The Recruitment Game: Why I Don't Trust Headhunters Anymore
Had a conversation with a mate the other day about job hunting, and it reminded me why I’ve developed such a healthy skepticism of recruitment agencies over the years. Someone shared a story online about being dragged into the city for an interview, only to be told upfront that the job had already been filled - but hey, let’s chat anyway so I can “get to know you.” Sound familiar? Unfortunately, it does to me too.
The whole recruitment industry feels like it’s built on a foundation of polite deception. Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure there are good recruiters out there - people who genuinely care about matching the right candidate with the right role. But they seem to be outnumbered by the ones who treat job seekers like commodities in some elaborate shell game.
What really gets under my skin is the casual disrespect for people’s time. Picture this: you’re working full-time, you take annual leave or squeeze in a “dentist appointment” to attend an interview, you spend money on transport into the city, you stress about the whole thing - and then you discover it’s all been a waste because the position was never really available in the first place. It’s infuriating, and it speaks to a broader problem with how some industries treat workers.
The stories I’ve heard are almost comical in their audacity. Recruiters downloading CVs from job sites and then calling weeks later claiming you applied for jobs you’ve never heard of. Agencies advertising roles they don’t actually represent, hoping to build their candidate database. One person mentioned being sent 600 CVs for a single position - imagine the poor hiring manager wading through that mess!
What strikes me most is how this mirrors other industries where middlemen have lost sight of their actual purpose. Real estate agents who seem more interested in getting listings than finding the right buyer. Insurance brokers who prioritize their commission over your coverage needs. The common thread is that the incentive structure has become so warped that serving the client’s best interests has become secondary to hitting targets and quotas.
From a tech perspective, I find it fascinating how AI is now being thrown into this mix. Some companies are using AI to screen candidates, which at least removes human bias from the initial filtering process. But then you’ve got the flip side where AI is being used to generate fake job postings for identity theft purposes. It’s like we’re automating both the legitimate and illegitimate sides of recruitment simultaneously.
The whole thing makes me think about the broader changes in the job market over the past couple of decades. The gig economy, the rise of contract work, the expectation that workers should be constantly networking and job-hopping - it’s created this environment where recruitment has become less about building long-term relationships and more about quick transactions.
Here’s what I’ve learned from my own experiences and from listening to others: always try to apply directly to companies when possible. Check their actual websites, not just the job boards. If you can’t find the role advertised by the company itself, that’s a red flag. And if a recruiter contacts you about a role, don’t be afraid to ask direct questions about their relationship with the employer and whether the position actually exists.
The frustrating thing is that good recruitment should be valuable for everyone involved. Companies get access to pre-screened candidates, job seekers get insights into opportunities they might not have found otherwise, and recruiters earn their fee by providing genuine value. But when the system gets gamed by people more interested in building databases than building careers, everyone loses.
Maybe the solution lies in greater transparency. What if recruitment agencies had to disclose upfront whether they actually represent the employer or are just fishing for candidates? What if there were clearer regulations about advertising roles that don’t exist? The job market is stressful enough without having to navigate through layers of deception.
Until then, my advice is to stay skeptical, do your homework, and remember that your time and energy are valuable. Don’t let anyone treat you otherwise, whether they’re wearing a suit in Collins Street or calling from some boiler room operation in Sydney. We deserve better than elaborate games of make-believe when we’re trying to build our careers.