getting hired is messy.
According to my LinkedIn feed, recruiters are some of the worst people ever.
And while I’m sure not everyone deserves a cookie, most of them are just overwhelmed humans trying to do their best in a tricky, fast-paced system (I was one of them, too).
They want to help their teams grow, make hiring managers happy, and bring on someone who’ll make a real impact.
So instead of seeing recruiters as gatekeepers standing between you and your future job, it might be best to see them as your potential ally.
Or at least a familiar voice in a chaotic, messy process (which, most times, isn’t their fault either, but that’s a post for another day).
And what’s one approach to support someone who’s overwhelmed? Connect the dots for them. Here’s how you could do that:
Make your About section easy to read and relevant. You don’t have to rewrite it for every job, but if it feels like a complete mismatch, chances are the recruiter won’t have time to do the extra thinking. Be super clear about how your strengths fit the role, and if there are gaps, tell them how you plan to close them.
Show your impact, not just your titles. Bring stories to your interviews (or portfolio) that highlight your actual contributions. How did you collaborate, learn, and help your previous teams hit their goals? This helps recruiters picture how you’d show up in their company, and advocate for you with hiring managers.
Ask real questions. Maybe they are just not that into you, or maybe it's you not being into them. If they need someone wildly independent and hands-off, but you thrive in team huddles and deep collaboration, better to find that out early. Being sincere about your needs saves everyone time (and spares you a painful rejection once they figure things out, too).
Don’t always assume the worst. If you didn’t hear back yet, chances are that things are just moving very slowly behind the scenes. There are often a little too many people and opinions, and (missing) resources involved in hiring processes. It’s totally okay to send a gentle follow-up or ask if there’s anything you can prep for an interview. Showing you’re proactive and understanding will leave a good impression.
Job searching is tough, just like recruiting can be tough, too. And the more we treat each other like people trying their best, the better the whole process becomes.
about the author:
Hi there! I'm Silja, the founder of the wholesome growth club, an inclusive hub for career coaching with a soft spot for introverts and perfectionists. I’m an Amsterdam-based expat, but I love connecting with people worldwide. With a background in recruiting, I know the struggle of crafting a career path that feels truly yours. At the wholesome growth club, we're all about fostering sustainable growth, meaningful engagement, and authentic connections. Our blog is dedicated to making coaching accessible and sharing insights to approach work and life with an extra dose of confidence, slow productivity, and self-compassion. If you are curious to make things happen for yourself, get in touch—we offer personalized coaching journeys that will get you closer to your (dreamy) goals in no time.
