How to break hearts?........... 💔

“Sorry but your profile isn't shortlisted…… ”

A one liner which crushes the confidence of many, shatters dreams of some and breaks a few hearts! As a recruiter, isn't rejecting distressing? Maybe, maybe not because why spoil results with emotions! 

But let's at least take a glance at the journey of a candidate :-

Apply for 100 Jobs 🫡 

Why hesitate to apply? Rejection is free anyways! 

Resume gamble 🎲

Add those “Excellent communication skills” (Only in chats 🤭) 

Endless interview prep 🥱

Google “Top 50 HR questions” as if it's the UPSC exam.

Surviving rounds after rounds 🥸

Facing questions like, “Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years?” (Candidate : Definitely not in this job 😏) 

After such a journey full of struggles, you hear.. 

Thanks for applying, better luck next time 🙏🏻(Sounds like you tried but maybe shouldn't have) 

Then what? You question your worth and the person who told you “You're talented!”

You become a philosopher at 2:00 AM, reflecting on the tragedy! 

But it definitely takes skill to crush a soul with a smile!.. 

But tell me, dear candidates, what hurts more : The rejection or that awkward "Let's keep in touch, we have your resume in our database!”? 🫠

How generous that candidate was…… 🥹

How generous that candidate was…… 🥹

While working on a business development manager role, I contacted a candidate. I was astonished to know that he had 17 years of experience in this field. 🤯

The conversation started like any other until he said, “To be honest, you won’t find any candidate with these requirements at this budget.” 🙄

Since he had massive experience, I was extremely curious to dig out at least some insights and learnings so I asked him, “What budget would be suitable? How can we find relevant candidates specifically for this much experience? And so on…… . 

If he wanted to, he could have ended the call, but instead, he guided me and shared his wisdom about the role! That was an amazing convo, lasted for 15 mins and taught learning that will last forever! 

I was stunned by his humility. Sometimes, a candidate doesn't just answer, but inspires! 

Have you ever had a conversation that left you with more than you expected? 🙂

The perfect resume or a perfect illusion? 🤔

Fluent in Python, expert in AI, blockchain enthusiast and born with leadership skills! Sounds like Elon Musk? But the reality often feels more like copy & paste from someone's LinkedIn… 

Why does a perfect resume sometimes seem to be a perfect illusion?

💭Buzzwords Bingo 

AI? Machine learning? Data Ninja? 

Half the candidates can barely explain them but they just mention it for that ‘WOW’ reaction. 

🏆🥱Achievements Buzz 

“I won the ‘star performer’ award, ‘best employee’ award,......many more!” But guess what? Majority of the stuff is as authentic as reddit stories. 

😎Skills Section 

Fluent in 4-5 language (Condition : By using google translator) 😅

Decorate your resume but don't make it unrealistic, forcing HRs to verify for a reality check! 

What are your views about ‘PERFECT Resume? 

You're missing out on the ghosting tragedy.. 🤯

You're missing out on the ghosting tragedy.. 🤯

Everything changes, but ghosting remains the classic tragedy. 😅

You connect with a candidate, things go well but when you're about to close the deal, the candidate vanishes faster than your weekend. No calls, no replies and no apology!!🥲

But why last moment heartbreaks? 🥺

1] The grass is greener syndrome 🤑

They received better offers; more money, free snacks… 

2] Job searching as hobby 😮‍💨

Some people are just bored so they pass their time by wasting other's. 

3] Fear of saying ‘NO’ 🥶

Confrontation? Too scary? They’d rather ghost than decline politely. 

But what do we learn? We've learned that not every candidate is serious, ready, or aware they applied in the first place.

In the end, recruitment is like dating; you swipe right on many but sometimes you're left on ‘READ’…😶‍🌫️

Have you been left on ‘READ'?

I just want the offer letter, not the job……

What do candidates exactly want? Some candidates want a job and some… just want an offer letter! 

Candidate: I need a job urgently! Please process my application fast.

Me : Of course! Here’s a role that matches your profile.

Candidate: Perfect! I'll apply for it! 

Me : Sure 

So he applied and in a few days we scheduled his interview. He aced it and seemed to be the right fit for the role. Client shared with him the offer letter. 

