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7 Recruiting Mistakes That Erode Trust with Candidates

Recruiting mistakes erode trust, the US Accountant shortage and free coffee to recruiters who screen fake candidates

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The Deputy
August 29, 2024

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“Trust is the highest form of human motivation. It brings out the very best in people."

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In today’s email:

  • Job News: 7 Recruiting Mistakes That Erode Trust with Candidates

  • Overheard at coffee: The US Is Facing an Accountant Shortage

  • Trending AI News: Move over calendly, there’s a new sheriff in town. Hot Jobs: (keep scrolling down ⬇️)

  • Recruiting Fails: Recruiters Deserve a Free Coffee to better deal with fake candidates ❌

Job News

Recruiting top talent is tough, but you know what's even tougher? Getting them to stick around when your hiring process is a disaster. At Ramp Talent, clients don’t call us when hiring is going easy. They call us when they are having recruiting problems. 

If you’re looking to send candidates running for the hills, here are seven surefire ways to make them lose trust in your company faster than you can say "job offer rescinded." But if you actually want to build trust, maybe don’t do any of these.

1. Bait-and-Switch Job Descriptions

The Problem: Writing job descriptions that are as vague as a politician’s promises is a great way to ensure candidates feel like they’ve been catfished. Nothing says “we value honesty” like luring someone in with a cushy job description, only to drop the truth bomb during the interview that they’ll actually be doing the work of three people.

The Fix: Cut the crap. Be real about what the job actually entails. If it's a grind, say it’s a grind. If it’s an awesome opportunity, sell it like one. Candidates can handle the truth—they just don’t want to be lied to.

2. Ghosting Candidates

The Problem: Ghosting isn’t just for flaky dates; it’s also a classic move in bad recruiting. Sure, maybe you’re “too busy” to respond to a candidate, but guess what? They’re definitely “too busy” to care about your company after you go radio silent.

The Fix: Communicate like an adult. Send updates, even if there’s no news. “No news is good news” does not apply here. Keeping candidates in the loop shows that you respect their time—and that you’re not just another flakey recruiter.

 3. Playing Musical Chairs with Interviewers

The Problem: Bringing in a different set of interviewers for each round is a great way to make candidates feel like they’re being thrown into a never-ending loop of first impressions. Nothing says “we’re totally disorganized” like making them meet someone new every time.

The Fix: Get your act together. Set up a consistent panel of interviewers who know what they’re looking for. When the candidate meets the same people, they feel like they’re in a stable process—not on a spinning carousel of confusion.

4. Making Pie-in-the-Sky Promises

The Problem: Overpromising during recruitment is like promising the moon on a first date. It might get you a second date (or a hire), but when reality hits, and the moon turns out to be a flickering street lamp, trust is dead in the water.

The Fix: Keep it real. If you can’t guarantee rapid promotions, flexible work from Bora Bora, or unicorns in the breakroom, don’t promise them. Be upfront about what the job offers—flaws and all. Candidates appreciate honesty more than empty promises.

5. Ignoring Feedback Like It’s Junk Mail

The Problem: Candidates took time out of their day to tell you how you could improve, and you just ignored them? Bold move, but not the good kind of bold. This says, loud and clear, “We don’t care what you think.”

The Fix: Show candidates that their input isn’t going straight to your spam folder. Act on feedback when it’s valuable, and let candidates know you’re listening. This simple gesture goes a long way in building trust and showing you care.

6. Treating Candidate Data Like Free Candy

The Problem: Mishandling candidate information is not just a trust-killer—it’s a lawsuit waiting to happen. Sharing their personal details without permission or failing to secure their data is a quick way to make them run faster than a cocaine addict on espresso.

The Fix: Lock it down. Be upfront about how you’ll use their data, and keep it safe. If you don’t treat candidate information with care, don’t be surprised when they treat your job offer with the same lack of interest.

7. Making the Hiring Process a Never-Ending Saga

The Problem: If your hiring process takes longer than a season of your favorite binge-worthy show, candidates will lose interest faster than you can say “still waiting on feedback.” Dragging things out is a perfect way to make them think your company can’t make a decision to save its life.

The Fix: Speed it up. Keep things moving and let candidates know what to expect. If there’s a delay, explain why and give a new timeline. The quicker and clearer you are, the more likely they’ll still be around when you finally do make an offer.

Conclusion

If you’re dead set on making sure candidates never trust you, go ahead and stick to these blunders. But if you actually want to build a recruitment process that attracts and retains top talent, it’s time to get serious about avoiding these trust-killing mistakes. In the end, trust isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s your secret weapon in landing the best people for the job.

We see the good, bad and ugly of recruiting processes at different clients. Recruiting is simple but not easy. Don’t make it harder with bad practices.

Overheard at coffee ☕️

America has an accountant problem: we’re running out of them.

Since 2019, the number of accountants has dropped by 340,000, leaving just 1.6 million in the US. Between 2016 and 2021, first-time CPA exam candidates fell by 33%, and 2022 saw the lowest number of test takers since 2006. With about 75% of current accountants nearing retirement, the pipeline is thinning fast.

What’s driving this decline? The profession's reputation as boring isn’t helping attract younger students, according to Business Insider. Add to that extensive education and testing requirements, low starting salaries, and long hours, and it’s no wonder fewer people are entering the field.

Why It Matters→ The accountant shortage is already impacting businesses. In 2023, over 720 companies blamed accounting staff shortages for potential financial errors—a 30% increase from 2019. Startups and early-stage companies, which often rely on accountants instead of CFOs, are struggling to find financial guidance, as reported by Inc.

What’s the Solution? One obvious fix: offer higher salaries comparable to other finance roles, which some companies are beginning to do. Experts also suggest revamping the accounting curriculum to be more engaging and reducing credit-hour requirements.

And, of course, it wouldn’t be 2024 without mentioning AI. While not a full replacement for human accountants, AI can streamline repetitive tasks. A16z highlights how generative AI could handle many of the “formulaic and repetitive exercises” in accounting. Startups like JustPaid, which automates invoicing and bill pay with AI, are emerging to fill the gap, founded by Silicon Valley entrepreneurs who experienced the accountant shortage firsthand.

🚀  Move over calendly, there’s a new sheriff in town. We first saw Get Clockwise from one of our savvy engineering hiring managers. Check-out Get Clockwise for AI-powered calendars for better time management.

🔥 Hot Jobs - $1K Referral Fee

Recruiting Fails: Recruiters Deserve a Free Coffee – Here’s Why

Recruiting is tough enough, but these days, recruiters are facing a whole new challenge: spotting fake candidates. Yes, you read that right. It’s become increasingly common for candidates to dodge video interviews or even use interpreters disguised as microphones to hide their true identity. 

Imagine trying to evaluate someone’s qualifications while wondering if the person on the other side of the screen is even who they say they are. It’s like playing detective on top of your already demanding role as a recruiter.

So, to all the recruiters out there navigating this new layer of stress, you deserve a break—and maybe even a free coffee. The job of finding the right talent has never been more complicated, and we see you doing your best to keep it all together despite the scammers trying to game the system. Hang in there; you’re doing important work!

Do you have recruiting Fail Stories?Reply with your epic fails – we'll feature them. Own your blunders, embrace vulnerability, and let's all level up together.

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