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Original poster

Why is it so hard to recruit?!

98 replies

Jessforless · 04/12/2023 22:12

I’m so confused and a bit disappointed. I’m recruiting for what I think is an amazing role in my team at work (it used to be mine) and it’s a great salary, a very detailed job brief and the duties are brilliant. I loved the role, it has an exciting and truly enjoyable aspect and lots of benefits and holiday.

The applications are frankly - terrible.but only because it’s like people haven’t read it! Imagine the job is tech (it’s not) there are people with absolutely no tech experience sending in CV’s with no covering letter.

There are applicants who are students (and it’s not a small salary, much higher than the average) and applicants who work as bartenders and delivery drivers (nothing wrong with this - just absolutely nothing to do with the role!)

Out of 60+ applicants - there’s not one I can invite to an interview.

Is this just me? What is going on?! It’s such a lovely job, with a great package. (I promise, I’m not being blinkered) When I went for the role there were so many great applicants apparently. How has time changed so much that now it’s so difficult to fill to role or even find one person to bring in?

OP posts:
Loki64 · 04/12/2023 23:23

Could u pm me this job at all please?

beanontoast · 04/12/2023 23:26

Try again after Christmas as January is the best month for recruitment but honestly having recruited recently I think it's a JD/advert problem because the job market is so bad that we've had the opposite problem - tonnes and tonnes of wonderful candidates, some overqualified, making it really hard to narrow down. It's an employers' market right now I'd say.

LovedMyLastNameItHadToGo · 04/12/2023 23:27

Use a specialist recruiter and stop wasting time.

NigelHarmansNewWife · 04/12/2023 23:37

The issue is the scattergun advertising on every job site. People with the right experience will be looking in specific places/with specific agencies, on professional jobs boards on industry websites, via LinkedIn and their contacts. You're attracting people who see 1. an attractive salary, and 2. think working in events is like going out every night and getting paid for it. Use a specialist recruiter.

Mumoftwoboysaged4and5 · 04/12/2023 23:37

@TippledPink tell your husband to look on 55Redefined website, it’s a job board for people over 50 who have experience but are getting rejected for their age. I’m sorry your husband isn’t getting responses, it’s frustrating that people are so ageist

Nicole1111 · 04/12/2023 23:38

I work in a role that requires a specific degree in this role to practice. When a recent job interview went out none of the applicants had the relevant qualifications. What a waste of everyone’s time for them to apply and someone to have to read their application only to realise they couldn’t legally practice.

mantyzer · 04/12/2023 23:40

@Nicole1111 that is the kind of job I would have sent a CV with no covering letter to so I had time to focus on those jobs I had a chance of getting. You had to apply for so many jobs, it was ridiculous.

tectonicplates · 04/12/2023 23:40

Re people sending in their CV without a covering letter, we had this problem at work last year and it was solved by changing some really small setting on the job listing. I can’t remember what site it was, but apparently it was allowing some kind of one-click application thing and I think a lot of applicants didn’t realise this would happen, so they expected there to be another page to add more stuff but instead it just sent their CV through straight away. I agree with an earlier comment that you should get someone to do a test application, to see what the application experience is actually like.

TheYearOfSmallThings · 04/12/2023 23:41

You know when someone asks why their house is not selling (or getting serious interest) and the answer ultimately is "the price"? I think the same is true of jobs - the market is always right.

I work in the NHS and my colleagues are frequently surprised that we struggle to recruit good staff. I am not surprised because most of the jobs either:

Don't pay well
Require hours outside 9am to 5pm
Require weekend work
Require flexible working patterns
Require qualifications (but don't pay enough)
Require specific experience of the role
Are fixed term
Have too much stuffed into the JD

We still get lots of applications from job seekers who are required to show that they are searching for work for X many hours a week, but they don't really want the job, which is why they don't bother with cover letters etc.

