How to Write a Great Recruiter Review – and Why Yours Matters
At The Shortlist, we believe that transparency changes careers.
Every review you write helps another job seeker decide who to trust with their
next career move, and it encourages recruiters to raise their game.
But not all reviews are equally helpful. Some are too short to give real
insight. Others focus only on emotion without explaining what actually happened.
That’s why we’ve put together this guide to help you write a review that makes a
real difference.
What Makes a Great Review
A great recruiter review is:
1. Specific
Instead of saying “They were amazing” or “They were terrible”, share the
details.
- How quickly did they respond after you applied?
- Did they take time to understand your skills and career goals?
- Were they transparent about the salary, benefits, and hiring process?
Example:
“After applying for a role, the recruiter contacted me the same day to explain
the company culture and progression opportunities. They checked in twice a week
until interviews were complete.”
2. Balanced
It’s fine to share a negative experience, but balanced reviews tend to carry
more weight. If there were positives, acknowledge them, and if the experience
was mostly good but had one downside, mention it.
Example:
“The recruiter clearly explained the role and company expectations, but after
the first interview I didn’t hear from them for two weeks. When they did
respond, they were apologetic and provided constructive feedback.”
3. Helpful for Others
Think about what you would want to know before working with this recruiter:
- Do they specialise in certain industries or job levels?
- Are they good at keeping candidates updated?
- Do they provide interview prep or company insight?
4. Fact-Based
Stick to what happened, not assumptions about intent. This helps keep the
platform fair and trustworthy.
5. Respectful
You can be completely honest without making it personal or offensive. Reviews
that are professional in tone are taken more seriously, by candidates and
recruiters alike.
How to Share Your Impressions (Including EDI Concerns)
Sometimes you may feel that you were included in a hiring process for reasons
other than genuine interest in hiring you, for example, to meet diversity,
equity, and inclusion (EDI) targets. While these impressions matter, they can be
sensitive and subjective.
Here’s how to share them constructively and fairly:
-
Separate fact from feeling – Describe what happened first (timelines,
communications, interview details), then explain how it made you feel.
-
Use cautious language – Phrases like “It felt as though…” or “I had the
impression that…” make clear you are sharing your perception.
-
Give context – Explain what led to your impression. For example:
“I was advanced to the final interview very quickly, but no questions were
asked about my skills or experience. The role was filled within a week, and I
was not given feedback. This made me feel I may have been included for
diversity reporting purposes.”
-
Avoid assumptions about intent – Stick to the parts you can verify and
describe the outcome, even when expressing a suspicion.
By framing impressions this way, your review remains fair, respectful, and
useful to other candidates while still highlighting important issues.
Why Your Review Matters
When you write a recruiter review, you’re doing far more than sharing your
opinion:
- You help others avoid wasted time. Someone reading your review can quickly
see whether that recruiter is a good fit for their needs.
- You raise standards in recruitment. When recruiters see consistent
feedback from candidates, they’re more likely to improve communication,
transparency, and professionalism.
- You reward great recruiters. Many recruiters work hard for their
candidates, and your positive review can help them stand out in a crowded
industry.
- You build a fairer market. Just like product or restaurant reviews guide
consumer decisions, recruiter reviews make the job market more transparent.
Final Tips for Writing Your Review
- Be honest: Don’t exaggerate, whether the experience was positive or
negative.
- Be timely: Write your review soon after your experience so the details are
fresh.
- Be clear: Structure your review so someone skimming can still get the key
points.
It only takes a few minutes to share your story, but it could save another job
seeker weeks of frustration or help them find a recruiter who changes their
career for the better.
Ready to help someone else find the right recruiter?
[Leave your review on The Shortlist → Link]
