Recruitment in our industry is broken in ways we rarely talk about openly. I want to hear it from you. What…
Lara B. — Building Cyberr
Recruitment in our industry is broken in ways we rarely talk about openly. I want to hear it from you.
What is the most frustrating part when you are the one looking?
The ATS black hole that filters your CV out before a human sees your name?
AI screening that rewards keyword stuffing over actual capability?
Being passed over because of geography, your timezone, your passport?
Recruiters who cannot tell a SOC analyst from a pen tester, asking questions that prove they never read the role?
Or is it the process. Five rounds. Seven rounds. Weekend-long take-homes. Months of silence between stages.
I have my own view on where the biggest gaps are in 2026. I want yours first.
Tell me what is actually broken.
6 reactions · 4 comments
Comments
Jeff P.: Thank you Lara for the post. You called out several pain points, and I suspect most job seekers experienced at least a few frustrations each. As far as myself, I was finally hired, and will start next Monday. But it did take me 3 months of actively trying (experimenting & learning about ATS, rounds of interviewing, and the slow process). I'll freely admit, I wasn't aware about ATS at all (all my p
Lara B.: Jeff Parker im your biggest fan. So happy to hear this.
Jeff P.: Just a quick second comment to emphasize the massive impact of a genuine referral or personal recommendation from a professional contact. I even include my recent hiring for a role found by a recruiter. The recruiter got to know me, and became a quick advocate for my character. And I believe he worked a bit harder because of it.
Md S.: I agree. I've experienced the power of genuine referral above everything else within the industry. Especially for entry level and associate level roles. The recruiters and SOC leads are finally realising that certs don't matter for a proper execution of the job. And I can see this improvement from the previous, ATS only and certs only interview shortlistings. The recruitment is still broken in ter