Getting to the Core of What Candidates Really Want

In recruiting, we often talk about skill sets, experience, and job history. But if that’s all we uncover in a candidate interview, we’ve only skimmed the surface. Great recruiters know that the magic happens when we peel the onion, layer by layer to understand the person behind the resume.

The First Layer: What's on the Paper

Years of experience. Job titles. Education. These are the easy questions, and anyone can ask them. But these facts alone don’t tell us why a candidate is looking or what will make them stay in the next role.

The Second Layer: The Wounds

Everyone who’s open to a change has a reason. Maybe they feel undervalued. Maybe they were promised growth that never came. Or maybe they’ve lost faith in leadership. Unless we uncover those wounds, we risk placing someone in a role that looks good on paper but fails to address the very issues that drove them to take our call in the first place.

The Third Layer: The Why Behind the Why

Even after we understand what went wrong, we need to understand what right looks like. Some candidates want mentorship. Others want stability, flexibility, a challenge, or purpose. Each layer we peel back gets us closer to knowing what will actually make a candidate say yes and stay.

Peeling the Onion Builds Trust

Candidates don’t always open up right away. That’s okay. When we lead with curiosity instead of assumptions, we create a safe space for real conversations. Over time, we earn the truth and that truth helps us make placements that last.

The Bottom Line

If you're a recruiter simply checking boxes, you're replaceable. If you're a recruiter who peels the onion, you're indispensable. Because companies don’t just pay us to fill jobs. They pay us to understand people better than they understand themselves and to help them make decisions that actually stick.