‘The best way to find out if you can trust somebody is to trust them …’ Ernest Hemingway 

Imagine asking your dentist to cure your sore tooth by only observing your cheek …. you may get lucky with a temporary fix, but it could end up costing you more in the future. 

To successfully take away the pain with no further implication, an initial pledge of trust is required for you to open your mouth and let the dentist do their job effectively!

Working with a recruiter isn’t hugely different …  

Searching for that someone who is reliable, good, and honest is generally in the top tier of importance when it comes to employers looking to hire the next talent, or job seekers searching for their next career move. Sought after by employees and job seekers alike, the quest for ‘Trust’ is a value which impacts the way we think, make decisions, and influence who we interact with. Yet, instinct often makes it hard to be forthcoming with giving trust, especially when dealing with information that is a little more sensitive.

Interestingly, a number of surveys both in the UK and the US, record more than 70% of job seekers are only passively looking for a job. (2021) Additionally, a similar percentage of available jobs were never advertised. 

With this in mind, restricting your trust in a recruiter, (holding back information for example), could mean you miss out on recruiting the best candidate or securing the ultimate job opportunity. It could end up costing you more in the longer term if deeper information isn’t given in the first place. An experience Red Careers work very hard to prevent.

Beginning with the best possible result in mind …  

• Choose an established recruiting partner who specialise in your industry market 
• Honesty and transparency are the best policy – openly sharing important information helps manage expectation 
• Specialist recruiters will share their expertise and are well placed to offer guidance concerning areas of people management and employment law
• Keep in touch – Collaborative trust can actually see success come faster, better, and at lower cost.

So, … can you trust a recruiter?  

A good recruiter-partner relationship rests on the notion that both parties are transparent. In reality, trustworthiness can only be demonstrated if trust is ‘given’ in the first place. So, be encouraged … pick up the phone and have that open, confidential conversation …. and remember, February is a great month to build relationships new or old!

Lorraine Jackson 

Red Careers