Why Waiting for Applicants Doesn’t Work: The Horse and Cart of Recruitment

The Horse & Cart

When we need something in life—be it food, clothes, or furniture—we go out and look for it. We shop, we search, we act. So why, when it comes to hiring the right person, do we so often just post an ad and wait?

Why are we such creatures of habit?

I see constant frustration around job advertising:

• “They should write a cover letter.”
• “There’s no need for a cover letter.”
• “I don’t even read cover letters.”
• “Why are CVs done by AI?”
• “I’ve had over 1,000 replies—and most aren’t even suitable!”

And yet, despite all these common complaints, we continue to post roles on job boards and hope for the best.

Let me ask you this: if you had a cart, would you advertise for a horse? Unless you’re after Trigger, Silver, or Mr. Ed, it’s unlikely the right one will apply.

Carts come in all shapes and sizes, designed for different tasks. Naturally, you’d go out and find the right horse—one with the right build, experience, and temperament. A Suffolk Punch won’t get far if what you really need is a fast, agile driving horse.

So why not apply the same logic to recruitment?

Instead of being reactive, be proactive.

Go to the market. See who’s actively job hunting. Control the process, your time, and your costs—cutting your recruitment overheads in the process.

Learn more about how our CV sourcing process works or get in touch to tell us what you need.

Decide how many CVs you want to see. Then contact Job Matched CVs, let us know the skills and experience you’re after, and within 24 hours, the right candidates will be in your inbox—CVs matched by skill, not guesswork.