email Address – Use a professional email like for ex. yourname@gmail.com. Avoid unprofessional or gimmicky email addresses.

Why do you have to do this?

Because refining your CV is essential for standing out in a competitive job market.
By adding relevant details like a tailored professional summary, technical skills, keywords from the job description, leadership experience, and measurable achievements, you demonstrate your qualifications and align your CV with the job requirements.

On the other hand, removing outdated or irrelevant information such as personal details, unnecessary job experiences, and unprofessional email addresses ensures your CV remains concise, focused, and professional.
These tweaks help you pass through applicant tracking systems (ATS), make a strong impression on recruiters, and ultimately increase your chances of landing your dream job.

The Ultimate Guide to Finding the Right Talent: A Step-by-Step Recruitment Process

GUIDE TO FIND THE RIGHT TALENT

Have you ever wondered, What is Recruitment?

Recruitment is bringing together companies and potential employees. It involves various steps from identifying a hiring need to interviewing candidates and finally selecting the best person for the job.

Recruitment can be done internally by a company’s HR team or with the help of external agencies such as recruitment consultancies that specialize in finding talent.

The Recruitment Process

As a recruiter, we begin by identifying job vacancies to determine if there is need for a new employee, whether it’s a new position or to replace someone who is leaving the company

Job Description: The recruiter must write a job description according to the client’s requirements. This includes the job’s responsibilities, the skills required, the experience needed, and the working hours or conditions.

Advertising the Job: The job vacancy is advertised to attract candidates. This can be done through job boards, social media, company websites, or even through recruitment agencies.

Shortlisting Candidates: After receiving applications, the next step is to go through them and shortlist the most suitable candidates. This is done by looking at resumes and applications to see if they meet the job’s requirements.

Interviews: Shortlisted candidates are invited for interviews, either in person or online. During the interview, the employer assesses the candidate’s skills, experience, and fit for the company culture.

Job Offer: Once a candidate is selected, the employer extends a job offer. If the candidate accepts, they can start the onboarding process.

Types of Recruitment

Different ways to approach recruitment:

Internal Recruitment: This is when a company fills a vacancy by promoting or transferring an existing employee. It’s cost-effective and boosts employee morale but may limit new ideas or skills.

External Recruitment: This involves hiring candidates from outside the company. It brings fresh ideas and skills but can be more time consuming and expensive.

Online Recruitment: With the rise of digital platforms, many companies use online job boards, social media, or recruitment websites to find candidates. This approach makes the recruitment process faster and allows employers to reach a broader audience.

Why is Recruitment Important?

Because recruitment ensures a company hires the best candidates for the job. By finding the right people, businesses can improve productivity, innovation, and team dynamics.

Recruitment can also help a company to build a good culture and boosts employee retention.
Tips for Successful Recruitment
For companies looking to improve their recruitment process, here are the few tips you should

Be Clear About What You Need: Before starting the recruitment process, make sure you know exactly what skills and experience you’re looking because everyone’s time is important and you can avoid candidate to expect to get hired while they are not even qualified.

Use the Right Platforms: Choose the right channels to advertise your job openings. This might be LinkedIn for professional roles, or other job boards for specific industries.

Review Applications Carefully: Take time to read through resumes and cover letters. Look beyond just qualifications—consider personality, motivation, and potential fit within the company.

Conduct Structured Interviews: Have a set list of questions for all candidates to ensure fairness and that you’re covering all important topics.

Keep Candidates Informed: Always communicate with candidates throughout the process. Let them know if they’ve been shortlisted, when interviews will be, and what the next steps are.

Recruitment for Job Seekers

If you’re looking for a job, it’s important to understand the recruitment process from the other side. Here are a few tips to improve your chances of being hired:

Tailor Your Resume: Always remember to customize your resume for each job you apply to because there are different job designation, make sure to highlight your skills and experience that match the job description.

Prepare for Interviews: Research the company where you are applying for and practice answering common interview questions to prepared yourself for the interview and it is a must to show how confidence you are.

Follow Up: After your interview, send a thank-you email. This shows your interest in the role and leaves a positive impression.