A Great Juggling Act…

By Angela Ulm

As recruiters and hiring managers, we are constantly juggling multiple balls in the air, hoping that none of those balls drop. Phone calls, interviews, reports, client calls, team meetings, and the list goes on and on.   I never realized how much Dr. Seuss’s quotes would come in handy when I was all grown up, but he certainly has some words of wisdom for us.  As he said, “You’ll get mixed up, of course, as you already know. You’ll get mixed up with many strange birds as you go. So be sure when you step. Step with care and great tact and remember that Life’s a Great Balancing Act.  Just never forget to be dexterous and deft. And never mix up your right foot with your left.”

Recruitment certainly is a juggling act, and there are times when it can be difficult to keep all of our balls in the air. On top of everything else on your plate, you now have an over-anxious candidate who won’t quit. How do you handle this candidate?

Some simple tips:
1)    Don’t dodge calls or emails. The more you dodge these, the more the candidate is likely to reach out to you. Not only is it important for the candidate to be honest, kind and professional; it’s your job too. If you are interested in the candidate, but are waiting on the hiring manager to provide feedback, a courtesy call to the candidate is appropriate to keep them warm in the process. If you are not moving forward with the candidate, let them know upfront.

2)    Put yourself in the candidate’s shoes. Use the Golden Rule. Treat others as you would want to be treated. As candidates gain respect for you and your profession as a recruiter, they will be more likely to take a step back from pestering you.

3)    Network with your peers. Talk to them about your situation. Ask them what they have done when they’ve been in a similar situation. I bet most of them can relate and have good advice for you.

4)    Discuss the candidate with your manager so your manager is aware of the situation. We all know there are candidates out there who will go above you. I even had one candidate send a letter asking to have lunch with our CEO after being in for on-site interviews. It’s always best to prepare for the worst and hope for the best in these types of situations.

If you keep these tips in mind, “Oh the places you’ll go! There is fun to be done! There are points to be scored. There are games to be won. And the magical things you can do with that ball will make you the winning-est winner of all.”

After reading this post, if you came to the realization that you may be an over-anxious candidate, stay tuned for next week’s post “The Waiting Place”.


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