logologo_light
SIGN-UP
  • HOW IT WORKS
    • SRA Home
    • SRA Learner & SRA Coach
    • Compare Subscriptions
    • SRA Course Content
    • SRA Chrome Extension
  • PRICING
    • SRA Pricing
    • Frequently Asked Questions
  • BLOG
    • The Savage Truth Blog
  • PARTNERS
    • Savage Partners
  • BOOKS
    • Recruit The Savage Way
    • The Savage Truth Book
  • FREE RESOURCES
    • Free Video – Behaviour & Activity
    • Free Video – Selling Is Listening
    • E-Book – Kpis & Performance
    • E-Book – Fill More Roles
    • E-Book – Starting A Business
    • E-Book – Successful M&A
  • SIGN-IN
    • Sign-In – Existing
    • Sign-Up – New
  • HOW IT WORKS
    • SRA Home
    • SRA Learner & SRA Coach
    • Compare Subscriptions
    • SRA Course Content
    • SRA Chrome Extension
  • PRICING
    • SRA Pricing
    • Frequently Asked Questions
  • BLOG
    • The Savage Truth Blog
  • PARTNERS
    • Savage Partners
  • BOOKS
    • Recruit The Savage Way
    • The Savage Truth Book
  • FREE RESOURCES
    • Free Video – Behaviour & Activity
    • Free Video – Selling Is Listening
    • E-Book – Kpis & Performance
    • E-Book – Fill More Roles
    • E-Book – Starting A Business
    • E-Book – Successful M&A
  • SIGN-IN
    • Sign-In – Existing
    • Sign-Up – New

“Does my butt look big in this?”

What do you say to a friend who wants your ‘real’ opinion on a matter of some sensitivity? You know, “Do you think I should marry him?” or showing off a new pair of jeans, “Does my butt look big in this?”

It’s a tricky dilemma. You don’t want to rock the boat. You certainly don’t want to hurt your friends’ feelings.  But on the other hand, being honest, while painful, is almost certainly in their best interests.

To answer these questions well, it takes courage. It takes discretion. It takes a lot of trust between two people.

And guess what?

That is exactly the relationship a good recruiter has with clients and candidates.

Would you tell your client that he is not securing the best candidates because the interview process is too long and too demeaning for the talent? Can you find a way to coach your client on her own interview technique, which is turning candidates away?  Are you a  ‘trusted advisor’? A status that enables you to tell your client that their employer brand is weak, and that there are things they need to do to improve their image in the employer market place?

And do you have the courage to tell your candidate that “their butt looks big” as well?

Do you counsel your candidates on their interpersonal style? Can you advise your candidates to talk less in interviews, to stop using slang, to adjust their interview attire, and maybe (God forbid, but it has to happen sometimes) to use more deodorant?

Do you look your candidate in the eye and calmly explain why their salary aspirations are too high?  That they are not ready to manage staff? That they need more communications polish before they can assume a client-facing role?

This is the recruiting equivalent of telling your friend her butt looks huge in those jeans and she had best stop wearing them. Or telling your best mate that his new mullet haircut is an embarrassment to men everywhere.

It has to be done. You are not a friend if you don’t. And as a recruiter you are not a  ‘consultant ‘ if you don’t.

It takes courage and careful communication.

But mostly it means you have built up trust with that client or candidate.

They wont necessarily like what you say, but they will deeply value the fact that you could tell them.

********************************************************************
For fresh, regular recruiting brain-food, subscribe to The Savage Truth

  • Posted by Greg Savage
  • On June 15, 2011
  • 12 Comments
Tags: Brand You, Trusted Advisor

