6 Lies Recruiters Will Tell You During The Interview

Landing that interview in the job hunt process is always an exhilarating feeling. Hoping to change your career trajectory or even land your first job after finishing university, you have done your due diligence, and you’re ready to crush your interview.

You have checked all the boxes in preparation, printed out your resume, put on your finest interview outfit, and you think you’re all ready to go.

You’re prepared for everything except one thing: Possible lies a recruiter may tell you. Today, we will be talking about some common lies and phrases that recruiters use and what they actually mean so you can add that last item to your interview preparation list – knowing the truth about the position!

You should definitely take this offer now; before it gets taken, there is nothing better out there

A common pressure tactic to fill a position fast, telling you there are no other offers, is 100% a lie.

Remember, there is always a better position, a better salary, and a better offer elsewhere. That isn’t to say the job you’re interviewing for isn’t the right fit, but pressuring candidates to commit is an all-too-common recruiter technique!

Ignore the negative reviews about these employers; there is no truth behind them

Ever been a bit reserved about companies’ negative online reviews, only to hear from a recruiter that it’s just rubbish? Be cautious when you hear a defensive statement about reviews, and be sure to do your due diligence in researching the employer to get an accurate description of their reputation. In most cases, there could be some truth behind the complaints.

Don’t be afraid to dig deeper and ask the recruiter more questions about negative reviews. Visit websites that give more detailed reviews of the company. Even try to talk to current employees when applicable

We’ll be in touch

Ever heard this in an interview?

We will be in touch is a good sign that it could be working out for you; however, with no set timetable in the follow-up process, this means you may have to take the initiative to reach back out.

On the other hand, it could also mean you’re not the person they’re looking for – they didn’t want to tell you that!

You look great on paper

This classic comment could be the truth or a lie.  In some cases, the recruiter is trying to put in professional terms that you are not the best candidate who could fulfill the job’s responsibilities or weren’t a connection during the interview.

Be sure to read body language to understand the context.

We received your name via a mutual contact that has chosen to remain anonymous

Sometimes a recruiter might reach out to you on a popular platform such as LinkedIn or shoot you an email. When you ask how they found you, they might make a mention to an “Anonymous source.”

This is obviously coded language to express that they themselves have been doing research on you on the open-source and therefore marked you as a potential candidate.

We are interviewing other candidates at the same time, but we are interested

This is an indirect way of telling you that the recruiter has their hands full with tons of applicants that they must go through, and therefore, wants to know if you are the right fit or not without having to bend over backward.

Sometimes used as a pressuring technique to make sure you’re serious, recruiters will use this to create less work for themselves.

Conclusively;

These are just some common lies that recruiters tell. The bigger question is, why do they lie? Some recruiters lie to avoid uncomfortable or difficult conversations with job candidates.  At times, a recruiter may lie to gather more CV’s and have more conversations with candidates, even if they don’t have a suitable job for you at the moment. 

If you remain alert and aware of the common lies above, you’ll be able to get the most out of your interactions with recruiters and find a job faster, while protecting yourself.

Nervous about your upcoming interview? Let a professional interview coach help you navigate the hurdles that come with the interviewing process