Comments on: Why do great candidates not call back?

By: Vadims Babris

Vadims Babris — Wed, 11 Oct 2006 14:09:19 +0000

Carl,

Your blog inspired me to make one too.

“Why great candidates not call back” is a story which made me rember a few events.

Would be happy to read your comments on this:

http://headhunter-latvia.blogspot.com/2006/10/i-can-not-reject-opportunity-to-ruin.html

By: vbabris

vbabris — Wed, 11 Oct 2006 07:35:36 +0000

Guys,

I don’t think that it will make you feel better, however I had experienced a similar thing some 3 times.

“A similar thing” = a candidate who stops returning calls after a second interview (just when he/she needs to make the final decision). The funny thing is they didn’t answer calls from neither of several different phones I used to call them. I also asked my colleagues to call – no answer. How can one be so weird? Imagine – you act dead for about a week. You’re not reachable. You don’t answer anyone.

What’s the reason? Ok, they say that it’s just that: “I decided to stay where I am”. Jee! I should say that by doing what they did, I would certainly want them to stay where they are; and I certainly feel sorry for their current employers.

People who became terrified when in need to make a serious decision.

What did I learn from that? Most candidates are not worth to be pushed (pushing is a wrong strategy in this business anyway). Make the candidates be the ones who need to make first step toward the opportunity and you save your time, your money and place the best candidates. A best candidate is usually both perfectly qualified and perfectly motivated.

By: Chief Executive Restaurant Recruiter

Chief Executive Restaurant Recruiter — Sat, 23 Sep 2006 17:20:34 +0000

Louise, I thought of that… BUT, I’m not the hiring company. Once he accepts the job, he never has to speak to me again. How could he hear of something AFTER the second interview that would spook him enough to not do a fly in? For a compnay that he was excited about, in a place that he wanted to live in? And why would he not return hiring company calls.

Found out also that he and the guy that would be his direct supervisor had worked with some of the same people. Everyone the HA talked to really liked the guy.

By: louisefletcher

louisefletcher — Sat, 23 Sep 2006 17:11:20 +0000

I just don’t understand this. Back when I worked in the corporate world, I’ve definitely been embarrassed to say I changed my mind, but I’ve always taken the calls because why burn bridges?

I agree with Dennis -it sounds as though this guy heard something about your firm that scared him off. Very odd.

By: Dennis

Dennis — Mon, 18 Sep 2006 22:18:38 +0000

Carl – you got me on this one. I’ve seen some strange things over the years, but this guy is over the top.

I’ve oftentimes been in situations where the great candidate fails to call back. But this one takes the cake.

It really sounds fishy – almost as if he got some incorrect info about your company from a third party and is now unwilling to work with you.

If you find out, please post it so we can all get to the bottom of this!

Nice blog – keep up the good work.