NigelHarmansNewWife · 04/12/2023 23:41

TippledPink · 04/12/2023 23:01

My husband has the opposite problem, he has been applying for jobs and only one has got back to him. Things he has some experience in but no qualifications. He is so able though and spends ages in his applications just to get rejected. We can only put it down to his age, he is 54. Only one job has ever got back to him and he interviewed three times and at all 3 interviews the HR person kept asking why he wanted the job at his age, isn't he too old to travel 40 minutes to work etc. It was clear there was a problem with his age even though he had great experience in that field. He has years left of work!! Not good for his self esteem.

Edited

Appalling from someone in HR to ask such discriminatory questions and I'd be wondering if the company knew that was being asked in the interview process.

mantyzer · 04/12/2023 23:42

Also OP are there negative reviews on glassdoor? I always check on there.

Lotsalotsagiggles · 04/12/2023 23:45

@jessforless Can you possibly drop me a message? I've tonight spent the evening writing an application for a similar role and may be interested. I have lots of experience, I promise!

fetchacloth · 04/12/2023 23:47

KnickerlessParsons · 04/12/2023 22:55

Can I apply?

Me too?

Grendell · 04/12/2023 23:48

I learn my raise and bonus on Dec. 29, so I am declining pitches from recruiters right now. I would also not apply at this time. I will in January maybe.

I know some unemployed people and 100% of them are looking for fully remote jobs. No onsite work at all. I think they are short-sighted, but hey, what do I know.

fetchacloth · 04/12/2023 23:51

Grendell · 04/12/2023 23:48

I learn my raise and bonus on Dec. 29, so I am declining pitches from recruiters right now. I would also not apply at this time. I will in January maybe.

I know some unemployed people and 100% of them are looking for fully remote jobs. No onsite work at all. I think they are short-sighted, but hey, what do I know.

I would be happy with hybrid but employers aren't happy with this either.
And don't get me started on the availability of part time roles.

Mostlyoblivious · 05/12/2023 00:20

Pop a link up, the job potentially sounds rather interesting

flowerchild2000 · 05/12/2023 00:22

I recently started working as a recruiter for a group of companies and I can confirm this is normal. It's a lot harder than I thought it would be! Never underestimate how bonkers people are.

MissBuffyAnneSummers · 05/12/2023 00:23

You need to

Talk about how great the culture is
Talk about development opportunities
up the salary even more
emphasise your other benefits

HeddaGarbled · 05/12/2023 00:27

Your company has a bad rep?

mantyzer · 05/12/2023 00:36

Check glassdoor OP. I saw an advert for a job that looked brilliant. I checked glassdoor and binned the advert.

EmmaEmerald · 05/12/2023 01:09

I'm another who'd like a message please.

Taurusandvirgo · 05/12/2023 01:19

I imagine that universal credit demanding people jobseeking spend 30 hours (or whatever it is now) per week looking for work or face sanctions on their benefits has something to do with it. There aren't necessarily going to be 30hrs worth of jobs you can actually do to apply for. The jobcentre staff likes to tell people things such as: well I know you're studying part time in the day so can only work afternoons/evenings and I know the job specifies that it's from 8am-12pm but just apply anyway and ask them if you can do afternoons...🙄🤬. The same for having zero experience etc. It's really frustrating being a jobseeker and employers are going to feel the effects of it too. TBH I wouldn't bother sending a covering letter if I knew I had no chance of getting the job either!

MintJulia · 05/12/2023 01:26

Agree with @ACynicalDad Readvertise in January, and you should get a better crop of applicants.

Advertising on an international platform like LinkedIn will result in a lot of overseas application just looking for a visa, so expect to sift those out..

WavingCatsandDogs · 05/12/2023 04:41

KnickerlessParsons · 04/12/2023 22:55

Can I apply?

Me too, my applications are met with tumbleweed. Woman Returner to employment - I was quite senior but 'no recent office experience' - but I was self employed for a number of years!

Got told by one recruiter to go for entry positions!!!

Ageism at play probably.

WillowTit · 05/12/2023 06:19

do you have an HR office that will weed out the unsuitable vacancies,
do you have a cut off system when the maximum applications are received

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