I was reading one of my favorite blogs the other day, Fistful of Talent, and came across this post by Andy Porter, The 5 Reasons Why Most RECRUITERS Hate HR. Which got me to thinking there are probably MORE than five reasons. It’s no secret that the relationship between HR and independent recruiters is often contentious.
Andy’s got a pretty good list of reasons, especially when he talks about how HR sometimes uses recruiters as the scapegoat for their own inaction. I’d like to expand on that point.
The independent recruiters who make up NPA’s membership have been talking a lot about ineffective hiring processes. We are consistently hearing that clients (many, certainly not all) still think there is a glut of available talent for their jobs. This can remove the “sense of urgency” from the search – which frequently results in the candidate accepting a different offer. Contrary to many published news reports, and even some accurate (but incomplete) reports from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, there is NOT a glut of available talent. HR departments that don’t move quickly to hire good candidates will lose out. Recruiters, understandably, get frustrated when they source a good candidate who doesn’t get hired because the HR department takes too long to make an offer.
Another frustration is HR departments who either won’t offer relocation assistance or won’t consider a flexible work arrangement/environment for outstanding candidates who can’t move due to the still-weak housing market. There are valid reasons for not offering relocation assistance. And most businesses still want their employees to work in a “traditional” office environment, with a 9-5 schedule. But, sometimes the person with the best skills doesn’t live where the employer is located and has equally valid reasons for not moving. It makes sense to consider different arrangements in order to secure the best candidates.
As an agency recruiter, what is your biggest frustration with HR? Add your comment below.
Oh, and for my next post… I’ll take a look at Andy Porter’s blog, Why I Hate (Most) Recruiters.
