Language shapes perception—and in recruitment, that perception matters. Too often, recruitment is seen as just a transaction; find a candidate, send a CV, and collect a fee. But there’s so much more to it than that.
To shed light on the behind-the-scenes efforts that go into making the right hire, we’ve invited Ashlene McFadden, to share her perspective.
“Earlier this month, I saw a recruiter post about a “free” candidate. This could be someone left without a role after a process didn’t work out, which is frustrating for the candidate, and disappointing for everyone involved. Still, I applaud that recruiter for being proactive and sharing the candidate with their network. But one word stood out to me: free.
Now for the candidate, they were now ‘free’ for work, looking for a new opportunity. It made me think about the use of the word ‘free’ in a recruiter’s vocabulary, and the misconceptions that exist about how we as recruiters operate. Recruiters shape careers, streamline hiring processes, and create professional success. Yet, our contributions are often undersold. Why? Because we let transactional language dominate the narrative.
When recruiters rely on words like “free” or “placement fee,” they reduce the value of their work to an oversimplified exchange. What these terms miss is the months of preparation, networking, and nuanced support that goes into every successful match.”
By using transactional language, recruiters are diminishing the biggest piece of work that goes into the service they provide – the human side. We believe it’s about more than just what’s on paper, and that’s reflected in the sheer amount of work that goes into finding placing professionals who make lasting impacts on businesses.
So, we want to explain just what our support offering includes. That way, when you consider external recruitment support, you know exactly what you’re getting.
What we do
- Interview preparation and coaching
We don’t just send candidates into an interview unprepared. We coach them on how to present their strengths in a way that resonates with the employer. For employers, we help structure interviews to draw out the key skills and qualities they’re looking for. This means both parties get the most out of the process and avoid unnecessary missteps.
- Offer management and negotiation
Negotiating an offer can be tricky. Candidates want to feel valued, and employers want to ensure they’re offering a competitive package. As recruiters, we manage this delicate balance. We ensure candidates feel confident they’re getting market value, while employers feel assured they’re securing top talent.
- Onboarding support
Our job doesn’t stop at an offer letter. We provide ongoing support through the pre-onboarding and onboarding stages. This helps both the candidate and employer adjust smoothly, ensuring long-term success. It’s about creating a foundation for success, ensuring that the candidate feels welcomed and that the employer is prepared to integrate them effectively.
- CV review
A candidate also benefits in the process from CV review and a recruiter’s knowledge. We guide candidates on how to improve their CVs, highlight relevant experiences, and make smart career moves. This might mean suggesting roles that offer better flexibility, a shorter commute, or the chance to grow in new ways. We help candidates make choices that align with their personal and professional goals.
Why it’s important
The language recruiters use doesn’t just shape how the industry is perceived; it directly impacts candidates and clients in ways that go beyond the surface. When transactional language dominates the conversation, it can lead to missed opportunities, misunderstandings, and undervaluing the recruitment process.
When recruitment is framed as a transaction, candidates can feel like commodities rather than individuals with unique skills, experiences, and aspirations. They might feel like they are pushed into roles they aren’t a fit for and even disengage them from the process entirely.
For hiring managers, it might reduce confidence in the recruiter’s process overall. Perceiving it a merely a fee to a service might increase the risk of missing great opportunities, fail to leverage other services like interviewing structure, onboarding support and market insights, all resulting in the risk of mismatched hire.
A recruiter’s work goes far beyond a simple introduction. Recruitment changes lives. It’s about creating a tailored approach, grounded in understanding a business’s needs and a candidate’s aspirations. It’s often a tailored approach which comes from a strong knowledge of the employer and an in-depth knowledge of their market. It’s why hiring managers use our service – because of the sheer amount of time and effort it takes to really understand everyone’s needs and find the right solution for everyone involved.
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