Why is recruiting so hard?

[henrysugar12]

Been trying to recruit for a position since the middle of December. Had lots of applicants but none are suitable for the job! As it's a niche position, I understand that it's not going to be simple finding someone, but I would have thought that there would be some better applicants!

Most of the CVs list various chronic health issues, that they are on maternity leave for more than 6 months (ad said immediate start), or lots of other things that are not making them look like the best option! Some of the CVs show that they have moved jobs 3 or 4 times in a year and some have absolutely no relevant experience.

What on earth is going on? A couple that we have contacted about interviews have been so non-committal and we've not managed to get them to come in for an interview. Are these people just applying to continue claiming jobseekers or something? It's so frustrating

Because to get legal protection you have to declare the bastarding conditions from the outset. So you're damned if you do and damned if you don't. Anyway, no one with a disability wants to work for an ablist twatbucket so filtering them out early is a good idea for candidates.

After all, hiring is a two way process and people who forget that really shouldn't be in hiring roles.

When marketing you should always speak to the people you want to attract and let the others self-select themselves to somewhere else. Saves so much more time than sending out a general message that wastes your time with the wrong leads. This is true for employers and candidates, both need to have a clear and targeted message to find the right people.

For those trying to get jobs with chronic conditions/disabilities, please know these jobs and employers are out there and when you find them, they will value your perspective and contribution, they're just hard to find amongst all the box-tickers who just want servants but can't legally say it.

If you need reasonable adjustments at interview, the way to get them is not by putting your disability on your CV.

I find it hard to believe any competent employment adviser would tell someone to do that.

I hope your advert states the salary

I don't apply for a job that doesn't

If the salary is hidden it's usually because the company knows it's an insult so hides it

This, and probably a refusal to accommodate hybrid working.

What legal protection do you get by putting it on your CV from the outset, as opposed to disclosing at interview/after being offered the job?

It's all very well saying people 'shouldn't', but they do. Even if an employer as a whole is 'wonderful' and 'supportive' the HR bods filtering out CV's might not be. Also, if you have a niche skill and are one of a few applicants (like, erm OP's supposed job, her loss). It's very different to having loads and loads of able candidates and HR filtering out for ANY possible reason simply to reduce the number of CV's.

FWIW in large orgs so many CV's get binned for spurious reasons it's insane. You can't really sue for discrimination in CV binning unless someone admits it like the OP. You will however have a claim if the offer is withdrawn so really. If you want to have a case or rail against injustice that's the time.

I have a chronic illness too, but it's not something I would put on my cv. I would discuss it at the interview. I would (and have said) I have IBD and suffer from flare ups of my condition, but it means that I can do xxx... And it's not like they have put I have X... they have gone into detail that is clearly meant to be off-putting!

Age isn't an issue as long as they are prepared to stay in the role for at least a couple of years!

Although as it's a part-time job and incredibly flexible with the hours I'd assume that it would be mums with young children who would be applying, but it's not.

Whilst it’s true that you should disclose as it puts you on a good footing. You shouldn’t be disclosing on a cv. Nothing that can be used against you should go on a cv

just because they’ve disclosed in the wrong place and you have a chronic illness doesn’t stop what you’re doing as discriminatory

Exactly! Not in the least ableist, as I myself have a chronic health condition. I just found it astounding that people are putting all the things they can't do on their CV! It's like they are applying for a job that they don't want to do!

Niche as in it's not something that is quite common, but it's not something that needs qualifications as we will provide training. It's well located, variety of public transport nearby etc...
Pay, I don't know... boss is keeping that quiet.

Can I do it working from home?

You need to be clear in your expectations

Flexible working hours
pay
type of person - confident or diligent?
Some admin? Most jobs require admin.

I am advising people to move because there a skill shortage and places are offering more money.
You won’t get that standing still.

No. It's an in office role.

Is it off putting to mention a chronic health issue (protected under the Equality Act) or deceitful not to?
Literally mulling this over right now as I apply for jobs.

And if it's the reason someone took a career break or similar it's surely quite right to mention it ?

If you don’t even know the pay how the hell is anyone else meant to? You are unlikely to get good candidates if you don’t specify a salary.

Has your boss realised that minimum wage is basically £20k a year now? Places like Greggs pay over the minimum. Just so you know.

@Bernieee it's not that they have disclosed an illness, it's that they have put all the things that they can't do. On their CV. If they had written a covering letter and explained in that i have this but it doesn't limit me, here are the positives, etc that would be fine.
It's not the fact that they have a disability but they fact they are seriously not doing themselves any favours by pointing out all the negatives. And it's not just one we've had like that... clearly someone at the job centre is giving them very bad advice!
We did offer an interview to one of these candidates, but they didn't show up.

Ding, ding... we have a winner!
Honestly your boss is pretty thick. Why would anybody bother applying for something without knowing the pay?

Looks like you're only getting the jobcentre applicants because nobody else CBA. Good luck with finding someone even willing to turn up for the interview.

In my professional opinion

1. Your salary is too low for the current market rate

1. You need to adjust your skill set and/or experience

1. People don't stay in jobs for years anymore. ESP if they can contract in niche roles. Given the market following covid you need to take the blinkers off when it comes to moving job.

1. It's a candidate driven market and your job just isn't the one. Why is this? Again are you looking at the market when it comes to work/life balance ?

What are your competitors doing?

Nothing is that niche you can't recruit for it

Needing to fill a niche role, possibly requiring specialist skills ? An immediate start seems extremely unlikely.

I know. It clearly needs to be looked at. The pay is apparently comparable to other offices in the same city.

Niche as in it's not something that is quite common, but it's not something that needs qualifications

Hmmm-is it actually niche or is it just a bit crap?

Pay, I don't know.

Well, do the people applying know?

Maybe because it sounds like a scam advert. No pay on it immediately rules out anyone genuinely looking for a job. Immediate start with no quals sounds dodgy.

You will wipe out a huge proportion of candidates if you don't state the salary. People just won't bother to apply because it really pisses them off. Plus if it's as niche as you say it could be minimum wage or six figures. Who knows? Read some of the threads on the MN Work board.

I guess you want candidates to state the salary they are looking for though?

Your advert clearly needs to state:
Salary
Hours
Job description
Person spec

It's not hard. Show your boss this thread.

I could weep reading threads like these.

You are getting so many useless applications because people who claim benefits have to apply for a certain number of jobs every week. People who are disabled have to declare their disabilities.

I am sick to the back teeth of society supporting policies then acting surprised at the end results.