I was musing what I should cover for my April Blog. There were a few options (although frankly, everything has been covered before!). I decided to cover two semi related topics. Job adverts online - real or fake and then the number of volume of applications that we see highlighted when applying for a job.
First up. I had an email from a candidate. Every Friday I send out an email to my candidate base to review the latest roles that I am working on (Let me know if you'd like to be on the circulation). This email works well for me and over the last 20 odd years in recruitment, I've not changed the format. It's a simple summary of the top jobs that I'd like to fill. All the roles I work on are advertised on the PMP website (www.perfectmarketingpeople.com) but it's a bit of a reminder to my candidates - a wave to say 'have a quick look and let me know if you're interested'. So, anyway. A candidate emailed me and asked if the jobs were all real, did they actually exist? Wow. So I sent a very nice response saying that yes, they were all real and I'm definitely not a Cowboy Recruiter who'd be advertising jobs that did not exist.
I think in the old days, recruiters often got a bad rap. A bit too salesy, people who'd do or say anything to make a placement. But I believe those days are long gone. The recruiters in our sector are still here because they're building relationships with clients and candidates for the long haul. Whilst quick placements are lovely, they're also relatively rare, particularly when the market is as depressed as it feels it is right now.
I can honestly say that I would never and have never advertised a fake role. Frankly I've got enough real roles to try and fill. Plus, when we advertise a role, we receive a lot of applications/responses and those require time and effort to give feedback etc. That's a lot of time on admin that would be better spent filling the actual roles that I've got to fill.
Whilst the market is very flat at the moment, I think made worse by the recent US tariff announcements - ultimately leading to more uncertainty and skittish clients. There are pockets of activity and clients who are hiring. You can be confident that if you are talking to me about a role, then it's a real role!
The second discussion that I seem to be having a lot is about the high number of applications that online adverts attract. Currently, there are a lot of people out of work and a lot of people who have been made redundant. These people are generally quite stressed, they are spending hours a day on online job boards and I'd say on the whole they're feeling pretty fragile. A new job appears online and within hours, there are hundreds of applicants (OK, perhaps a bit of an exaggeration). Candidate often then think, 'well, I won't bother applying, it will have gone by now'.
From a recruiter's point of view...whilst we may receive a LOT of applications. The truth is that a very very small proportion of those applications will be relevant. I can guarantee that there will be a large proportion of applicants from overseas, typically who do not meet any of the criteria. There will be an equally large proportion of applicants who clearly haven't read the precis of the role and I can instantly say, these people have not worked in the right sector, in the right discipline, in the right region etc. Then there will be a tiny proportion who do fit the criteria or who, even if they don't tick all the boxes, are definitely worth responding to because even if this role isn't quite right, it's likely that I might have something else for them, now or in the future.
I do look at every application that I receive. I'd be a fool not to. There are no machines or AI involved in the process. I also appreciate how depressing it is when you are sitting at home clicking 'apply' because for a lot of people out of work, they will apply for any job no matter how tenuous their skills match the experience required. I acknowledge too how depressing is when you think 'I've applied for over 20 jobs and not heard anything back from any of them'. It's worth thinking about quality and how often, less is more. Only click 'apply' if you genuinely feel that you match what the job advert is looking for. Typically, online adverts will show you who the hiring manager is so if you have any doubts, it is worth calling or emailing them to ask some questions and to see if there is any movement in the criteria - how much wiggle room is there. Often there is some, often there is none.
I advertised a couple of 100% remote roles recently. I was flooded with response. I had strict criteria of requiring pharma sector client experience, gained in a creative agency environment and specifically working on internal comms and behaviour change. From that particular job board, precisely NONE of the applications met those criteria.
So there are perhaps two morals of that story. One, apply for roles that meet your experience, you will be much more likely to secure a response. Two, don't not apply for a role that you do think you meet the criteria for - even if it is showing 400 applicants already for this job.
If you'd like to receive the Friday email, ping me a note at fiona.christian@perfectmarketingpeople.com
Written by Fiona, 10th April 2025.