12 Comments

Daniel Elrington
  • Jun 15 2011
  • Reply
Thanks Greg. From my experience, candidates always appreciate a direct and honest approach.
Heath Brennan
  • Jun 15 2011
  • Reply
spot on Greg - I have found that candidates value honesty. Recruiters who shy away from this often blame the candidate for not being able to "handle" the feedback, but typically this comes down to the rapport building skills of the recruiter. Everyone deserves a soft landing, but everyone also deserves honesty.
Clarke
  • Jun 15 2011
  • Reply
some of these take courage but lots are going to get u no where. some clients dont want to hear the truth and will resent you for telling them. I think u need to get to a certain stage in the relationship before u can attempt these things
Yuriy Shevchenko
  • Jun 15 2011
  • Reply
Build the trust up first, then tell them what they need to hear. Tone of voice is the most important; if you deliver the "savage truth" that he doesn't want to hear directly and in a mild, compassionate (is that the right word?) tone of voice, the blow will be softened considerably. And it is in their best interests to hear what you've got to say.
Lee Halliday
  • Jun 15 2011
  • Reply
I've always felt that candidates and clients 'deserve' to know this - your industry expertise is the reason they work with you in the first place, so share it. Great post, Greg.
helen
  • Jun 15 2011
  • Reply
Greg fantastic reading as usual and one I will pass on to all. Well done and keep them coming.
Glenn
  • Jun 16 2011
  • Reply
Greg Wouldn't it be nice if a bit of honesty crept into the process - it would save so much time and wasted opportunities. Keep up the great posts,
lynette Jensen
  • Jun 16 2011
  • Reply
There are ways, and ways, of saying things though. You don't have to be brutal necessarily to tell the brutal truth.
Scott Boren
  • Jul 8 2011
  • Reply
They will appreciate this just as much as when you say to them "I know you like this candidate but I would like to advise you not to move ahead" because of something you have found. Then they know you are protecting them
mason
  • Mar 10 2013
  • Reply
Greg, your butt looks no bigger than normal....but I didn't notice because you had egg on your face. Seriously though we have a professional obligation to prepare clients and candidates to connect in the truest reflection of themselves ...we are not doing our job if we don't.
    Greg Savage
    • Mar 10 2013
    • Reply
    .. so the egg is on the face why exactly Mason? Or was that just to help your butt joke "work"
Mason
  • Mar 11 2013
  • Reply
Yes, had to make the butt joke work ...sorry Greg (I'll try harder next time). And reflecting on the comments further though - we need to be honest with employers and employees alike. We also need to be able to receive it constructively too. I believe consulting is a two-way communication / relationship.

Leave Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

SUBSCRIBE TO THE SAVAGE TRUTH
SUBSCRIBE NOW
SEARCH
THE LATEST SAVAGE TRUTH
  • What are big recruitment companies doing?
  • Automation without accountability is a liability!
  • Global staffing market forecasts downgraded
  • Use ChatGPT like a recruiting champ
  • Recruiters, let’s go to McDonald’s!

Top 20 HR Blogs 2019

The Savage Truth – Categories
Greg Savage & The Savage Truth

Greg is the founder of leading recruitment companies Firebrand Talent Search, People2People and Recruitment Solutions, and a current shareholder and director of several others, including Consult Recruitment. He is a regular keynote speaker worldwide and provides specialised advice for Recruitment, Professional Services & Social Media companies.





15 reasons why 'exclusivity' is in your clients' best interests

Great recruiters always ask these two questions. Always

Scroll
LOVE THE WAY YOU LEARN

From on-demand video training, through to AI delivered advice direct to your desktop, our SRA learning platform now enables users to ‘Ask Greg’ questions and receive advice in real-time, without interrupting work-flow.

> SRA Learner & SRA Coach
> Subscription Pricing
> SRA Course Content
> Compare Subscriptions
> SRA Chrome Extension

RECENTLY ON THE SAVAGE TRUTH BLOG
  • What are big recruitment companies doing?
  • Automation without accountability is a liability!
  • Global staffing market forecasts downgraded
  • Use ChatGPT like a recruiting champ
  • Recruiters, let’s go to McDonald’s!
  • Recruitment. Australia up 🚀 UK down 🔻
  • Scale your recruitment business fast 🚀
  • What it really takes to be a leader 🥇
  • AI will replace these recruiters soon ☠️
  • 18 ways you screw up placements
The Savage Recruitment Academy
Copyright The Savage Recruitment Academy 2025 | Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Site By AMC Creative