What That Means for Recruiters
Welcome to the Inbox Apocalypse. Again.
First it was Google. Now it’s Microsoft’s turn to give bulk emailers a not-so-gentle nudge towards proper authentication. From early 2025, Outlook and Microsoft 365 will begin enforcing new rules for anyone sending more than 5,000 emails a day to their domains. If your agency is using email for cold outreach, nurturing leads, or charming prospects into clients, it’s time to perk up.
This is not just an IT team’s problem. It directly hits recruitment agencies where it hurts most. The inbox.
Let’s untangle what’s changing, why it’s happening, and how you can keep delivering emails that actually land where they’re supposed to.
What’s Microsoft Up To?
In short, Microsoft is finally playing email bouncer. The new rules apply to high-volume senders hitting their domains and include three major requirements:
- Your emails must be authenticated with SPF, DKIM and DMARC — no excuses
- Marketing and bulk emails need a one-click unsubscribe option
- Keep your spam complaints low or risk your emails vanishing into the void
Yes, this all sounds very familiar because Google rolled out nearly identical policies back in early 2024. The big inbox providers are clearly syncing up to clean house. Which is great for users. Slightly less great for anyone relying on semi-rogue email tactics.
Why Recruiters Should Actually Care
You may not feel like a bulk sender. But if your agency is firing off sequences via Bullhorn, Vincere, Mailchimp, HubSpot, or any of the usual suspects, you’re probably well over the threshold. Even if your emails are highly personalised, they still count if you’re sending them at scale.
Here’s where it stings:
- Client Prospecting: Cold emails without proper authentication will start going nowhere fast
- Candidate Journeys: Those friendly nurture campaigns could be silently dropped if you skip the technical bits
- CRM Automation: Even tailored follow-ups might be flagged if your domain setup is sloppy
If email is your agency’s engine — and let’s be honest, it is — then you can’t afford to be left behind on this.
Not Just a Security Thing. A Deliverability Thing.
While Microsoft will happily talk about security and user protection, let’s call this what it really is: a deliverability crackdown. You could write the most brilliant outreach of your career, drop a perfectly matched candidate, and do a rain dance of personalisation — but if your email lands in spam, none of it matters.
The new rules are less about being ‘nice to have’ and more about ‘do this or else’.
Enter Quinset: Your Deliverability Wingman
This is precisely why Quinset exists. Designed for recruiters who depend on email but would rather not spend their evenings deciphering DNS records.
Here’s what we bring to the table:
- A full audit of your domain setup, including SPF, DKIM and DMARC checks
- Visual reports showing what’s killing your deliverability (no more guesswork)
- Compliance tracking for Google and Microsoft’s evolving demands
No simply hoping your CRM “sorts it out”. Quinset gives you clear, recruiter-specific guidance you can actually use.
What You Should Do Next
(Before Microsoft Brings the Hammer Down)
- Run a quick audit with Quinset Powermail — find out where you stand
- Fix up your domain records — SPF, DKIM and DMARC are the holy trinity now
- Segment your email lists — avoid looking like a digital door-to-door salesperson
- Make unsubscribe links visible and functional in every campaign
- Monitor complaints — small tweaks now will save big headaches later
The Bottom Line
Email still rules the recruitment world but the inbox is no longer an open invitation. Microsoft’s latest policy is just the next step in a broader shift where access has to be earned.
With Quinset, you can stay one step ahead, keeping your messages compliant, visible and actually read. No drama. No DNS-induced migraines. Just smart, simple deliverability for agencies that take email seriously.
