How Is the Recruitment Process Similar to Tinder?

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Firstly, just to make clear, I am not on Tinder.

But, there are a few things I know about Tinder that remind me of my time in recruitment, and it got me thinking about how candidates should use modern technology to their advantage.

In case you who don’t know, Tinder is a dating app that works by showing you quick snapshot profiles of potential suitors.

Each profile includes a few pictures and a short bit of text, and based on this information you will either swipe left (reject) or swipe right to tell the app if you’re interested in the profile.

Most decisions are made in an instant, with a snap judgement, and statistics show that some users can look at 1000+ profiles a day. Yikes!

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How Does This Compare With Recruitment?

The scary truth is, recruitment is very similar, and with new technologies, it is becoming even more so.

We like to imagine when we submit our CV to a role, that it will be read through thoroughly, analysed by an individual and perhaps even filed away for future reference. But this model is outdated.

It might have worked years ago when applicants had to print out their CVs and submit a hardcopy, but with the rise of email and online applications, recruiters can receive hundreds of CVs for each job posting. They must make snap judgements in order to review all the CVs.

Recruitment software has now made this even easier for recruiters to make these quick judgements, applying a similar ‘one-click’ decision function, like on apps like Tinder. The recruiter will either approve or reject your CV in an instant, deciding whether you are a match for the job.

Most good recruiters will then take the time to closely look through the approved CVs.

However, if your CV is rejected at this first stage then it won’t be looked at again. You had your three seconds to impress and the recruiter ‘swiped left’. Your CV is already forgotten and you might receive an automated response that won’t tell you why you were not successful.

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Here Are My Three Tips on How to Improve Your Applications to Get More Success

Keep the Formatting Simple

You might think that a unique and eye-catching layout, complete with graphs and images will help you get noticed, but it will have the opposite effect.

Recruiters need to find all relevant information fast and unusual templates can make this difficult. Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) can also struggle with CVs that have fancy layouts and most candidates experience improved success when submitting simple CVs for online applications.

Create a Fantastic Summary Profile at the Top of Your CV

Think of this like your Tinder bio. This should be a short paragraph highlighting all the most important things in your CV.

When writing your summary think about whether the recruiter would match you to the job based on just what you’ve written in this section. It is best to tailor this section for each job you apply for and aim to use some of the keywords and phrases that are in the job description.

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‍Don’t Include a Photo (Unless You’re Asked To)

This is where recruitment and Tinder differ. Remember you are applying for a job, your looks should not matter. A photo distracts from your CV and often gives the wrong impression. However, if the job description specifically asks for a photo then make sure to include a professional image taken against a plain background. But remember, this is not your passport photo, you are allowed to (and should) smile!

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