Listen up Recruiters!

I would like to talk about Recruiters and I don't mean military recruiters but workforce recruiters. Recruiters are the liaison between employers and job seekers, a recruiter will contact a prospective candidate for a job opening that might fit the qualifications that they're looking for (as they find candidate resumes on job boards, etc), then the recruiter will speak with candidate in a phone screen and a face to face interview about the candidates qualifications and the job opportunities they have available (the recruiters know how to persuade candidates).

The recruiter will let the candidate know about their clients and what they are looking for, then the recruiter will tell the candidate that they are going to submit their resume to the client. The candidate goes home happy as the recruiter promises to call them/be in touch when they hear from the clients (the employers) with any news.

It's great to have recruiters in this world as they work on the initial process of employment BUT unfortunately, we never here back from them after an interview! Now, I ask myself why? Why don't they call or email or message the prospective candidate to inform them that their client decided to go with another candidate. Why do they hide from the candidate? by not returning their phones calls or emails? Why are they afraid to tell a candidate that they were rejected? In a recruiters job description, it states they have to be in communication with client and candidate at all times, that's why they have a JOB!!!

Why do staffing agencies hire people like this? Does employment agencies hire just any body that walks in their door to become a recruiter? possibly!

It's so disappointing when recruiters have to be so fake! It's hard on a candidate to find a job, then why make it more frustrating as well? The funny part about this is I am a workforce recruiter myself and I make sure I stay in communication with all my candidates whether it was good or bad news, I communicate with all of them!

Almost all recruiting agencies in Massachusetts are like this! WAKE UP AND DO YOUR JOBS!

Why do you think most candidates HATE working with recruiters? Note to all working recruiters in Massachusetts and in the USA!! All I have to say is step up to the plate! Don't be a whuss or a liar! DO YOUR JOB!!!! Remember, candidates are just as important to staffing agencies as clients! Without candidates, there's no clients!!!

Comment by Stephanie McDonald on February 3, 2010 at 8:21pm: I feel like I spend a lot of time apologizing for other recruiters behavior. I'm done. I will offer my opinion as to why this happens, and would appreciate any other recruiters out there chiming in.

First, Recruiters are human. I know, you don't want to hear it, but it's true. We get overwhelmed. We get busy. We don't like delivering bad news. Now are any of those good reasons to avoid a candidate or not give feedback, of course not. With this economy, recruiters are receiving hundreds of unqualified candidates for every opening. Each one of those resumes has to be read, taking time away from our ability to work with those who are actually appropriate for the role. If all we dealt with were qualified candidates, it would be a different job altogether.

I am also unemployed and looking for work. The same thing has happened to me. I have had calls from recruiters, promises of call backs, and received no word, not even as a professional courtesy, recruiter to recruiter. So it's clearly not personal, Noelia. I think we just have to be thick skinned and move on and stay positive, which believe me, I'm struggling with everyday.

Good luck, and please let me know if I can help you in any way!

Stephanie

Comment by Noelia Hamilton on February 3, 2010 at 8:45pm: Everyone has their different opinions with this matter. I know recruiter are humans and with this economy, they might be overwhelmed BUT it doesn't give them excuses for their behavior. I don't take this personal and I am thick skinned as I am a recruiter myself BUT I made sure I contacted everyone even if it takes me several weeks. Yes, Yes, I know the reading resumes and all, takes alot of time....BUT recruiters can do it.

Good luck to you Stephanie and stay in touch :-)

Comment by Stephanie McDonald on February 4, 2010 at 8:26am: I agree. Maybe we need to start a viral contract for recruiters to sign. Make it public and make those who sign agree to adhere to a certain level of service to our candidates. I'm less concerned with how we treat our clients or hiring managers (since they pay the bills). Just a thought.

Comment by Travis Furlow on February 4, 2010 at 9:17am: Noelia,
I respect the direct nature of this article and I can assure you there are recruiters out there who value the relationship, regular contact and "friendships" that can be forged through the process. Take a look at www.fearlessleadership.wordpress.com and look up my article on "Why no call back?". I try to offer views from candidate, hiring manager, corporate recruiter and agency recruiter (because I have been all of them at one point). I hope you enjoy the read and I hope you continue to search for a firm that can help you.

Comment by Noelia Hamilton on February 4, 2010 at 9:51am: Hi Stephanie!

That sounds like a great idea! When can we start doing this project? :-)

Comment by Noelia Hamilton on February 4, 2010 at 9:52am: Thank you Travis for the information. I will read your article :-)

Comment by Noelia Hamilton on February 4, 2010 at 11:34am: Hello Brian,

We all make mistakes and if a candidates forgives us, it's awesome news! I mostly started my blog because it is important for a recruiter to contact their candidates because without candidates, there's no client. I know we can't contact all the resumes (especially when they're not qualified) that comes our way BUT when we phone screen and interview a candidate, it's common courtesy to at least email them the bad news! Only to candidates that we have spoken to (whether it's phone or face to face). I know this may seem a bit childish for me talk about this subject but I just wanted to make a point to this not only for me but for everyone that has been affected by the recruiter rejection aisle. When I was recruiting, I have interviewed a lot of candidates and I made sure I at least emailed them the bad news. Candidates are human too and with this recession, when a candidate goes out to an interview, they are taking time and gas to meet with us and they DO appreciate it when (at least) we stay in communication with them. I remember when I was recruiting, that I have called several qualified candidates for a specific type of position and more than half of them asked if I was a recruiter, I answered "yes", then they would explain that they are not interested in working for a recruiter because of our irresponsible communication skills. I agree!

In regards to your case, Brian, you really don't need to deal with this, as Head Hunters are more communicative with their candidates because of the rear situations and small candidate pool.