Tips On Creating A Great First Impression With A Recruiter

Did you know that 62% of Indian companies are looking forward to hiring freshers in the first half of 2023? According to a well-known Edtech Career Outlook Report, the average Indian population is 27 years old. With such an extensive hiring intent of Indian companies, it is has become inevitable to understand the attitude of freshers towards the hiring process and find out ways to improve it for the betterment of both the parties involved.

Early career birds in India are fiercely hardworking, ambitious, enthusiastic and they have an aptitude for constant learning. They always give their 100 percent at any job they take up. But when it comes to patience, I feel guilty to admit that our young generation lacks it. And this scarcity of patience might as well make them (freshers) seem unreliable when applying to a reputable company.

Let’s be honest. We all were impatient freshers at some point in our lives and we all had unrealistic expectations from our first job, that’s why we all were disappointed in some or the other way. Except the sense of happiness that was indistinguishable - when we received our first paycheck. But do you remember your first call with an HR person? Were they ruthless and unbearably boring or polite and understanding?

Trust me when I say this, your first impression might not be the last impression when it comes to interacting with HR, but it plays a major role in the company’s decision of selecting or rejecting your job application. To understand this, please have a look at distinct telephonic conversations of two candidates who applied for the Graphic Designer’s role at the same company :

Case 1

Recruiter - Hi Abhinav, good morning.

Abhinav - Who is this?

Recruiter - This is Recruiter from (_) Pvt Ltd. where you applied for the role of Graphic Designer.

Abhinav - Yes I did. What’s the package for this job? I didn’t see an amount mentioned on the job post.

Recruiter - Before sharing the compensation details, please allow me to discuss this role with you in depth. So that I can understand your expectations and explain -

(Abhinav interrupts the Recruiter)

Abhinav - No that’s not needed. I have read the details on the job portal. I just want to know the salary details.

Recruiter - Alright. The salary for this position is Rs. _

Abhinav - That’s too low. I am not interested.

Recruiter - I see. Are you open for -

(Abhinav hangs up)

Case 2

Recruiter - Hi Deepak, good morning.

Deepak - Good morning. May I know who is this?

Recruiter - This is Recruiter from (_) Pvt Ltd. where you applied for the role of Graphic Designer.

Deepak - Oh yes I did, very recently. Hi Recruiter, how are you?

Recruiter - I am doing very well, thanks for asking. How are you?

Deepak - All good too. Please tell me.

Recruiter - So Deepak, I went through your CV and I had some questions, would you mind answering them?

Deepak - Not at all, please go on and ask away.

(Deepak answers all of recruiter’s questions patiently)

Recruiter - Great! Do you have any questions for me?

Deepak - Yes! Could you please tell me something about the work culture of ABC Pvt Ltd., along with the incentive system?

Recruiter - Sure thing..

(Their conversation went on for another 10 minutes.) Who do you think got the job? Let’s assess both of these cases in detail.

Assessment Of Case 1

Abhinav seemed rude and impatient.
He didn’t want to listen to the Recruiter and was adamant on knowing the salary offered only.
He kept interrupting the Recruiter and hung up abruptly. That was a bad choice. Because in the future, the company won’t be allow him to reapply - not only for the Graphic Designer’s role but any other role.

Look, money is important and yes, it can buy you happiness. But it cannot buy you a good attitude. Even though, you’re well aware of the position that you are applying for, it is very important to have a proper conversation with the HR. Mind you, they are not just asking you questions and blabbering about the opening, they are also, at the same time, assessing your tone, communication skills, patience, the comprehensive nature of your responses and last but not the least, if you care enough for the job role i.e. your attitude towards the opening.

Assessment Of Case 2

Deepak seemed patient throughout the call and was eager to understand the minor details of this job.
He greeted the Recruiter.
He prioritized listening over speaking.
He asked good questions.

I understand that in today’s date, time is our most valuable resource and that we all are super busy in our lives - struggling and hustling simultaneously to make significant contributions to our lives and to the lives of our loved ones. But what’s the harm in giving 10 minutes to someone who can potentially help you attain a source of income? Deepak will most probably get the job because he gave appropriate time to speak with the Recruiter. That made a positive impact instantly and gave him an upper hand in the selection process.

All of our life experiences - be it good or bad, are nothing but the consequences of our actions. External factors may be involved, but only up to an extent. In all cases having appropriate patience and being kind goes a long way. For instance, if Abhinav could have tried to have a better conversation, the Recruiter would have made an extra effort to negotiate the package offered by the company.

The wokeness of our younger generation (Z) has definitely blessed the world with immense knowledge and clarity on a million things, but it has also led many people (especially our youth) to have unrealistic expectations and be unnecessarily entitled in all situations.

Before starting out as an HR Trainee, I never missed an opportunity when it came to giving multiple interviews. And it is safe to admit that I have committed some of these mistakes (that I will be mentioning in the latter part of this blog) as well. So if you are a fresher reading this and you think my intent is to demoralize you in any way, please don’t. My sole intention for writing this blog is to create awareness - in the minds of early career birds as well as employers. So that freshers can work with top-notch companies and HR can hire exceptional talent.

What do you need to keep in mind when applying for your first job? How should you approach the HR of your target company? How should you present yourself in virtual and office interviews? Let’s answer these questions, along with some other queries you might have.

What You Should Do As A Fresher In The Hiring Process?

Do your research about the job and the company that you’re applying to
Be polite, have patience, and listen carefully
Ask good questions. Especially the ones you think the HR won’t be able to answer (Pro tip - ask questions that can’t be answered simply by looking at the Job Description. For example: questions about the work culture of a company, its personnel’s strength, annual revenue, leave policy, etc.)
Ask for company details by mail as proof of your conversation with the HR
Be interested. Your keenness towards the opportunity can do wonders in the selection process
Always have an optimistic approach. Even if you don’t get the job, maintaining a good rapport with HR people can help you find many other great job opportunities as well

What You Should Not Do As A Fresher In The Hiring Process?

Do not interrupt the HR when they are explaining you the role or talk over them. Save your questions for later
Do not jump to salary negotiations at the beginning of the conversation
Do not insist on reading the Job Description only. To understand the company background and its hiring intent, you need to have an in-depth conversation with the HR
Avoid being unnecessarily rude or impatient
Do not ghost (when someone cuts off all communication without explanation) the HR/Recruiter if you decide to turn over the opportunity. Sending an email - where you can explain your reason for withdrawing your application creates a positive impression.

Conclusion

Just like the HR has expectations from freshers, freshers are bound to have expectations from the HR too. After all, if you want someone to work for your company as an employer, you should be able to give them a good working environment, desirable work culture, competitive salary, and many other appreciable incentives. Stay tuned for my next blog in which I will cover these points.

I would be eager to know if this blog was informative. Your feedback on improving ways in which Freshers and Recruiters can communicate more efficiently is welcome. Please share your views in the comment section below.

Do share your experience of interacting with Recruiters and HR professionals - be it positive or negative at info@temp-let.com. I hope that your future encounters with HR people may be pleasant and you get your dream job!

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