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​Because we are a firm that deals in all things SAP recruitment, when it comes to social media we like to keep our finger on the Pulse (pun intended for those in the know). Lately, we’ve noticed a trend online: people complaining about recruiters who keep the names of the firms they are hiring for a secret during the advertising process.

This complaint isn’t one we encounter very often at Speller, so we thought we would explain our process and see how this compares with the industry norms and, hopefully it will answer some questions for anyone who has ever wondered why a recruiter is keeping mum about their client.

How we do it here

First off, we will admit that on an initial phone call we are not always able to immediately disclose the details of a client. At Speller, we ensure that prior to details going out, a candidate is fully aware of the role and company, we also send an email in order to gain authorisation from the candidate to ensure every applicant is aware of where their details are going – and to whom. We feel this should be a norm within the industry and would advise extreme caution should this not be the case. We’ll repeat it so it is clear: we would strongly advise against allowing any recruiter to put you forward for a position without telling you what company you are applying to work with.

So, warnings aside, why can we not always reveal the name? Well, the answers are many and varied.

Being too popular is not always a good thing

For some roles we receive over 100 separate applications. The reason companies hire recruiters is to vet applications and find the very best ones for them to look at, so our clients ask that we do not disclose details to each and every applicant who enquires about the role. This prevents our client receiving numerous applications that they do not have the time to sort through.

Additionally, some clients do request that details are not revealed to everyone in the SAP marketplace because if it is well known they are hiring, it can result in an influx of calls from numerous vendors – including consultancies and recruiters, not just applicants.

Playing your cards close to your chest

There are also instances where roles are confidential within the organisation hiring as there is sensitivity around the hire (restructures and recent redundancies often fall into this category). In this same vein, some firms may not want their competitors to know about vacancies because it could suggest weakness or alert them to a new project or direction that firm is taking which requires new talent.

When only the best will do

Lastly, some companies are very selective about who they will even speak to about a role. In a headhunting scenario, for example, only selected candidates to be informed of the role, meaning there is no way a recruiter would reveal the name of the client until the final stage.

In closing…

In any case, recruiters will often not disclose the company until they have at least identified a minimum of interest and qualifications on the part of the candidate in question. This can be irritating if you are trying to get an idea about what is out there but the answer to this particular question so early on in the process is not relevant – especially if a your skills and experience do not meet the minimum requirements for the role.

Ultimately, it can be easy to feel like recruiters are trying to ‘trick’ you into applying for roles but as a candidate the ball is always in your court. You are within your rights to decline any invitation to apply for a role and similarly, you can pull out of the application process at any time. A good recruiter will understand because, after all, they go to work every day too and know how important the right role is – for both client and candidate.