Debunking recruiting process myths with some Dropbox pros

Applying for a new job can definitely be scary — but things get even murkier when you throw in a bunch of commonly-repeated recruiting myths. How do things really work behind the recruiting curtain? Are we all just a line of code to a bot who’s gonna send our resume packing before it even reaches someone’s inbox?

At Dropbox, that definitely isn’t the case. And a lot of the other disheartening things you’ve heard might not be true either. Read on for the real scoop from Executive Recruiting Leadership Kim Rawlings, Head of GCO Talent Acquisition Justin McKenna, and Head of People Technology Tavish Ledesma.

Myth: Recruiters use AI software to sift through resumes.

Justin: Here at Dropbox, the most important thing to us is the candidate experience. When you take the time and effort to apply to us, we make sure that we review and consider your application against the requirements. We don’t use any automated sifting tools or AI; everybody gets reviewed by an individual. We do use tools to help us be as efficient as possible in how we respond to people and schedule interviews, but every time someone applies to our roles, we look and consider against the requirements so everyone has an equal and positive candidate experience.

Myth: You have to satisfy every qualification listed on a job description.

Tavish: If you’re reading through a job description and you feel like you don’t quite meet every single one, I would encourage you to still apply. Not all requirements are make or break, so go ahead and throw your hat in the ring.

Myth: You need to have gone to a top school and had a top GPA to get the role of your dreams.

Tavish: In my last role, I hired seven or eight people who just had a mid-career change and went through a bootcamp and learned data science. What a recruiter is most interested in is the actual impact that you’ve made in roles in the past. They may be less concerned with what school or degree is listed on your resume and more so on the positive impact you’ve made in your past roles.

Myth: Recruiters have their own interests in the hiring process.

Kim: Having been in recruiting for over ten years, and having worked with and talked to hundreds of other recruiters, I can say that our main interest is that we truly want to help people. And we really enjoy making the connections between our hiring managers and our candidates. There’s nothing more fulfilling than helping a candidate find a role that’s a great fit for them. Recruiters are genuinely there to help, to guide, and to be a resource for you. And many times, those connections span beyond whatever company or role you end up landing.

Want more advice on the recruiting process at Dropbox from the pros? Check out their application tips video on our Instagram.