What is going on with hiring practices these days?

42 Comments

1. AnonymousApril 11,2024 at 8:14PM UTC

   Not surprised.
   They have all the leverage and are getting very used to having 200 candidates for every opening who will drop whatever they are doing to make their life easier. They ghost constantly and really don't care about professional protocol. It's just .....next!

2. AnonymousApril 11,2024 at 8:27PM UTC

   Well as a former recruiter, I must say they do go to the next candidate. If you are not available, they really do not have time to wait. I was successful as I had gotten the interview availability up front from both the manager and the candidate. I know this was a turn off, but it is very frustrating when you're interested but are working and trying to interview around it. I will say this, that recruiter should have been in better touch with you. They probably lost a great candidate. Move on to another firm. Sorry but good luck in your search!

3. AnonymousApril 12,2024 at 12:53PM UTC

   I had a recruiter cancel my interview half an hour before and asked to reschedule for the next day. I confirmed right away and said not a problem and tried to follow up the next day and a week later... they ghosted me. 3 weeks later I got a rejection email saying I wasn't chosen.

   I'm glad you reached out to the director and were able to get a response at least from that. Don't let it get to you, on to the next!

4. AnonymousApril 12,2024 at 1:49PM UTC

   This is so frustrating and is a prevalent practice by recruiters and companies these days. I always provide updates to candidates I've spoken with - even if it's a generic message letting them know we are moving on to other candidates. It takes 2 seconds to send an email. I know firsthand as a candidate myself how this feels - it's disappointing and unprofessional.

   Granted, there are times where internally there are issues in getting approval to actually hire someone/changes in budget, getting everyone to agree, etc. Those situations can drag on and place recruiters in an awkward situation because they need to dangle the candidate(s) on - even still, I always try to stay in contact and give updates. There are times where I even acknowledged them being active in the job market and would understand if they decided to move forward with a company that was ready to present them an offer. I've find my approach is appreciated and usually does not deter candidates, even if we are slow on our end.

5. GirlBossanova934974April 12,2024 at 3:08PM UTC

   Perhaps you should think a few steps ahead? What happens when you are working for this company and you have to take some time off aka a day or two? What happens then? Do you receive a negative performance review for this? Is Management going to punish you for this? This is how this company operates. VERY unprofessional! It flows downhill from top management. Employees are not even numbers. Just expenses on the P&L. I would look elsewhere!

6. AnonymousApril 13,2024 at 6:47PM UTC

   So many assumptions with absolutely nothing to back them up.

7. GirlBossanova934974April 14,2024 at 4:33PM UTC

   Flaky managers and flaky companies don't act out as some big exemption. IT is the rule with these managers and companies. They show their cards long before you hire on with them. From experience, we recognize this sooner than later. Disrespecting candidates before they even walk in the door? PAR for the course! Last thing to keep in mind. Experienced and seasoned managers know the economy has its ups and downs. TRUE! You as an employer can get away with stuff when times are not so good. But when times get better, you are looking down the barrel of a wave of 2 week notices. Your reputation has been wrecked. Word gets around and it can take years for that reputation to be regained.

8. AnonymousApril 12,2024 at 4:43PM UTC

   Hang on there, you needed to reschedule first.
   Take ownership of that and then when they did rebook and the timing did not work perhaps they spoke to someone else that was available and made their decision. Did you ask? They have not rejected you completely. The recruiter is just the messenger and is doing what the hiring manager is asking them to do. It's fine to try to blame others for what happened but interviewing is a combination of timing and availability and sometimes if you cancel on short notice you just lose out. How much advance did you give them when you cancelled? Day of? I would advise to not let this taint you, move on and keep talking to others it just didn't time align for you with them now. If it's a good company try again and don't be sour, it will only hurt you.

9. AnonymousApril 12,2024 at 9:03PM UTC

   I had got invited to interview for a county position, they reached out to me informing me of this and giving me one date and time, like congrats you have been selected to interview, your date and time is [Tuesday at 12:30pm]…. It was the Thursday before and I had a death in my family and would be flying out for the services and that day selected for me was literally the only day that I was going to be out of state the entire day… I emailed back right away, explaining the situation and asked if there was any way I could have an alternative time slot on a different day, as I could even come before or after my flight the day before or after, she said she would consult with the people doing the interview and get back to me.. she got back to me the following day and said “sorry, there are no other options but feel free to apply again next time a job position opens”… this really disappointed me because I thought it was awfully strange that they would just grant you only one day and time with no further options only a few days out from notification, like what if people had another job? And I really couldn’t help why I was missing the interview. I did actually take her advice though and I did apply, two more times actually, each time a position has come open in the department but I’ve never heard back again for another opportunity and I don’t understand why.

10. Julie AJ Viola DowneyApril 13,2024 at 3:14PM UTC

    That is cold. Sounds like a company that doesn't care about people. You may have dodged a bullet.

11. Alison Schell HutchensApril 13,2024 at 3:54PM UTC

    I work for local government and HR is very rigid on the hiring process. Once interview dates and times are set, there is no changing them. We cannot add an extra day or timeslot. If somebody cannot make it to their scheduled interview, we can only reschedule them if there is an opening from somebody else canceling. A couple of years ago, we had an internal promotion process and one candidate was out with Covid. They would not let us reschedule him so he missed out on an opportunity due to something beyond his control.

