The return of dumb hiring ideas

And the recruiters ill-equipped to handle them.

You guys excited for the return of dumb hiring ideas? And recruiters complaining about them nonstop on LinkedIn?

I am. Hiring is picking back up. Which means everyone will recycle their 2021 takes. The next 6 months of content is going to be 🔥

(I feel the need to point out if you’re new here, read that in your thickest sarcasm voice.)

Here’s the thing. Down markets are outright demoralizing. (And objectively worse.) Anyone who’s worked in sales knows when there’s less buyers – and when the remaining ones are pickier – it’s a hard way to make a living.

But when there’s less happening, there’s less to complain about.

So chin up. Things are gonna get better. And then we’ll get to find out which companies didn’t spend their down time improving their hiring processes. And which recruiters didn’t learn it’s their job to fix problems, not just complain about them.

For example:

👉That hiring manager who doesn’t give feedback. Not on resumes. Not after interviews.

🤷‍♂️Maybe you should have set process & communication expectations with them. And explain why it’s in their best interest to provide it.

👉That HR leader who tells you they’ll only hire your candidate if they strike out on their own. Because your fee is getting in the way.

🤷‍♂️Maybe you shouldn’t have put countless hour into a search without understanding if they actually needed you. (Or you know, worked on a contingent basis to begin with.)

👉That internal recruiter who passed on your candidates for not having XYZ skill. Even if it’s right there on the resume.

🤷‍♂️Maybe you should have set expectations of an open dialogue to address ruled out candidates. Live. With a conversation. And not worked entirely over email.

👉That founder who keeps changing requirements because they’ve never hired before. And makes up the process as they go along.

🤷‍♂️Maybe you shouldn’t have fallen into order-taker mode. And instead built the credibility needed to advise them on best practices. (They would have appreciated it.)

Save this one. Come back in 6 months. Keep track of how many times you see these in the wild.

James Hornick

Partner at Hirewell. #3 Ranked Sarcastic Commenter on LinkedIn.