Photo by Mahdi Bafande on Unsplash
Anyone who has ever swam a few laps in the dating pool probably knows about ghosting. You’ve waded through the potential prospects and FINALLY found someone that meets your relationship requirements. Everything is going well, the conversation is flowing, and you think “wow, this could be it!” …and then…*crickets*. A few days of radio silence pass and you, my friend, have just been ghosted.
An abrupt rejection with zero closure. This leaves you questioning yourself and wondering what you did to make this person up and leave without so much as a text saying “it’s not you, it’s me”.
In the world of recruiting, much like in dating, honest communication is paramount to the success of that relationship. You’ve made the initial contact with a recruiter, expressed interest in the role they are searching for, and even went as far as setting up and participating in a screening call. During the call, you realize that the position isn’t quite what you’re looking for. No problem! If you need to think about it, we’d be happy to follow up with you in a few days.
Your recruiter wants to know how you feel and what you’re thinking, even if that means you’re no longer interested.
Consider these 3 steps in practicing open, honest communication:
Clarity: Be clear about expectations. This sets the tone and parameters of the conversation. If you don’t know, take some time to assess where you are in your career and what that next step might look like for you.
Timely Response: Don’t wait too long to reply. If the role presented is something you’d be interested in, let us know. If not, that’s ok too! We always appreciate a simple response letting us know that you aren’t interested at this time.
Active Listening: If you decide to schedule an initial screening call, make a conscious effort to be present and really hear what the other person is saying. Our goal is to find a great place for you and we can’t do that if we’re talking to someone who’s not fully tuned into the conversation.
The next time a recruiter reaches out to you with a job opportunity, take it as a compliment!
We saw something in you that looked like a good fit for the position we were searching for. It’s okay if you’re not interested. Let us know and we can take another lap in the candidate pool.
After all, some form of communication is better than *crickets* none at all.
Written by: Emily Henion, Search Consultant at Hunter Crown, LLC
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