GHOSTING YOUR RECRUITER!

It might seem harmless at the time, but ghosting your recruiter could come back to haunt you! 

We get it, nobody wants to have an uncomfortable conversation. You don’t really know your recruiter. They aren’t your friend or a family member. You may not have met them in the flesh or even seen them over a Zoom call. Surely, if you change your mind about your job search it’s easier just to avoid, block and forget they exist…or maybe not?

As recruiters, we have heard it all. It used to be the case that we would receive an email or phone call from a candidate half an hour before an interview letting us know there had been a family emergency, car troubles, they had ended up in hospital, or even split their trousers! Of course, there are times when these stories have been completely true…other times…we are not so sure, especially when we never hear from them again.

However, more recently we have experienced being ‘ghosted’ by candidates. It’s like they have fallen off the face of the earth! One day we are speaking with them 3 times a day, exchanging WhatsApp messages and emails, the next, they disappear, never to be heard from again! Spooky!

We tell people all the time that it’s ok if they change their mind. All we ask is that they let us know and are honest so that we can move on and stop pestering them. If anything, being ghosted eggs on a recruiter. They are out for blood and will try absolutely everything to hunt you down. It’s much easier, and much less annoying for you, if you let us know up front that you have changed your mind or gone in a different direction. Don’t be afraid to tell us, we don’t bite!

Halloween puns aside, it is very important that we warn you of the dangers of ghosting your recruiter.

Respect – or a lack of it!

First and foremost, it’s disrespectful. Whether you have had good or bad experiences with recruitment agencies in the past, there is no good reason to ignore someone who is trying to help you. At the end of the day, you come to us for help. We take the time to speak to you at length to find out what you are looking for in a new role; we listen to your reasons as to why you want to leave your current role/employer, we help you with your CV, give you interview tips, help you research the company you are interviewing for and we even give you advice on what to wear to your interview!

Yes, it is our job, and we love our jobs, which is why between the 6 of us at Property Personnel, we have a total of almost 90 years’ property recruitment experience. To spend all of that time with you (when we could be speaking to other people who also need our help) for you to just disappear leaves a sour taste.

Harming future relationships

 

Secondly, ghosting your recruiter after they have arranged an interview for you where you didn’t turn up doesn’t just leave a sour taste in your recruiter’s mouth, but it could also jeopardise a future employment opportunity. You are damaging two relationships at once. One with your recruiter, and the other with the client. Imagine if in a couple of years’ time you are back searching for a new job, and you apply for an exciting role online for the company you ghosted two years ago. You might think to yourself ‘they won’t remember me not showing up for my interview’ but, trust us, they will! People don’t forget! You might be lucky, and the employer might be willing to give you another chance, but is that really a risk you want to take?

Hurting your career and development

We do understand that you may not be interested in every job that we put you forward to. Whether it’s the location, size of the team/company, or simply that it doesn’t sound exciting enough for you. That’s ok, we won’t be offended, angry or upset! Saying no to us and giving us the reason why actually helps us going forward. By being honest and communicative rather than ghosting your recruiter, you could end up with your perfect job. If you disappear, you honestly could miss out on a chance of a lifetime. Although it is annoying and sometimes upsetting for your recruiter, we have other candidates that we can work on. By ghosting your recruiter, you are only hurting your own career and progression opportunities.

We would like you to switch it around in your mind. Imagine if a recruiter presented an opportunity to you and you said that you were interested, but you never hear from them again. You try calling, texting, emailing, but you never hear back. Would you trust that recruiter and ask them for their help again in the future?

We would like to conclude this blog by reminding you that your recruiter is a human being doing their job. We want to help you get a job that you love. It makes our day when one of our candidates gets a new job that makes them happy. Whether it’s due to a big pay rise, a nicer work environment, or a step up into their first senior role. All we ask is for your cooperation to help us get you there.

Don’t play *TRICKS* with your recruiter. *TREAT* them how you would want to be treated. Sorry, there had to be one last Halloween pun!