2 February 2026
By ODIN Recruitment’s MD, Paul.
Let’s address the elephant in the room.
Recruiters don’t always have the best reputation.
And I say that as someone who’s worked in recruitment for years and now runs ODIN Recruitment.
Most people reading this will either have had a bad experience with a recruiter – or know someone who has. Being ghosted. Promises that don’t materialise. Little to no communication. Feeling like a number rather than a person.
I completely understand why that leaves a bad taste.
But here’s the thing: one bad experience shouldn’t define an entire profession.
Recruitment’s a bit like relationships
Think about recruitment like relationships (and stick with me here!).
If you’ve ever been cheated on, messed around, or treated badly in a relationship, you don’t usually turn around and say, “Right, that’s it. I’m never having another relationship again.”
You’re hurt. You’re cautious. You might take a break.
But eventually, you try again – hopefully a bit wiser and clearer about what you will and won’t accept next time.
Recruitment should be the same.
Just because you’ve had one bad experience with a recruitment consultant doesn’t mean all recruiters are the same – or that working with recruiters is a lost cause altogether.
Why do recruiters get a bad rap?
The truth is that some of the criticism is earned.
In parts of the industry, recruitment has become:
- Too transactional
- Too focused on volume over value
- Too driven by quick wins rather than long-term relationships
When recruiters are under pressure to hit numbers at all costs, communication slips. Corners get cut. People stop being treated like people.
That’s when candidates feel ignored, and clients feel let down – and understandably so.
But that’s not all recruitment, all recruiters, and it’s certainly not how it has to be.
What working with a good recruiter should feel like
In my view, working with a recruitment consultancy should feel straightforward, honest and human.
It should involve:
- Clear, realistic conversations (even when the answer isn’t necessarily what you want to hear)
- Regular communication – not disappearing acts
- Proper feedback
- Respect for people’s time and careers
- A genuine interest in long-term outcomes, not just short-term placements
Now, none of that is groundbreaking.
It’s simply how professional relationships should work.
How we approach recruitment at ODIN
ODIN Recruitment was built specifically to avoid the mistakes people associate with “typical” recruitment.
We’re not perfect – no business is – but we’re very clear about how we want to operate.
We focus on:
- Long-standing relationships rather than one-off transactions
- Working with clients who value partnership, not churn
- Treating candidates and contractors with respect, regardless of whether we place them
A lot of our work comes from repeat business, referrals and people who come back to us later in their careers. That tells me we’re doing something right.
For us, recruitment isn’t about filling a role at any cost. It’s about making sure the match works for everyone involved – now and in the future.
Recruitment is a two-way relationship
Another honest point that I feel is worth making: recruitment works best when it’s a two-way relationship.
Like any professional partnership, it relies on:
- Openness
- Clear expectations
- Trust on both sides
When that’s in place, recruitment can be incredibly effective – for businesses building teams and for people building careers.
When it isn’t, that’s when frustration creeps in.
Don’t write off recruitment – just be more selective
If you’ve had a bad experience with a recruiter, I’m not here to tell you that you imagined it or that your frustration isn’t valid. But what I would say is this: don’t let one poor experience close the door entirely.
Use it to be more selective.
Ask better questions.
Choose recruiters who take the time to understand you rather than rushing you through a process.
Good recruiters do exist – and when you find the right one, the relationship can be genuinely valuable.
Recruitment, at its best, is built on trust, communication and long-term thinking. That’s what we aim for at ODIN Recruitment, and it’s what I believe the industry should be striving towards.
If you decide to work with a recruitment consultancy again – whether as a client, candidate or contractor – choose one that treats the relationship with the respect it deserves.
That’s how recruitment should work.
If you want a positive experience with a recruitment partner, contact the team at ODIN today. Customer care is at the core of everything we do, so come and see for yourself how do things a little bit differently.
