Imagine ... you are sitting at your desk, mid-scroll on LinkedIn, when you see a job that ticks every single box. It’s a step up, better money, flexible working, and it’s even with that company you’ve always fancied working for. You can practically see yourself sipping artisan coffee in their modern office space already.
Excited, you click the link. Turns out, the job is being advertised by a recruitment agency. No big deal, right? You send your CV in. Within 30 minutes, your phone rings.
“Hi, it’s Sarah from BrightPath Recruitment! Just seen your CV — you look amazing for this role.”
Flattery. Validation. You’re buzzing.
Fast forward a few days. You’ve had a nice little chat with Sarah. She’s told you she’ll speak to the client right away. But then… radio silence. A week goes by. You finally follow up and she tells you, with a slight sigh, “Unfortunately, the client’s gone with someone else. But I’ve actually got another role coming up that I think you’d be perfect for.”
And that’s when it hits you.
You were never really in the running for that first role. Not seriously, anyway. You were the bait. The foot in the door. One of many.
Welcome to the Recruitment Agency Game
Let’s be clear: not all recruitment consultants are playing a dodgy game. There are loads of genuinely helpful, professional recruiters who care about placing the right person in the right role.
But — and it’s a big but — many agencies are driven by KPIs (key performance indicators), quotas, and commission. Their job is to get candidates in the system, whether they’re a perfect fit for the job or not. It’s a numbers game. The more CVs they collect, the more they can “shop” candidates around to clients, and the more likely they are to make a placement — and pocket a handsome fee.
So what sort of tricks do they use to get you signed up, even when the job might not be right for you?
Let’s lift the lid.
1. The Shiny Job That Might Not Even Exist
This one’s a classic.
You see a cracking job advert on LinkedIn or Indeed. The role is a unicorn — flexible hours, brilliant salary, trendy location, and a progressive company. It’s just too good to be true. And that’s often because… it is.
Recruiters sometimes post speculative adverts. That means the job isn’t actually available — not yet. They’re fishing. Fishing for good CVs. And when you bite, they’ve got what they want: your contact details, your work history, your salary expectations. All very useful.
Once you’ve applied, the job often “mysteriously” vanishes. They’ll tell you it’s just been filled. Or that the client changed their requirements. Or — the most popular line — “you’re not quite what they’re looking for on this occasion.”
But now you’re in their database. You’ve been scooped up.
2. The “Just a Quick Chat” That Becomes a Data Collection Session
Ever been told, “Let’s have a quick catch-up — nothing formal!” and then found yourself essentially being interviewed for 45 minutes?
This is another subtle move.
The recruiter might frame it as a relaxed chat, just getting to know you. But what they’re actually doing is gathering all the juicy bits they can use when pitching you to other employers later on.
Your notice period. Salary expectations. Projects you’ve worked on. “Would you relocate?” “How flexible are you?” “Would you consider contract roles?”
It’s not sinister, per se. But it’s not always what it seems. Sometimes, it’s less about matching you to a specific job and more about building up their talent pool. That way, when another client comes to them with a brief, they can quickly say: “Yes, we’ve got someone perfect — already vetted!”
3. The Compliment Sandwich
Recruiters are often trained in sales techniques, and one of the oldest tricks in the book is the compliment sandwich.
It goes like this:
“You’ve got a really strong background — I love your experience at [X company]. The only thing is, the client’s looking for someone with a bit more direct experience in [Y software], but honestly, I think you'd be such a good cultural fit and you’re absolutely someone I’d like to work with.”
You walk away feeling pretty good about yourself. Even though you’ve essentially been told you’re not right for the job, the praise takes the sting off. You’re now more open to other roles they send your way — even ones you might never have considered.
4. Creating a Sense of Urgency
This is straight out of the sales playbook.
Recruiters might tell you that the client is “looking to move quickly,” or that interviews are “already being booked for next week.” You’re subtly pushed to jump through hoops at lightning speed — fill out forms, send references, rewrite your CV.
But the truth? Sometimes there’s no rush at all. It’s a way to get you committed early before you start applying elsewhere or get picked up by a rival agency.
And while you’re prepping for this "urgent" role? It quietly disappears. But don’t worry — they’ve got “something else coming in” soon.
5. Overpromising About Your Chances
Another trick is to massively overplay your chances of getting the job.
You might hear lines like:
“You’re exactly what they’re looking for.”
“I think you’ll walk this.”
“You’re the strongest candidate I’ve seen for this.”
That kind of talk builds expectation. Confidence. You start rehearsing for interviews before they’re even confirmed.
Then the mood shifts. Suddenly the recruiter sounds less certain. You didn’t get shortlisted. Or there was someone with “more niche” experience.
Why do they do this? To keep your attention. To keep you engaged long enough to introduce other opportunities. And — importantly — to stop you from signing up with other agencies in the meantime.
6. The “Let’s Just Get You Registered” Routine
Here’s another one: you apply for a specific job, but the recruiter says they have to register you before putting you forward.
Sounds reasonable, doesn’t it? But sometimes, that job isn’t even real — or you were never in the running.
The registration becomes the real goal. They get you to sign some documents, agree to terms, and update your CV. That way, you’re officially “theirs.”
This gives them control. If you’re then approached for the same job by a different agency or directly by the company, they can claim ownership. They’re trying to “lock you in.”
7. The Ghosting Followed by the Resurrection
After all that build-up, sometimes a recruiter will just... vanish. Calls stop. Emails go unanswered.
You’re left wondering if you dreamt the whole thing.
But then — often weeks or even months later — they pop back up. “Hey! Remember me? Got another role you might like.”
This is less trickery and more of a tactic. You’ve already been vetted. You’re already on the books. They don’t have to start from scratch, and they know you’re job hunting (or were).
So… Should You Avoid Recruiters Altogether?
Absolutely not. A good recruiter can be gold dust. They know the market. They know who’s hiring. They can open doors you didn’t even know existed. But it’s crucial to go in with your eyes wide open.
Tips to Navigate the Agency Maze
Ask direct questions.
“Is this role definitely live?” “How many candidates are you submitting?” “Do you have a relationship with the client?”Don’t be afraid to say no.
If a role doesn’t feel right, or if you’re not comfortable with something — speak up.Work with more than one agency.
Don’t put all your eggs in one recruiter’s basket. A good spread means more options and less chance of being strung along.Keep track.
Make a list of the jobs you’ve applied to, which agency submitted you, and when. That way, you won’t get caught out by duplicate submissions or vague promises.Remember — you are in control.
It’s your job search, your career. A recruiter is there to support you, not use you as a pawn.
Final Thought
Recruitment is part sales, part matchmaking, and part theatre. And like any performance, there are smoke and mirrors involved. By understanding the tricks of the trade, you can play the game on your terms.
Next time a recruiter tells you you’re “absolutely perfect” for a role, smile, say thank you — and ask a few smart questions before you let the flattery go to your head.
You’re not just a CV in a database.
You’re the talent.
Make sure they treat you that way.
If you know someone who might find this helpful, don’t keep it to yourself—please share it.
You never know how much of a difference it could make in someone’s life.
Liked what you read? I'd appreciate if you bought me a coffee - it encourages me to keep writing helpful articles like this one. Just click the link below to send a small tip my way. It's quick and secure! Thank you very much!
Comments
Post a Comment