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Marianne Ugang

The Hilarious Irony of "Reverse Recruiting": Old Wine, New Bottle

Updated: Oct 10, 2023

Ah, the world of recruiting—always evolving, always innovating, and always coming up with new buzzwords to make old practices sound revolutionary. Enter "Reverse Recruiting," the latest term that's got everyone in a tizzy. But let's be real: Is it actually new, or is it just old wine in a new bottle? (Spoiler alert: It's the latter.)


What's in a Name?

First off, let's talk about the term itself. "Reverse Recruiting" sounds like something out of a sci-fi movie where robots are hiring humans. But in reality, it's as straightforward as it gets. One school of thought says it's when job seekers take the initiative to reach out to companies. The other says it's when companies actively seek out potential candidates. Confused much? (Side note: If you're a new recruiter, don't worry, you're not alone. If you're a seasoned recruiter, yes, you can scoff now.)


The Many Faces of Reverse Recruiting

You see, this "revolutionary" concept has been around for ages, just under different aliases. Some companies call it "Talent Sourcing," others refer to it as "Active Recruitment," and if you're really old school, you might just call it "Headhunting." (Ah, the good ol' days when recruiters were basically corporate bounty hunters.)


The Sarcasm (But Not Really)

Now, here's where it gets entertaining. Companies have been doing this forever but act like they've discovered fire when they say they're into "Reverse Recruiting." It's like calling your grandma's secret cookie recipe "Artisanal Hand-Crafted Biscuits" and acting like you've reinvented the wheel. (Although seriously, Grandma's cookies are still the best, no matter what you call them.)


The Real Deal

Jokes aside, the essence of what's now called "Reverse Recruiting" is actually pretty valuable. It's proactive, targeted, and can save everyone a lot of time and heartache. Whether you're a job seeker who's tired of throwing resumes into the void, or a recruiter who's had it with sifting through a mountain of irrelevant applications, this approach has something for everyone.


So, the next time you hear someone rave about "Reverse Recruiting," give them a knowing smile and maybe, just maybe, enlighten them that it's not as new as they think. After all, a rose by any other name would smell as sweet, right? (Shakespeare knew what was up.) So go ahead, call it what you want—just know that this "new" method is as old as the recruiting hills. And that's perfectly okay. Because if it ain't broke, why fix it?

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