Primarily a sales role, a recruitment consultant is rewarded for putting forth candidates to employers, sending out CVs, placing interviews and more – but how suitable are the candidates being put forth? 

Recruiters are commissioned on their inefficient employment techniques such as their level of interaction with candidates. Head hunters are rewarded for their bothersome spamming methods – their relentless delivery of text messages, phone calls, and emails to numerous individuals at once – as opposed to their overall success rates. But are hired candidates matching up to the mark with their relevant education and experiences?

Recent research suggests otherwise, entrepreneur and co-founder of AnyGood? – an online recruitment model that uses a “network of experts” to recommend and introduce relevant candidates” – Juliet Eccleston proclaims her frustration with the hiring process, after surveying 1000+ individuals, whereby 90% “believed recruiters were failing to match the right applicant for the right role.”

Last year, Virgin Media too experienced problems with recruitment methods. Graeme Johnson – former head of resourcing at the British cable and mobile provider – uncovered colossal losses of up to £4.4 million per year from negative candidate experiences. One incident particularly stood out: Louise a hairdresser from Manchester – with limited qualifications – underwent an awkward interview meeting whereby she was rejected on the spot. Disheartened from having her time ‘wasted’, she later switched broadband carrier along with many other candidates who were similarly misled via recruitment agencies.

Commenting on the application system, Juliet stated: “The simple fact is this: existing hiring processes do not work. They are outdated, untrusted and unregulated. The fact that so many of the survey respondents didn’t feel they were being put forward for a relevant position clearly indicates that too many recruiters are throwing CVs at clients in the sheer hope that one will make the grade.”

Are you investing money into recruiting agencies that aren’t delivering? Please share your thoughts in the comments below.

Want to learn more?

Subscribe to our newsletter to get accounting tips like this right to your inbox

About The Author

Liam Yapp

Marketing Executive and Part-Time Copywriter. If I'm not working on our next big marketing project, you'll probably find me outside, basking in the sun or walking the dog. Learn more about Liam.

More posts by this author