12 Song Lyrics That Could Well Be Written By Recruiters

As seasoned recruiters, we have the same old conversations with job candidates time and time again... These 12 absolute tunes manage to sum them up quite nicely.

June 20, 2023

Hello, it's me.

This week I've been rekindling my love for music.

And while I was listening to the soothing tones of Adele, I realised something. "This song could be about recruiters."

So I decided to do something a bit silly, this week. I've come up with 11 other songs (1 = Adele) that could reflect conversations between recruiters and candidates.

Maybe a few are a tad far fetched... but I hope you enjoy them!

1. Hello - Adele

Recruiter: Hello, it's me

Candidate: Hi.

Recruiter: I was wondering if after all these years you'd like to meet

Candidate: Why? The last time we spoke you pulled my interview.

Recruiter: To go over everything….

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQHsXMglC9A

2. Take On Me - A-ha

Recruiter: I just don’t think you’re the right sort of person they’re looking for in this role…

Candidate: Take on me…

Recruiter: No… Honestly your CV just doesn’t match up to the job spec…

Candidate: Take me on…

Recruiter: Really, it’s not going to happen. If you give me a few days I can look at our other roles which may be suitable.

Candidate: I’ll be gone, in a day or two.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djV11Xbc914

3. I Feel Good - James Brown

Recruiter: So, they’d like to offer you the job, what do you think?

Candidate: Brilliant! I accept the offer.

Recruiter: Okay, I’ll let them know – congratulations again.

-End of call-

Recruiter: I feel good! I knew that I would.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXCGnTy-v2M

4. Too Good At Goodbyes - Sam Smith

Candidate: Sorry about cancelling before… Would I still be able to attend the interview?

Recruiter: I’m just not sure… Every time you walk out, the less I love you.

Candidate: *Ignoring the weird “I love you”* Okay but I’m available immediately.

Recruiter: Baby, we don't stand a chance, it's sad but it's true.

Candidate: …Did you just call me baby? What’s wrong with you?

Recruiter: I’m way too good at goodbyes. *Hangs up*

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_ub7Etch2U

5. Human - Rag 'n'Bone Man

Candidate: Look, I really need this job; can you get me an interview?

Recruiter: Some people got the real problems, some people out of luck.

Candidate: Yes I have a real problem, I need a job – can you help?

Recruiter: Some people think I can solve them, Lord Heavens above.

Candidate: So you can’t get me an interview?

Recruiter: No, I'm only human after all. Don't put the blame on me.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3wKzyIN1yk

6. Girls Just Want To Have Fun - Cyndi Lauper

Recruiter: Why didn’t you attend your interview?

Candidate: I come home in the morning light.

Recruiter: … Okay and why did you do that when you knew you had an interview today?

Candidate: Girls, they wanna have fun.

Recruiter:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIb6AZdTr-A

7. Rockstar - Nickleback

Recruiter: So, why are you leaving your role of 15 years?

Candidate: This life hasn't turned out quite the way I want it to be.

Recruiter: Okay, tell me what you want

Candidate: I want a brand new house on an episode of Cribs and a bathroom I can play baseball in…

Recruiter: Yeah, 'cause we all just wanna be big rockstars,' but back to reality...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQ67NLzADOE

8. It Wasn't Me - Shaggy

Recruiter: I heard the interview didn’t go to plan…

Candidate: It wasn’t me.

Recruiter: You couldn’t answer most of the questions…

Candidate: It wasn’t me.

Recruiter: …Apparently you just walked out.

Candidate: It wasn’t me.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pslgz9o8meM

9. Stand By Me - Ben E King

Candidate: The company have asked me to inform you that another agency had already provided them with my CV before you.

Recruiter: Darlin’, darlin’ – stand by me.

Candidate: Sorry – I’m going to let them represent me out of courtesy.

Recruiter: I won’t shed a tear, just as long as you stand by me.

Candidate: Um… No. Bye.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwZNL7QVJjE

10. Something Stupid - Robbie Williams/Nicole Kidman

Recruiter: So how was the interview?

Candidate: It was going brilliantly…

Recruiter: Going?

Candidate: Yeah, and then I go and spoil it all by saying something stupid like…

Recruiter: Like…?

Candidate: I got arrested once.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtrXxgtYGUw

11. Build Me Up Buttercup - The Foundations

Recruiter: Hi! I’ve been trying to get hold of you, are you still okay for today?

Candidate: I can’t attend the interview today, can we re-arrange?

Recruiter: Why do you build me up buttercup, baby just to let me down? And mess me around!

Candidate: Is that a no…?

Recruiter: And worst of all! You never call baby, when you say you will…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwx8Voq373A

12. I Need a Hero - Bonnie Tyler

Recruiter reading client spec: He's gotta be strong and he's gotta be fast and he's gotta be fresh from the fight.

Candidate: I don’t know if this job is particularly suitable.

Recruiter: Please! Late at night I toss and I turn and I dream of what I need…

Candidate: Okay, maybe… What else were they expecting sorry?

Recruiter reading client spec: He's gotta be sure and it's gotta be soon and he's gotta be larger than life.

Candidate: Yeah… I’m not sure that person exists.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWcASV2sey0

Summary

So, has your hero built you up and let you down? Messed you around?

In reality - unfortunately - they're all typical recruitment scenarios! (They're not as lighthearted when they actually happen!)

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Happy Friday!

Coburg Banks - Multi-Sector Recruitment Agency
We help great people get brilliant jobs in top companies.