But then what? 

On the date of joining, the client tried contacting, we tried reaching out but it seems he ghosted after grabbing the offer letter, just to get appraisal! 

If you just want an offer letter, why not design it on Adobe? It will save your as well as the recruiter's time! 🤷🏻‍♂️

Have you encountered such candidates? 

Job Description VS Reality……🤭

Are JDs like dating profiles? They sound perfect until you actually meet!

JD : Looking for a dynamic personality ready to lead projects with creative freedom! 

Reality : You will execute whatever the boss instructs till 11:00 PM. 

JD : Work life balance is our priority. 

Reality : You will get emails labelled with “Urgent” at any time! 

JD : Competitive salary based on industry standards. 

Reality : Your salary is a mystery, even to the HR. 

JD : Exciting growth and self development opportunities. 

Reality : Oops, company's priority first, self development later! 

JD :We value transparency and open lines of communication. 

Reality : Your concerns will be acknowledged and then forgotten!! 

But hold on, here's the difference. At AideWiser, we ensure JDs match reality. Because a great hire starts with the integrity, not a fairytale.

What are your views on this? 

The recruitment paradox………

Client : Find me a candidate with 10+ years of experience but under 30 years old. 

Me : Means someone who started working as a teenager? 

Client : We also need a candidate with IIT/IIM background and the budget is ₹10 LPA. 

My honest reaction : So the right fit would be a genius working for charity?? 

The paradox doesn't end here, let's see the candidates’ version, 

Candidate : I want a remote job with ₹12 LPA, 4 day workweek and other facilities. 

Me : What's your experience? 

Candidate : I'm a fresher. 

The paradox in recruitment is never ending and then people say, “Why's there a mismatch?”🤷🏻‍♂️

A 5 mins chat, half an hour interview and then friendship?.......... 🙌🏻

Recently I had shortlisted a candidate after conducting a few rounds of interviews. His interview was scheduled with the client. 

The next day, his message popped up. When I checked the message, it was his music video. 

It was impressive though it surprised me for a moment because why would a candidate showcase his hobbies to you assuming you are his buddy? 

But of course, glad to have connected with that candidate well because who said hiring has to be all serious? A little human touch never hurts, just as long as my DM is not flooded with good morning and good night wishes everyday!😅

Did you become friends with any of your candidates? 

Ringing… Ringing… Ringing… spam?

We all ignore unknown calls because who wants to discuss urgent loan offers or win a fake lottery, right? 

But what if I tell you that an unknown call could be the life changing one? A candidate kept receiving calls from an unknown US number for a month. The candidate ignored them all, assuming it was spam. 

Later it turns out, it was Amazon's recruitment team! When he finally realised, he tried calling back, only to get a “call not monitored” message and lose a rupee as a fee. Peak comedy of blunders and blunders… 

The candidate must have realised : Rejecting an unknown caller too fast could cost losing a dream job….. Opportunity could pop out at any time like relatives in weddings, be ready! 

Did you miss any call that could have changed the fortune for you? 

Sapne dekhna acchi baat hai but…… 🤯

A candidate applied for a role, he was selected as everything went well. We reached the last stage : Salary Discussion!! 

I asked him, “What are your salary expectations?”

Candidate replies, “I'm open to discussion.” Which was obvious… 

I clearly stated, “Great! The budget is around ₹12 LPA. Does that work? 

Now guess what could be the most shocking negotiation? ₹13 LPA? ₹15 LPA? ₹20 LPA? No!!! 

Out of nowhere, he replies, “Hmmm, I was thinking ₹35 LPA!!”

At first, I thought I didn't hear it properly, but I confirmed, “You mean ₹13.5 LPA or ₹35 LPA ? 

He was like, “₹35 LPA. But I'm flexible!”

Itni flexibility ki he is negotiating for more than double the budget 😅

I think he assumed that it's an auction! Next time I'll start with, “Are we discussing salary or lottery winnings?” 

3 things a recruiter should never forget to ask….. 😏

Recruitment is mainly about the right questions, no matter how vague or general answers you receive!! Usually, this is how a boring interview goes like.. 

Me : Tell me about yourself. 

