How Recruiters Research Candidates
April 16, 2022
A recruiter's job goes far beyond searching for candidates. They must evaluate their prospective candidates through various means. The most obvious way a recruiter vets their candidates is through interviews, but before they get to this step, they may need to probe a little further to confirm a candidate’s background and experience. Let’s find out how recruiters research prospective candidates to meet their client’s needs.
SOCIAL MEDIA
When researching a candidate, one of the first places recruiters and hiring managers will check is social media platforms. Sites such as LinkedIn, Facebook, TikTok, Snapchat, and Instagram are great platforms to check a candidates' persona out of the office. It's important to note that 21% of employers won't hire a candidate if they lack a social media presence. However, 54% of employers have ruled out candidates due to their social media. These days, it's essential to have at least a LinkedIn profile that is fully set up and active. It also makes a lot of sense to audit all platforms when seeking a job. This simple practice gives you an opportunity to gauge what skillsets and competencies the recruiters are looking for.
ATS CHECK
Most recruiting firms will have an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) which includes detailed notes of every candidate ever interviewed at the firm. Recruiters will cross-check their ATS system to see if you have a profile and, if so, research how you performed in the interview process. Checking the ATS will help recruiters coach you more effectively through the interview process or potentially end your candidacy if anything egregious happened in prior interviews.
Recruiters and hiring managers might Google your name and its variations to see what might pop up. They will research any links that include your name and check the images section of the search as well. Some recruiters will coach you on how to clean up your search results, but they may terminate talks if they find the results too offensive.
REFERENCES
The last step in researching a candidate comes after the interview. Recruiters will run a reference check with the contacts you provide, so make sure your contacts share a good opinion about you while answering the reference call. Recruiters will inquire about your skills, your problem-solving abilities, and how you work with a team, amongst other things. Be sure to give your references advanced notice that they might be contacted regarding your work history. If you can, coach your references on what you want them to highlight about your abilities while speaking with your recruiter.
ANALYSTS
At Analysts, our dedicated recruiters will coach you throughout the interview process. Contact us today to learn how we can assist you in your job search.
