Who Loves You, Baby! – Do Candidates and Clients Care About Recruiters?
Let’s be honest: recruitment doesn’t always get the love it deserves.
We’ve all seen the memes. Recruiters are ghosting candidates. Clients are disappearing after a shortlist. Candidates are accepting counteroffers at the 11th hour. It's a tough gig. So it begs the question: do clients and candidates care about recruiters, or are we just a necessary middleman in a transactional process?
I think it’s a bit more complicated than that—and a lot more hopeful.
The Relationship Equation
Recruitment is ultimately about relationships. Not just CVs and KPIs. Behind every placement is a human making a life-changing decision, and a business trying to fill the vacancy. As recruiters, we’re smack in the middle of those high-stakes conversations. When it’s done right, the recruiter isn’t just a service provider—they’re a trusted partner, a career coach, a business advisor, and sometimes even a confidante.
But “caring” goes both ways.
Do Candidates Care?
Yes—and no.
Candidates care when you care. If you treat someone like just another LinkedIn search result, don’t expect loyalty. But when you take the time to understand their goals, prep them properly, keep them in the loop, and give honest feedback (even when it’s tough)—you stand out.
I've had candidates come back years later saying, “You’re the only one who listened.” That’s the moment you know you’ve made a difference. Not every candidate turns into a placement. But the ones who feel genuinely supported? They remember.
Do Clients Care?
Again—it depends.
Clients care when they see value. Not just speed or volume, but insight. Market knowledge. Cultural fit. The ability to challenge their thinking, rather than just rubber-stamping a job spec. The best client-recruiter relationships are partnerships built on trust and results. You’re not just filling roles—you’re shaping teams, influencing business outcomes, sometimes even helping them redefine what they need.
And yes, when they find a recruiter who truly understands, they care. They stick around. They refer you. They open up about the real challenges, not just the ones on paper.
So, Who Loves You, Baby?
The ones who know what a great recruiter does. The ones you've helped solve problems, pivot careers, build high-performing teams, or scale up a startup from five people to fifty.
The love is there. But it’s earned, not assumed.
After 29 years in recruitment, I'm in it for the long haul. I believe recruitment should be human, strategic, and genuinely supportive—for candidates and clients alike. When that happens, the love flows both ways.
Want to work with a recruiter who gives a damn?
Let’s talk. You might even find yourself saying: “Who loves you, baby?” — and the answer might just be me!