This article is based on a conversation with Matt Opramolla, a 32-year-old recruiter. It has been edited for length and clarity.
I started my career in sales and quickly moved on to work for Indeed’s in-house startup agency, Indeed Hire. I did well there, loved the work I was doing, and knew I wanted to get into recruiting for companies.
So I got a job at Google as a recruiterI got to hire and work with some of the most amazing people. I also got to work on truly impactful and scalable hiring initiatives across the company. That was one of the best parts and my favorite job.
Nowadays, people are desperate to find work, especially with the numerous layoffs that have occurred this year. I know this firsthand, because When I got laid off, I was also desperate to support my family no matter what..
However, there are things candidates should keep in mind when looking for a job that can make you appear desperate to the company you are interviewing with. When you appear desperate, employers may think you just want the job for the sake of it and that you are not interested in their company specifically.
Appearing desperate also gives you less negotiating power in the job offer. So here you go Four things you should stop doing and what you should do instead.
1. Ask for random references
As a recruiter, I get a lot of random messages or emails from LinkedIn asking for referrals, but I don’t have an established relationship or connection with that person. Recruiters tend not to like those “copy and paste” messages very much. It’s better to be tactful and respectful.
It is better than you get in touch with someone who has the job you want (or who works on the team you want to be on) and have a friendly conversation with this person. You can ask them for more information about the company or a specific project you know they are working on.
For example, you could write to him: “Hi, I’ve seen that you’re working on a specific branch of AI and I’m very interested in it. I have some thoughts on the topic. Would you be willing to chat for 15 or 20 minutes?”Let’s see what they tell you.
Not everyone will respond to you, but if you are persistent, discreet, and respectful, you can build a relationship down the road. Then, if that team is hiring, they will think of you for going the extra mile.
2. Excess information in the interview
As a recruiter, One mistake I see many interviewees make is sharing too much or being unnecessarily transparent..
For example, it is not wise to discuss the details of a layoff, why you left a previous job, personal matters relating to your finances or your family. These things are not relevant to your qualifications.
Business people and interviewers are specifically trained not to ask questions about candidates’ family or financial situation, so it’s best not to bring it up. This is superfluous information that distracts from what the meeting should be about: your qualifications for the position.
I can think of one time where an interviewee said, “I have to pay my rent in two months or I’ll be homeless.” That comment made the conversation awkward, and while it may have been true and something the candidate was genuinely struggling with, it wasn’t job-related.
Another thing you should not say is that you have no other job options available.The employer may take advantage of you when negotiating compensation. If they know you have no other options, they will most likely give you a lower offer, because they know they can get you for less money.
If you make the company believe that you have alternatives, they may feel more urgency and get back to you sooner (we all know that sometimes it takes forever).
So don’t show your cards and be tactful. It’s best to share fewer personal details, so remember to keep your answers concise.
3. Accept the job offer immediately
When you receive a job offer, don’t just accept it over the phone. Understand that if a company offers you a position, it’s because they want you, and you can wait a day or two to make up your mind. Make them sweat because you want to be in a position of power, and at least once reject something that is negotiable, such as base salary, equity, signing bonus or vacation.
I have not heard of an offer being rescinded because someone asked for a little more money than was initially presented. Your recruiter should be your advocate, and the worst thing they can say to you is no. You just have to make sure that what you ask for is in line with the compensation expectations you have set out for them at the beginning of the process.
4. Follow up daily
If after the interview you have been sold a pig in a poke or communication is sporadic, Reach out to the recruiter, but don’t overdo itInstead, check in once every week or two, depending on how long the process is.
When you do, ask a specific question. For example, don’t just ask for feedback; instead, ask something like, “We talked about and I have some additional ideas. Could I send them to you?”
That said, you have to know how to read the situation. I tell candidates that I will contact them if there is any news. Personally, if the hiring process takes more than a week, I contact them to clarify that I have no news, but not all recruiters do this, so it doesn’t hurt to follow up.
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Tags: Advice, Trending, Unemployment, Work, Google, New job