Candidate : I'm a dynamic person with excellent multitasking skills. 

(Me in my mind : Here we go again 🥱) 

Next, 

Me : Why do you want this role? 

Candidate : I'm passionate about growth and looking for new challenges. 

My tolerance was over, but I still asked one more question, “What's your biggest weakness?”

He answered, “I work too hard and care too much!”

I was like (Got your enthusiasm and humour, but where's the honesty and reality) 

Hence, don't forget to ask these 3 questions? 😅

1] Do you know what this company does?

2] Can you give an answer that’s not a cliché?

3] Are you actually awake right now?

Would you try this? 😅

Sirrr I need a job urgently!! Sorry I was joking……….😆

What would be your reaction when a candidate does this? Hold on, hear the complete story. 

Recruitment is like matchmaking but the match often disappears. We had a candidate seeking a job opportunity. She had a career gap yet she listed her specific conditions, 

“I need a remote and part time job. I'll work only on these terms……”

After an epic struggle, we found a suitable job for her…… but the job went on hold after sometime. 

She followed up every single day, “Is it active? When will it be active? Is it even possible?”

Finally, the job became active again. She applied. The first round went well. Things were smooth. 

And then suddenly she disappears….. 

No responses to emails, calls or messages. Ghost mode on!! 

Ironically, she didn't even inform us that she doesn't want the job anymore… … 

Some candidates want a job while others just want to test the patience of recruiters and keep them on their toes, so five stars for suspense, zero for professionalism! 

Have you experienced such incidents? Let us know the best one in the comments! 

🗣 I'm the right fit!! But what's the role? 😂

Interviewing candidates is always an adventure. Some candidates impress, some depress, some surprise…… and some don't appear!! 

I was interviewing a candidate who had applied for a key role. The resume seemed good, relevant experience so what could go wrong? 

Without beating around the bush, I directly started with, “What do you know about our company?”

Candidate replied, “Ohh, I'm extremely passionate about this role.”

It seemed as if he was trying to escape, 

But I reiterated, “That's great! But what do you know about our company?”

Candidate was like, “(blank).......... Ummm I guess you guys do something in IT, right?”

Me blinking in disbelief, “We're a recruitment firm.”

Candidate continued pitching, “Ooopps, but I'm still interested!”

Passion is important, but so is Google. 

Enthusiasm without facts and knowledge, just a lame game… 🥱

How frequently does this happen with you? 

Share your story in the comments! 

The candidate who outsourced his interview…😜

The candidate who outsourced his interview…😜

Surprises never end in recruitment, but this one deserves an award!!

A virtual interview was scheduled for a candidate. Everything was processed as planned, but the call changed everything.

I asked, “Can you please introduce yourself?” 

Candidate took an awkward pause, whispers could be heard in the background while he replied, “uhh sure. My name is XYZ. I have completed my bachelors and masters from…… My strengths are… . ..”

But wait… A few questions later, I noticed something odd. His lips weren’t matching the words. The voice was confident, but the face looked… lost. 

He was exposed a few questions later when he went blank but the voice over still continued, so the lip sync drama couldn't last for too long. 

We ended the call and were speechless.

But if you are faking, at least rehearse or better be qualified for the job!! Hats off to the confidence and guts of pulling out the dumbest idea!! 😂

Have you ever experienced a candidate pulling out such a flop plan? 😅 Keen to hear your humorous story in the comment! 

Rejection ; not the end! 🥲

Most of the people would know about the Honda Motor Company but how did it start? You need to know the backstory filled with obstacles, uncertainties and failures. 

At 15, ambitious Soichiro Honda left his small town, dreaming of working for Toyota despite having no formal education.

He was developing engine piston rings at his workshop where he spent most of the time working on his dream. Sold jewellery, slept in his workshop and finally completed piston rings. He took them to Toyota but was rejected due to lack of required quality! Give up? Nooo!

Soichiro Honda studied more in technical school to perfect his designs, eventually securing a contract, but he needed a factory. Just as he built one, war struck, bombing it twice and leaving him without steel to rebuild. Yet, instead of giving up, he found solutions and kept chasing his dream.

