Six Figures Blog

Speaking with others, and through my own experience of job searching at the senior level ($100K+) I have found a growing trend by recruitment agencies & search firms to have applicants fill in detailed and lengthy questionnaires prior to the interview. This is after you have applied for the job through whatever preferred method they have (sometimes very lengthy). Then after this step and speaking with the Consultant, this additional process has been introduced.

Increasingly Consultants are emailing a lengthy form or questionnaire to fill in
before you have met with them or been given any information about the job or company. This form or questionnaire generally contains questions that you would expect to be asked in the interview.

I know that we are all very busy and that businesses are looking for ways to be more efficient. I understand the need to process and automate certain key business functions, though I’m still not sure about auto attendants when you call businesses that only serve to infuriate the customers. I consider the auto attendant on a par with this new process of having applicants jump through hoops before they know much about the position beyond the brief job ad for which they have applied. When I encountered this approach by an agency I did not comply, nor have others that I know – they walk away. I wonder then if though it may be efficient for agencies, if by putting in place such processes they are actually turning away applicants and top talent that they need to be attracting.

In my career and training as a Consultant we never had senior applicants fill in anything bar the minimal contact details and privacy information when they arrived for the interview. Perhaps times have changes.

What are your thoughts on this approach? Does it make good business sense?