Attracting the Right Candidates: 5 Fixes That Actually Work
Why You're Not Attracting the Right Candidates
Let’s be honest—posting a job and waiting for the perfect candidate to magically appear just doesn’t cut it anymore.
We’ve spoken with dozens of hiring managers across 3D printing, print management, and IT who tell us the same thing:
“We’re getting applications, but not the right ones.”
Sound familiar?
It’s frustrating. You know the talent is out there—people with the skills, mindset, and drive to grow with your team. But somehow, they’re not biting.
Here’s the good news: it’s not just about the talent pool. Often, a few tweaks to your hiring strategy can make a huge difference.
Below, we’re sharing 5 proven fixes that will help you stop sifting through mismatched CVs and start attracting the right candidates.
1. Your Job Specs Might Be Scaring People Off
Keep it relevant, not ridiculous
We once worked with a client who was struggling to fill a mid-level engineer role. When we looked at the job spec, it was asking for 10 years of experience with additive manufacturing software that had only existed for four.
Unrealistic? Absolutely.
Candidates read job specs carefully. If they see an overly long list of “essential” skills, they’ll often self-select out—even if they’re a great fit.
✅ Fix It:
- Prioritise must-haves vs nice-to-haves
- Use plain language, not internal jargon
- Add context: explain what the role actually involves day to day
💡 Pro tip from 3ecruit: Try framing some skills as “You’ll have the opportunity to learn…” instead of strict requirements. It widens the pool without lowering standards.
2. You’re Not Selling the Role (or Your Company)
We get it—you’re hiring because you need help. But candidates are also choosing you, not just the job.
In high-demand industries like 3D printing or software development, candidates aren’t applying to every job—they’re researching, comparing, and weighing their options.
One of our clients in the print tech space was losing candidates at the final stage. The feedback?
“The job seemed okay, but I couldn’t get a feel for the company culture.”
They weren’t doing anything wrong—just not showing off what made their team special.
✅ Fix It:
- Talk about your mission and team culture in the job description
- Share what tools/tech you use and what kind of projects the new hire will work on
- Add a quote or video from a current team member
3. You’re Posting in the Wrong Places
You might be shouting into the void without realising it. We often see hiring managers default to the same old job boards—then wonder why only irrelevant applications come through.
✅ Fix It:
- For 3D printing roles: tap into specialist communities like Reddit’s r/3Dprinting or industry Discords
- For IT: post on GitHub Jobs, Stack Overflow, or relevant LinkedIn groups
- Partner with a niche recruiter (like us!)
💡 Fun fact: At 3ecruit, we once filled a critical print operations role within 72 hours just by reaching out to a candidate we knew was looking—but hadn’t posted publicly anywhere.
That’s the power of having the right network.

4. Your Application Process is a Pain
If it takes 25 clicks and a login just to apply for your job, don’t be surprised when strong candidates drop off.
Especially in tech—developers and engineers are time-poor. If your process feels like a bureaucratic black hole, they’ll move on.
✅ Fix It:
- Make your application mobile-friendly
- Allow CV uploads without account creation
- Trim unnecessary steps (no one wants to retype their entire resume into a form)
💬 From a candidate we placed last year:
“The reason I applied to your client was because the process was smooth. Other roles made me jump through hoops.”
5. You’re Not Using a Specialist Recruiter
Here’s the thing—if you’re in a niche sector like 3D printing, print management or IT, working with a generalist agency won’t cut it. They might not understand the difference between FDM and SLA, or why DevOps and sysadmin aren’t interchangeable.
We’ve been called in countless times to “rescue” roles that were with the wrong recruiters.
✅ Fix It:
Partner with a specialist who knows your space.
At 3ecruit, we:
- Understand the unique needs of 3D printing, print and tech industries
- Maintain pre-vetted candidate pools
- Match based on skill and cultural fit
Because hiring isn’t just about finding a candidate—it’s about finding the right one.
Quality In, Quality Out
If attracting the right candidates feels like a constant uphill battle, it might be time to shift your strategy.
Refine your job specs. Sell your culture. Be where the right people are. And don’t be afraid to ask for help.
💬 Need help filling your next role?
Drop us a line at 3ecruit.com or connect with us on LinkedIn.
Let’s find the right candidate—not just the available one.









