Recruiters, like many specialised professionals, have pet words and phrases that they regularly use to classify certain types of candidate. These code words can speak volumes about what a search executive is thinking about a candidate.

Here is a sampling of terms -- some more common than others -- that recruiters say they often rely on when assessing the potential of their candidates:

TMI: Short for: Too Much Information.  This term refers to candidates who give long-winded answers.  One head hunter’s view is that sometimes candidates can talk themselves out of a job.  Job seekers need to give the interviewer enough information to make a decision about you, but you don't want to give so much that they are able to find something wrong with you. Try rehearsing concise answers to interview questions with a friend.  Have a look at our other blog pages for lists of Interview Questions, to give you some idea of what you might be asked in an interview situation.

FD: Short for Factual Discrepancy. A term given when a recruiter finds errors and mistakes on candidates own CV’s and Resumes.  It’s very common practice for job seekers to lie on and embellish their CV’s/Resumes/job applications and many are the times that they are found out.  Academic and professional credentials are cases in point; recruiters who see a degree listed on a CV next to a university will presume, on the face of it, that you earned it/them.   It is easy to detect during the job interview that you didn't graduate or that you didn’t sit professional exams based very simply on your responses and knowledge.   It is embarrassing for the interviewer to discover this and it’s very unlikely that the interview will progress any further, if it does, it’s very likely that your candidacy will not be seriously considered.  It is perfectly acceptable for a CV/Resume to note the coursework completed towards a degree or the progression of professional qualifications by exams taken.  Don’t lie, be honest, don’t embarrass yourself, the recruiter who recommended you, or the employer by making people think you are something that you are not…even if it doesn’t get found out!  You could find yourself in a new job but employer expectations are higher than the standard that you are able to perform to and you could find yourself without a job at all and facing the whole lengthy process all over again.  Not only that, you will have some tricky explaining to do about why you left a previous employment so suddenly.

SV: Short for Search Virgin.  A common misconception is the belief that recruiters are responsible for finding people jobs.  What candidates sometimes don't know is that recruiters are hired by companies to help them fill positions with qualified talent. Candidates often voice their disappointment or anger to recruiters, which can derail their chances and because of this misconception/attitude, recruiters often become reluctant to place them in front of a client.  Be careful what you say, and who you say it to.

NC: Short for Non-communicative or Noncom. Shorthand for candidates who lack good communication skills. Recruiters are frequently placed in situations where they have to note "noncom" or "NC" at the top of a CV/Resume/application during an interview.  It is imperative that you look the person in the eye, speak eloquently by putting clear words and sentences to your recruiter/prospective employer and be confident about what you are saying.

PP: Short for Poor Presentation: For some recruiters/employers, Chris poor presentation sometimes comes to mind before even shaking a candidate's hand. Your presentation and style are assessed the moment you walk into the room.  A lot of people don't realise that they should be in the right mind set; you can’t afford to have an off-day when it comes to job interviews.  Only very famous film and TV stars are allowed tantrums or grumpiness, the rest of us have to impress the moment step into the building.  Examples of poor presentation include slouching, foot tapping, hair twirling, treating receptionists rudely and gum chewing; anything that detracts from that impeccable professional look and attitude scores negative points.

FP: Short for Flat Personality or Boring:  Liven up and show the interesting side of your character.  Too many times, candidates become blasé bored with meeting recruiters, not necessarily so with employers, but that flat attitude stops your CV/Resume/application being put in the “good pile” and you run the risk of losing out on some very worthwhile opportunities.  This is another reason why job seekers have the idea that recruiters are not working hard enough on their particular case.  If a recruiter cannot be 100% confident in you, then yes, you can forget it. Recruiters want to see candidates express excitement when describing their accomplishments and interest in the job and the company.

SN: Short for Serial Net-worker: This expression is used when candidates are found to be working with several recruiting consultancies at once.  Through conversations amongst recruiters, candidates names come up, and it becomes common knowledge that they're in the marketplace.  Professionals broadening their search beyond opportunities that match their expertise sometimes fall into this practice and it looks like they are going about their search in a frenzied and haphazard way.  You need to develop a job strategy and not be seen as desperate, employers won’t like seeing your CV/Resume/application fall on their desks 4 or 5 times for the same job.

M: Short for Mortician: This “less than glamorous” label is applied to candidates whose appearance is dated or drab.  Looking like you’ve dug your suit out from the back of the wardrobe, dated, drab and tired makes you look like the blood has been sucked out of you.  You will tend to make a poor impression by giving little thought to what you wear, creating the idea that you either don’t care or just haven’t got the energy, drive and enthusiasm that either recruiters or employers want.

PS: Short for Purple Squirrel (not post script!): This cute nom de plume is attributed to those candidates who tick all the right boxes for recruiters.  Purple Squirrel used to be the title of a trade magazine for the I T industry and the term has been carried over.  These candidates walk on air as far as recruiters are concerned; these candidates dress right, have good professionally written CV’s and Resumes, they are smiling, interested, questioning and they are frankly, a rarity.

So here’s a warning, if you see anything other than a "PS" penciled on your file, you are almost certainly, a jam sandwich minus the peanut butter!

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