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Wednesday Wisdom: Jail Bait
Dear Claudia,
My candidate is supposed to start a new job tomorrow at my client’s. Unfortunately he is in jail tonight - a string of unpaid parking tickets caught up with him during a routine traffic stop, and he was arrested on the spot. I know all of this, of course, because he called to see if I would arrange bail so he could be at work on time tomorrow. Now I like this guy and want to see him succeed so I’m helping him out. But it’s got me thinking: what is my responsibility to the client in a situation like this? I don’t really think it has any bearing on the job or my candidate’s ability to do it well, so is it necessary to say anything at all?
Bail Boy
Dear Bail Boy,
Well, kudos to your candidate for being conscientious about showing up for work on time. As for your question, I have three simple words: speak the truth. You don’t say if the client has a background check policy that might preclude them from hiring your candidate under the circumstances; and although you could very well be right that the situation has no connection to the candidate’s ability to do the job, it’s not your call, my friend. This decision belongs to your client. Do you really want to put your relationship on the line by making an assumption? I wouldn’t do it.
Advise your candidate to deliver the truth, and follow up to ensure that he does. Your client will appreciate your honesty, and you may even learn something about pulling a deal together in less than perfect circumstances. One of my favorite rules of recruiting is that if a deal is supposed to come together there’s not a thing in the world that you can do to screw it up.
Happy recruiting!
**
In my day job, I’m the Head of Products for Improved Experience, where we help employers use feedback to measure and manage competitive advantage in hiring and retention. Learn more about us here.
Do you have a question you'd like answered in this weekly forum? Drop me a line!
My candidate is supposed to start a new job tomorrow at my client’s. Unfortunately he is in jail tonight - a string of unpaid parking tickets caught up with him during a routine traffic stop, and he was arrested on the spot. I know all of this, of course, because he called to see if I would arrange bail so he could be at work on time tomorrow. Now I like this guy and want to see him succeed so I’m helping him out. But it’s got me thinking: what is my responsibility to the client in a situation like this? I don’t really think it has any bearing on the job or my candidate’s ability to do it well, so is it necessary to say anything at all?
Bail Boy
Dear Bail Boy,
Well, kudos to your candidate for being conscientious about showing up for work on time. As for your question, I have three simple words: speak the truth. You don’t say if the client has a background check policy that might preclude them from hiring your candidate under the circumstances; and although you could very well be right that the situation has no connection to the candidate’s ability to do the job, it’s not your call, my friend. This decision belongs to your client. Do you really want to put your relationship on the line by making an assumption? I wouldn’t do it.
Advise your candidate to deliver the truth, and follow up to ensure that he does. Your client will appreciate your honesty, and you may even learn something about pulling a deal together in less than perfect circumstances. One of my favorite rules of recruiting is that if a deal is supposed to come together there’s not a thing in the world that you can do to screw it up.
Happy recruiting!
**
In my day job, I’m the Head of Products for Improved Experience, where we help employers use feedback to measure and manage competitive advantage in hiring and retention. Learn more about us here.
Do you have a question you'd like answered in this weekly forum? Drop me a line!
Views: 623
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Jerry Albright on
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Does anyone else reading this get the sense that we are not hearing the full story?
Being thrown in JAIL? Unpaid parking tickets? Calling your recruiter to bail you out? This is nearly as absurd as Margo's post yesterday wondering whether a recruiter should be fired for stealing from the company "after hours"........ Either the candidate is lying, this recruiter is lying or I am in an alternate world.
Claudia you're really stretching here! This has to be a fake "letter" or you've made this thing up entirely. But I still love you!
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Permalink Reply by Claudia Faust on
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Truth is stranger than fiction some days, Jerry - and I only get the details I'm provided with, unfortunately. Part of the reason I advised Bail Boy to stick to the truth is that even if he doesn't have the whole story from the candidate he covers all the right bases with the client.
and ps. I love you back :)).
Jerry Albright said:Does anyone else reading this get the sense that we are not hearing the full story?
Being thrown in JAIL? Unpaid parking tickets? Calling your recruiter to bail you out? This is nearly as absurd as Margo's post yesterday wondering whether a recruiter should be fired for stealing from the company "after hours"........ Either the candidate is lying, this recruiter is lying or I am in an alternate world.
Claudia you're really stretching here! This has to be a fake "letter" or you've made this thing up entirely. But I still love you!
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Permalink Reply by Salvatore Petrara, CPC on
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Bail Boy;
How much could bail be for unpaid tickets/traffic violations?
This candidate cannot post bail?
There are underlying issues that may have not come up (yet)?
How would your client feel if they became aware that you posted bail for the candidate?
Even though I (we) have our candidates best interest in mind OUR clients pay us.
Good luck and be careful...
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Claudia - the more I think about this it is just too fishy for me to swallow.
A guy skips paying multiple parking tickets.
The police nab this man and throw him in jail.
The guy then calls his recruiter.
The recruiter then sends you an email wondering what to do?
Are you pullling our leg? You've got to be......
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Permalink Reply by Recruiting Animal on
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Great title. Where's the pictures?
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Permalink Reply by Craig Silverman on
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The question for readers here is what would you do if this happened in your firm? Would the guy be fired or not?
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Permalink Reply by Laura Lundberg on
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Claudia,
I appreciate your advice, especially the part about if it's supposed to happen , it will. What a great reminder to wear the world loosely.
I learn so much form reading you. Thank you,
Laura
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Laura, thanks so much for your kind words!
Laura Lundberg said:Claudia,
I appreciate your advice, especially the part about if it's supposed to happen , it will. What a great reminder to wear the world loosely.
I learn so much form reading you. Thank you,
Laura
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