Why Don’t Recruiters Respond?

Many of my friends and former colleagues have been very unfortunate to be a victim of the pandemic and have lost their jobs. I speak with them often: giving them referrals and/or just listening to them articulate their angst. One common thread has continued throughout all these conversations and that is the lack of kindness and basic common decency of some recruiters.

Given this behavior, is it not surprising candidates are continually appalled at the lack of follow-through by Recruiters at every stage of the process. Candidate frustration and disdain for recruitment peaks when they go through several rounds of interviews only to receive an eerie silence with no follow-up. It leaves them feeling outraged and frustrated. I can’t say I blame them. After all that, if recruiters don’t call you back, move on, you shouldn’t put your career in someone’s hands who is so incompetent.

An article in Medium.com sums it up nicely how recruiters SHOULD behave:

1. Give bad news. You are not the candidate we need. Thank you.

2. Say they were wrong. Thought I would have an answer by now, but I don’t have an answer and I am not sure when I will.

3. Say they have no clue what is going on with the search. The recruiter thought this was urgent based on the hiring manager's communication, but things have changed and not sure if it’s going to heat up again.