Recruiter Radar Q1
- duncan638
- Apr 11, 2025
- 3 min read
Recruiter Radar: Are You Paying Attention to the Right Signals?
Recruiters are busy people. It’s easy to get caught up in filling jobs, managing clients, and hitting KPIs. But if you’re serious about taking your career to the next level, there’s one thing you need to be doing regularly
Scanning the radar
Not just for jobs. But for signs—signals that the market is shifting, that you’ve outgrown your current patch, or that there’s a better opportunity just over the horizon.
Because here’s the truth: The best recruiters I work with aren’t always the loudest, the top billers, or the ones making the biggest moves. They’re the ones who pay attention. Who sense when something’s off. Who don’t wait until things get unbearable to explore their options.
The Subtle Signs It’s Time to Look
You don’t need to be desperate to want change. In fact, most of the people I help aren’t. They’re good at their jobs. Stable. But they’ve got that quiet itch.
The signs show up like this:
You’ve stopped learning.
The buzz has gone from your day-to-day.
You’re seeing LinkedIn updates and thinking, “Hmm… that looks interesting.”
You catch yourself saying, “It’s fine” a bit too often.
These aren’t red flags. They’re radar blips. And ignoring them could mean coasting your way through another 6, 12, even 24 months in a role that doesn’t stretch you anymore.
You Don’t Have to Make a Move to Explore One
This is where recruiters get it wrong. There’s a stigma around exploring the market. Like if you take a call or have a chat, you’re somehow being disloyal. That you’ve got one foot out the door.
That’s nonsense.
You wouldn’t tell a candidate to stay put just because they’re “doing okay.” So why apply a different standard to yourself?
Checking the radar isn’t about jumping ship—it’s about staying alert. Seeing what’s out there. Keeping your career moving in the direction you want.
How to Check Your Radar Without Risk
The smartest recruiters I speak to aren’t sending out CVs. They’re having low-key conversations. Discreet chats. Gathering intel. Testing the water.
They’re asking questions like:
“What types of roles are landing at the moment?”
“Who’s hiring in my market and why?”
“Are there any desks like mine but with more support or better tools?”
No pressure. No commitment. Just intel. And that intel? It builds a picture over time. A picture of what your next move could be—if and when the time is right.
Final Thought: Don’t Wait Until You’re Miserable
By the time you hate your job, it’s already too late. Your confidence is down, your standards drop, and you start making reactive decisions instead of strategic ones.
The best moves happen when you’re still in a good place. When you’ve got time to explore and compare.
So ask yourself:
What’s showing up on your radar right now?
It might not be loud. It might not be urgent. But if you’re picking up the signals, don’t ignore them.
A five-minute conversation today could shape the next five years of your career.
Conclusion:
This blog post expands on a concept I first introduced on LinkedIn: the idea of having your "Recruiter Radar" switched on. Whether you're actively seeking or just staying informed, it's smart to keep an eye on the market. As a rec-to-rec, I don’t just help people move—I help them make informed, well-timed moves that feel right. Keep scanning, stay curious, and don’t be afraid to explore.
Comments