7 recruitment secrets that will help you in your job search

Looking for the perfect job? In this article, we reveal 7 recruiting secrets that will give you the edge in the application process. From the right clothes to the subtle signals during the interview, we’ll show you how to stand out from the crowd and land the job of your dreams.Here we go!

1. Clothes simply make the difference!

Even if it’s a remote job and you’re holding the job interview via Zoom, you need to dress appropriately for the situation. After all, it’s all about your first impression! First: It’s better to be overdressed than underdressed. And secondly, you should always wear what you would wear in a face-to-face interview. 

In other words: wear a suit rather than jeans, and don’t wear your jogging bottoms.

In fact, we do advise our candidates on what to wear in jobinterviews – because it’s still important! A pair of jeans can mean the end in some cases. 

The best thing to do is to take a look at the company page or LinkedIn profile. Are the team members dressed rather casually – perhaps they’re all wearing just a T-shirt and jeans? Then – go for it. In some industries or start-ups, it is normal to dress casually. But that’s not always the case.

To be honest, we’ve seen candidates lying comfortably in bed with a vaporiser for a remote interview. 

…wait what??

It no longer matters whether your Heavy Metal T-shirt is ironed.

Another important thing is your background: an untidy room behind you doesn’t send a good signal. If there’s no other way, it’s better to use a virtual background in Zoom than to show that you should have taken the deposit bottles away long ago.

Also check your lighting conditions and your sound. We’re all no longer beginners when it comes to online meetings. Fiddling nervously with the microphone or sitting completely in the dark was perhaps still possible in the first lockdown!

These tips are not random. We know what companies look for and small details like these can make the difference between two equally strong candidates.

2. Your CV is not everything

Sure, as recruiters we know what a great CV should look like. But even if your CV isn’t 100% perfect, we’ll give you a chance. Because there is no such thing as a perfect candidate on paper. 

We even go so far as to say: 

The best candidate is not the one with the best CV, but the one with the best personality. The one who is motivated and determined. And who believes in themselves. 

(Doesn’t sound easy, I know!)

But look at it this way: if your CV isn’t perfect, you have a great chance of making up for it with your irresistible charm!

And: Not all companies receive 100 applications a day. In fact, there are companies that don’t receive a single application. So don’t get too fixated on one piece of paper.

Sometimes candidates are so unsettled by the job description that they don’t even try. They think they lack important skills and must fulfil everything. 

As recruiters, we encourage you to apply anyway. Because these requirements are usually impossible to fulfil! Some skills are just nice-to-have and if you are willing to invest the time, you can also acquire them on the job. Don’t forget – everyone learns things on the job. And to be honest: if you fulfil all the requirements 100%, why would you even apply for them?

As a rule of thumb: 

• If you match the requirements 100%: Don’t apply!
• If you agree with 60-70% of them: Feel free to apply!

So just show initiative and apply anyway. Of course, your application should always be tailored to the role – but companies are flexible enough to work with what you bring to the table. And that’s probably more than you think! There have been many situations where candidates whose CV was less impressive got the job because they were able to score points with their personality and motivation!

3. Keywords are king! 

Do you know how quickly recruiters scan a CV and decide whether it’s a good fit or not?

Less than ten seconds.

What are we looking for in this short time? Keywords.

For this very reason, you should always tailor your CV to the exact position you are applying for. And this is precisely why “one size fits them all” doesn’t work. 

Let’s say you’re an IT specialist and you list the tech skills required for this role. This will immediately catch the eye of every recruiter.

Why?

If recruiters don’t see these keywords anywhere in your application, they assume that you don’t have these skills. Skills that are important should therefore appear. It often happens that we only realise during the interview with candidates that the skills are there, but simply weren’t mentioned.

We then ask our candidates to revise their application again and precisely highlight these skills.

It is always best to do this under the specific work experience itself.

If you want to know how to write a CV that won’t be ignored, read this article here. 

Which keywords should I include as a candidate? 

It’s simple: take a look at the job description – there you will find all the important terms that should also appear on your CV.

It may seem like a lot more work and you may wonder why you should personalize each application. 

