Why do the good ones disappear???

Okay, so I'm starting to notice a trend. Why do my DIRECT FITS and GOLD candidates disappear on me? I interview them, they agree to have an interview set up with the client, I schedule the interview with the client, and POOF they are gone? I have developed rapport with the candidate, expressed the "open communication" thing, so why does this only happen with the GREAT candidates? :( Help!

Comment by Sandra McCartt on March 5, 2013 at 6:13pm: Sounds to me like she doesn't fit what you are looking for. Job is onsite, she wants to work from home so she is slowplaying you to see if she can find what she wants or she is trying to hold off as long as she can work contract.

I start the interview drill from the first breath with a new candidate. I explain how i work what they can expect from me and tell them that all i expect from them is that tell me yes or no if i run something by them. If they are unsure all i will ask of them is that they interview, then if they are not interested i will be the one to let the client know they are not interested in a manner that will not burn a bridge for them for the future.

If i had the situation going on that you have described i would point blank ask my candidate if she was trying to find an at home gig or if she were dragging her feet about interviewing because she was trying to extend her current contract or might get a perm offer. I would get on her side, find out what is going on and let her know i would try to help her buy some time if that is what is holding her back from interviewing.

Have you asked her if she has a concern that you are talking about a temp to perm situation that would require her to give up her current contract spot for something that might not be perm?

I use a saying with candidates who get squirrely about interviews, might be a little folksey for you but i say, "You know John, my old daddy always told me never to say no until i heard the offer because until i got the offer i couldn't say yes."

Comment by Elise Reynolds on March 7, 2013 at 12:41pm: Occasionaly we all get candidates like that. I call them flaky. They want interviews, they want another job, they are interested in the job you are presenting. Then they just flake out. There are so many things that can be going on in someone's personal life. This particular candidate being described sounds flaky to me.

We are all going to get some of that kind of candidate on occasion. If it happens a lot then there is probably an approach you have or a step you might be missing that is allowing it to be more common. There are probably changes you can make to reduce that kind of thing. Although it will never go away completely.