Despite all scientific, technological or regulatory atours from which recruitment operations can be addressed, the uncertainties faced by recruiters are irretrievable. Emmanuelle Marchal, a sociologist, asked about the findings and impact of these uncertainties on the labour market. On the side of recruiters, she looks at the three critical moments of any recruitment: the definition and measurement of the skills to be sought, the drafting and interpretation of vacancies and applications for employment, the decisions to be taken, in favour of or against candidates. His investigation reports on what contributes to judgments of jurisdiction and lack of competence. Looking at recruitment in terms of the process of valuing/downgrading candidates’ qualities suggests that job creation and unemployment feed as much, if not more, on the activities of labour market players as on the dynamism of the economy or on market regulation.