But: You never know who will see your application first and what they will be looking for. It is often HR managers who are not familiar with technology. They have the job description and compare it with your CV – and if it looks like you don’t have the necessary skills, you end up in the discard pile.

Tip: Use AI to put your skills to the test.

Take your application and copy everything into ChatGPT. Then enter the following prompt: “Take all the information from my CV and expand each position with the following keywords “XY”. Be results-oriented and emphasize which skills were used.”

Then sit back and let ChatGPT work its magic for you. 🤓 👻 

4. If a recruiter plays hide and seek with you, ask carefully!

If you’ve ever been contacted by a recruiter and they couldn’t tell you exactly which company it was – that could be a red flag.

It may be, for example, that the company itself does not have a good reputation. And doesn’t want to put anyone off. (Thanks to Google Reviews!)

Or the role has been vacant for so long that the company is worried about coming across as desperate. 

Or: They try to mask salary differences between existing employees and new hires.

I’ve had it all before.

If you have the feeling that your recruiter isn’t coming clean, it’s better to ask twice. You can ask him exactly these things: Why has the role been vacant for so long? Why can’t the name of the company be shared? Etc. 

It’s better to find out the truth now – before it’s too late! This is the only way to ensure that the company is the right fit for you.

5. Job interviews are like dates: watch out for red flags

Sometimes job hunting feels like dating, doesn’t it? 💕😅

You get to know someone, ask questions, and try to find out if you are a good match. And just like in dating, it’s important to be vigilant and watch out for little red flags that could indicate trouble in the future.

– “We’re like a family here” – RUN AWAY! This statement usually stands for: no personal space, constant availability, endless team meetings and a blurring of professional and personal boundaries. At the end of the day, it’s a job, not a family reunion. 

– If the interviewer can’t successfully explain what the job entails… Imagine the chaos that lurks beneath the surface.

– If you find that your potential boss is not recognizing the achievements of their team. The inability to take responsibility or give credit where it is due can indicate a lack of leadership skills.

– Watch out for statements like “Everyone here wears many hats at the same time” or “You need to hit the ground running”. This could be code for “we’re understaffed” or “we expect you to work crazy hours”. Super long job descriptions are also often an indication that you are taking on several roles at the same time.

– And then there’s the big marathon of interviews. If you’re shuffled around like a hot potato between four or more interview stages, this could indicate a lack of trust within your own ranks. Could it be that line managers simply don’t have confidence in their team’s judgement? Doesn’t sound so great, does it? 

– Now for a classic – rescheduled interviews. We all know that life happens, but if your interview is postponed more times than your favorite TV show, it could be an indication of a lack of organizational skills or a lack of respect for your time.

– If you don’t get the chance to ask difficult questions, that’s also a warning sign. After all, it’s a conversation, not a monologue, right? 

– Lack of onboarding – many companies just describe it differently, for example as a “fast paced environment”.

6. Don’t be shy when it comes to money!

Recruiters are there to negotiate the best salary for you. Because it’s important to us that you get what you want and deserve! (If you have a different experience with a recruiter – run away as fast as you can!)

Why?

We know the budget for the position.

We know the industry and average salaries.

We are interested in showing your value and making sure you achieve your desired salary.

We can also tell you exactly what salary you can realistically expect.

Don’t forget: changing your job means changing your life for the better! (Instead of the negative!)

And: the more open you are about your salary expectations, the easier it will be for us to pull together with you and get what you want!

So, the next time you talk to your recruiter about salary, remember: we’re here to help you!

7. I just want to have a look around…

We often ask candidates why they want to change their current job. If we then hear that the candidate is happy and just wants to have a look around to see what’s available on the market, that’s not the ideal candidate for us.

Good reasons to switch are:

• the opportunity to develop further and gain different experiences
• to take the next career step (and not in the current company, because it is not possible)
• a better work-life balance (which you are currently lacking)

And: It’s even good if you’ve already discussed all these things with your current manager and know that there are little to no options. That way, we also know that your current employer won’t make you a counteroffer!

We hope that these tips will give you more confidence in your job search and in your dealings with recruiters and companies!

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