Ask A Recruiter - Tech

Happy holidays everyone! I hope that you get a restful break with family.

As a recruiter, what’s your favorite way to decompress during the holidays?

One thing candidates don’t realize is how much interview notes matter. A single unclear answer can outweigh five strong ones. I always tell people to slow down and explain their thinking. Do you prefe… more

Genuine question for the group: Why do job applications feel like shouting into the void? Sometimes I think I’d rather get a rejection email than total silence. Do companies ever talk about this inter… more

What would it take for you to consider a candidate with no prior experience in a staff engineering role? Does it ever happen that you hire someone for a position that needs that level of experience, b… more

I’ve seen great candidates lose offers because they negotiated too late or not at all. Timing matters as much as the ask. Negotiation is a skill, not a personality trait. When do you feel most comfort… more

I keep hearing: “Don’t apply cold, just network.” But what if you’re applying for 40 jobs at once and don’t know a soul at most of them? For recruiters—what’s actually the most effective way to get no… more

I just interviewed with a company and did some digging afterward. Found out their attrition rate is over 10%, which gave me pause. Curious how others handle this would you keep going to learn more, or… more

What is a real way to understand how my resume is, compared to other applications to the same role? I think tools like LinkedIn "How you compare to other candidates" are not trustworthy, I&#… more

How do you evaluate experience that’s real but not flashy? I’ve led projects, solved ugly problems, and trained junior teammates—but it doesn’t always translate into a tidy job title or bullet point. … more

I’ve been at my company for 4 years. My original plan was to leave soon. However, I have a verbal commitment that I would get a promotion into a dream role in the next 2 years. Is it worth it to stay … more

I have two great internships under my belt, and I thought that would put me in a great place when applying to jobs. However, I'm still considered 'inexperienced' and have been finding it S… more

When you read about a candidate claiming to have saved the company hundreds of thousands of dollars, how do you honestly perceive it? Does it help demonstrate their impact, or does it feel vague or un… more

I’ve stayed at most of my jobs for 3+ years, and it’s something I’ve always felt proud of. But lately, I’m wondering if that loyalty is hurting me. Some newer roles seem to expect constant movement, f… more

Every recruiter I talk to just gives me the same KPI/volume script, and I’m looking for the actual move to get to the next level.

Is it worth doubling down on niche infrastructure like Azure or Databr… more

What methods are best for evaluating both hard and soft skills during the recruitment process? How do you measure these things?

I’ve been in HR for a few years but am exploring a move into tech recruiting. The honest truth of why I want the shift is that I've heard it's a lucrative career. One, is that true, and two, h… more

How important is employer branding in attracting candidates, and what are some effective ways to strengthen it?

I’ve seen great candidates get rejected for one role and hired quickly for another in the same company. Fit really is role specific. Have you ever been a better match for a different team than the one… more

What are some benefits that actually aren't benefits that you are unwillingly listing in your job postings? I've read "company laptop" in many JPs... How is that a benefit?

Just had an interview and I could tell the interviewer was multi- tasking. It was so frustrating. Is it okay to say something about it?

Are you ever interested in assessing whether a candidate is a balanced remote worker? If so, how do you evaluate that? I understand that remote work offers a lot of flexibility, but it can also come w… more

Yesterday someone at my company messaged me on Teams asking if my team was hiring and what we do. A bit later, they asked if I could refer them for a role they’d seen on Workday where my manager was t… more

The Underfund-then-Fire special standard leadership playbook:
1. Pump up a massive project with hype
2. Cut the requested budget/headcount by 50%.
3. Tell the team to "be agile" (translation: work double for free).more

Has anyone here successfully landed a job with the help of a recruiter? Every single one of them sounds so interested and eager to help you, until they start ghosting you for no reason at all. What is… more

Can you give an example of outcomes and impact described in a resume that would make a recruiter instantly think, "I want YOU!" about a candidate? I've started focusing more on outcomes … more

I often see candidates undersell contract roles as “temporary”. In reality, some of the most impactful work happens in contracts. Have you seen contracts open more doors in tech?

The new trend I’m seeing: entry/mid-level requires 5 days in office, but VP/Director is fully remote.

Make it make sense. We are literally building a two-tier class system at work and I feel gross sel… more

There’s a lot of noise about “quiet quitting,” but I wonder if the real issue is that many people have quietly outgrown the version of themselves that once thrived at work. Not disengaged — just misal… more

I was laid off three months ago from a mid-level product role at a startup that suddenly downsized. I’ve applied to dozens of positions, but most companies seem to pause at my lack of experience at a … more

Sometimes they’re hiring a "ninja" specialist, sometimes they really need someone who can wear five hats. How can you tell what they actually need (not what the posting says), and how do you… more

I once spoke with a candidate who openly shared they were burnt out and looking for a healthier environment. That honesty didn’t hurt them, it helped. The right teams value self awareness. How honest … more

I’m turning 35 soon and I am having a mid-career crisis. Receuiters have you seen people change careers later on in life?

All anyone I vent about this to can say is, "Start applying mid-march of next year". Is there any truth to this, or is the holiday season secretly a good time to apply and be on the hiring t… more

I’ve watched candidates overprepare for technical questions and underprepare for tell me about yourself. That first answer sets the tone more than people realize. How confident are you in your opening… more

How is contract work viewed on the resume? What if its at top companies? Is it seen as impressive or are you seen as "not good enough for FTE"? Curious on the recruiter perspective on this.

How big of a red flag is it if a software engineer has jumped every 1–1.5 years trying to chase better growth and comp, but hasn’t held a senior title yet? The next job I get, I want to ask for the se… more

As someone seriously considering switching jobs in the new year, what can I do now to prepare for the search? Other than the obvious of updating my resume. I feel out of practice with everything becau… more

I often take time to gather data and quantify the real impact before pushing solutions. It’s helped me challenge assumptions and focus on actual problems, not just noise. Some teammates weren’t thrill… more

A question I ask myself every few months: “If I met the current version of me at a party, would I be intrigued?”

Sometimes I realize I’ve become a bit too cautious. Sometimes I surprise myself. What do… more