10 Recruitment Truths That Will Change the Way You Hire Forever

Hiring shouldn’t be about ticking boxes—it should be about building futures. If you’re serious about attracting and retaining brilliant people, these 10 truths will challenge your thinking and sharpen your recruitment game.

1. The Best Candidates Aren’t on Job Boards

They’re not applying—they’re being approached.

• The top 20% of talent rarely “look” for jobs.

• If you’re not proactively reaching out, you’re invisible to them.

• Great recruitment today is 80% search, 20% selection.

2. A Great CV Doesn’t Mean a Great Hire

Stop falling in love with paper.

• Skills can be trained. Attitude can’t.

• CVs show what someone has done, not what they could do.

• Dig deeper—values, motivations, mindset.

3. Recruitment Is a Leadership Responsibility

It's not just an HR task.

• Leaders set the tone for what “great” looks like.

• Your involvement shows candidates they matter.

• If your managers don’t care about hiring, why should great candidates care about joining?

4. Every Interview Is a Brand Moment

Candidates are judging you—hard.

• The interview is a preview of life at your company.

• Be warm, be prepared, be inspiring.

• A poor interviewer can cost you your next star performer.

5. Perks Don’t Replace Purpose

Ping-pong tables won’t fix a toxic culture.

• People crave meaning more than muffins.

• Communicate your mission clearly and passionately.

• Show how their work contributes to something bigger.

6. You Don’t Need More Applicants—You Need the Right Ones

Stop chasing volume.

• 1 outstanding candidate beats 50 average ones.

• A great recruiter filters, not floods.

• Focus on alignment, not availability.

7. Your Interview Process Is Either a Magnet or a Repellent

Are you impressing candidates or exhausting them?

• Endless stages = candidate drop-off.

• Make decisions quicker. Move with energy.

• Streamline and stand out.

8. Onboarding Is More Powerful Than Recruitment

The real hiring success starts after they accept.

• Most new hires decide within 90 days if they’ll stay long-term.

• Wow them early. Build belonging from day one.

• Don’t let your hard work go to waste with a weak welcome.

9. Good People Know Other Good People

Referrals are gold.

• Create a culture where staff are proud to recommend you.

• Reward referrals properly.

• If no one is referring, ask why.

10. Work With Recruiters Who Think Like You Do

Choose partners who get it.

• Not every agency understands your world, your challenges, or your ambition.

• You need recruiters who act like part of your team.

• At Inspired Recruitment, we treat your hiring like it’s our own business—because that’s what true partners do.

Ready to level up your recruitment strategy? Let’s talk. Inspired Recruitment | Personal. Professional. Proven.

 Mark Goode

CEO Inspired Recruitment

Mark Goode is the CEO of The Inspired Recruitment Group which originated with the inception of Inspired Selections a recruitment agency primarily focused on recruitment in the optical industry before branching out into audiology and pharmaceutical recruitment. New optical opportunities are featured daily here or if you're a business, looking for help with your recruitment needs, get in touch here