He started crafting motorised bicycles in a tiny workshop, pouring every ounce of passion into his work. Soon, those bicycles became motorcycles. Then cars. And before the world knew it, Honda wasn’t collaborating with Toyota, instead he was competing with them. 

What are your thoughts on this inspiring story?

When ‘job application’ turns into ‘medical examination’!! 😅

We literally received a medical report instead of a resume for a job role!!! It couldn't be more unrealistic!! 

Recruiter : We received your document, but it's ……(still processing what happened)…...your medical report? 

Candidate : Ohh but isn't that important? I wanted to prove I'm the right fit for the role! 😂

Bro took the word ‘Right fit’ seriously!! 🤭

What's the most unexpected thing a candidate has sent you? 😜

Deja Vuuu : How small the world is??

You all would be astonished to hear about this coincidence! There was a role of technical recruiter in Nagpur - super niche, with a long list of skills and criteria that would make anyone’s head spin. 

I scrolled through resumes, swiped various profiles, browsed my network but couldn't find the right fit! Finally after endless searching, I found one candidate who ticked all the boxes. It seemed like match made in recruitment heaven 😅. 

Her resume wasn't updated so I dialed her optimistically, “Hi! This is the role, and your profile matches perfectly….”

She listened and calmly asked, “Ok. Interesting but what's the company name?”

I shared with her the name of that client. Then she replied, “Oh! That’s my previous company. I left that role, and now you're trying to find my replacement!” 

Mic Drop!!!!!!..... 

Her auraaaa++++++ after this was…….😅

I was stunned, but since her resume wasn't updated, the previous company mentioned in it was different. 

I realised that next time onwards, I should check the company's alumni list before pitching a role!! 🥲

Has such a coincidence happened to you? Keen to hear!! 

Hello sir, myself Mr. Blank 🥲…..

Hello sir, myself Mr. Blank 🥲….. 

This was the unreal yet real intro of that person!!! 

Yes, someone can be so blank and lost that they can't even understand the message 😅. Network is improving but people's sense of understanding is decreasing. 

On LinkedIn, I reached out to a person and messaged, 

“Hi, XYZ. Hope you are doing well. I have recently shifted to Pune so I am looking forward to meeting in person in order to discuss collaboration opportunities.”

So I followed up after a day or two with, “Hey. How's your availability next week?”

Guess, how vague a response could be? He replies, “Hi, what do you want from me?” 

The moment he replied, I was like, seriously? I really felt like responding with, “Sir, I just want world peace… . but a meeting will do for now!” 🤭

When you forget to use your brain, but not your company's email…… 🤭

Need context? Follow me! A few days back, I was having a chat with my friend so he started narrating an interesting incident ……….…………….

Well, I was scrolling through the inbox of the company's mail. While scrolling, an email caught my attention. When I opened it, I saw a colleague applying for a job role from the company's email. This left me stunned and laughing!!! 

Nothing could be more humorous than this, you think? Hold on there's more to it! Just out of curiosity, I dived into details and his resume. His resume seemed to be a masterclass in chaos. 

He had copied a template but forgot to remove the original name from other pages. This is what happens when a robber doesn't know how to rob😅. So the resume was, “Copied and sent by him, presented by (Random)!!” 

After witnessing this peak comedy, I've a tip for you all! “When you borrow a template, at least remember to own it!” 

Be clueless, but don't be brainless! 😂

The breakup tale!!! 🤭

Recently I was interviewing a candidate for a sales role. We began with the introduction and I started with, “So what's your strength?” 

He responded, “Well at my last job, they loved my lead generation method.”

Sounded interesting, so I followed up with, “What's your weakness?”

He said, “At my last job, I worked too much overtime!”

Now this repetitive mentioning of his previous job sounded weird. I finally asked, “Why did you leave your previous job?”

The candidate took a pause for a few seconds, it seemed as if he was recalling his tragic ending at his previous job. He smiled and revealed, “It wasn't me, it was them because they found someone younger and cheaper.”

I couldn't control it so I joked, “Sounds like a bad break up story!!!”

He laughed and added, “I still stalk them on LinkedIn to check if they are suffering without me.”

I just burst out laughing, it was a hilarious interview!!