12. AnonymousApril 13,2024 at 11:13PM UTC

    Yeah, I get that… I mean, it’s tough, but it is what it is… I guess I’m more confused as to why I was encouraged to “just reapply the next time a position opens in that department” and when I did (multiple times) I was never contacted. I mean, could it mean that there were some impressively more qualified candidates based off resume alone that disqualified me from even getting the opportunity to interview, I guess… but it just seems odd. I guess I thought maybe besides being relatively qualified for the position, my enthusiasm as a returning applicant might count for something but now I can’t help but think that the fact that I couldn’t make it to an nonnegotiable one-chance-interview time due to having to attend a wake/funeral, maybe it’s being held against me? Idk

13. AnonymousApril 13,2024 at 1:56AM UTC

    Been there! I applied for a transfer at my large company. I'd applied to the hiring manager directly but she was leaving on a vacation the next day. She called me and said she'd have another manager call me next week.

    That person didn't call me until Thursday and the call was to tell me they'd already filled the position. Only thing I could think is that other manager must have had somebody they already wanted and took the first girl's absence to place them.

14. AnonymousApril 13,2024 at 12:35PM UTC

    I once had 3 HR line up 3 interviews in a day. The first candidate blew me away. They were the best candidate I ever interviewed, and years later, they still are. I knew this was the candidate I wanted to hire. I called HR and instructed them to cancel the other 2 interviews.

    Yes, it does happen that interviews are scheduled and a candidate is so good there's no point interviewing the other candidates. DON'T ever forget a job search is a competition!

    P.S.

    NEVER reschedule an interview. There's a good chance your candidancy will no longer be considered since they have more than enough candidates in their pipeline. You're not so "unique" that employers will bend over backwards to accommodate your schedule.

15. rgstaffing@bellsouth.netApril 13,2024 at 7:11PM UTC

    I totally agree. We love when the company hires on the spot.

    Never reschedule an interview because they will not hire you.

16. AnonymousApril 13,2024 at 1:22PM UTC

    well, someone beat you to the chase and got the job. this isn't anything new. employers won't waste their time (or yours) to continue interviews when they've found the right candidate. I'm sorry that things didn't work out for you with those scheduling challenges.

17. StellaApril 13,2024 at 2:06PM UTC

    Recruiters get paid when candidate is placed and get through probationary period. You are just a number sorry to say. Keep looking.

18. rgstaffing@bellsouth.netApril 13,2024 at 7:08PM UTC

    I get paid when i place a candidate and they start the job. I do not waste time and energy with candidates who cancel interviews because more times than not, they are not serious. Candidates get paid when they get the job and they do the work, provided that they don't get fired.

19. AnonymousApril 19,2024 at 3:17AM UTC

    Hey guess what? no one asked. Get back to work

20. rgstaffing@bellsouth.netApril 13,2024 at 7:04PM UTC

    Absolutely true.

21. AnonymousApril 13,2024 at 3:30PM UTC

    Had this happen last Thursday , tge day before an interview. They cancelled the interview then sent me a message stating that they had selected a candidate and weren’t conducting anymore. I’d honestly rather tell me asap then either waiting weeks or not notifying at all. Sure it’s disappointing but you can’t just be hung up on anything or take it personal. Don’t waste your time dwelling on something… let it .go and keep at it. The simple fact you were able to even to get an interview should confirm that you have in demand skills and doing something right.

22. AnonymousApril 13,2024 at 4:06PM UTC

    This is actually usually because they are dealing with a market that’s difficult to find good people.
    Think of the hiring process. When I was hiring for a single role I went through 400+ resumes, had dozens of first round interviews, many second round, and it was like pulling teeth trying to get a good candidate. Most roles now are rolling application, so it’s kept open until it is filled. After hundreds of resumes, if I find someone I want, I’m going to try to lock that person down as quickly as possible, and cancel other interviews. I’m not going to waste my time putting other people through a process, just because we happened to schedule something with them. I’m going to lose the candidate I want by making them wait, and the likelihood that the next person is going to be as good is incredibly slim.

    The rescheduling thing is weird, but cancelling interviews it typically a sign of a better interview process, where if you are actually the one that is chosen, the process isn’t dragged out unnecessarily, and if the company is already set on someone else, you aren’t being dragged through it unnecessarily.

23. AnonymousApril 14,2024 at 12:42PM UTC

    I think that's crap!

    I've had recruiters cancel my interview for hiring someone before they've even given me a chance and how do they KNOW that I'm not going to be just as good, if not better?!

    Not only that, all of the work, time and preparation that goes into interviewing is wasted!

24. AnonymousApril 14,2024 at 2:20PM UTC

    I have to question how, with 400+ resumes, you’re finding it difficult to find a good person. It sounds to me as though you are struggling to read resumes/interview correctly, and have such a narrow definition of who a ‘good person’ is that you let dozens of great people slip through the net. It’s easy to discount someone because they’re too young (ie too little experience), too old (“overqualified”), have a childcare gap in their resume, have switched careers, etc. when those might be your very best candidates. It’s also easy to be highly biased during the interview process (“they’re just not enough like me”). Just a consideration. Talent is not hard to find if you know how to look.

25. GirlBossanova934974April 14,2024 at 4:27PM UTC

    After 40 years in the workforce, I can say that I have seen many ups and downs in the economy et al. But one thing NEVER changes is maintaining one's reputation at all costs. Cancelling appointments out of the blue is a very bad idea. It is unprofessional and it can come back on you. There goes your reputation in a flash. The next and most obvious problem is IF the SURE THING candidate falls flat, flakes out, or there is some show stopper. THEN WHAT? Can't find a good candidate in 400 resumes? I don't think you're looking too hard OR your job spec was written to attract pure QUANTITY instead of QUALITY.

26. AnonymousApril 13,2024 at 6:35PM UTC

    Those recruiters really don’t know anything. Most of them couldn’t get hired doing anything else

27. AnonymousApril 13,2024 at 6:38PM UTC

    And I never trust the “apply to another position” card. They’re collecting your data. Otherwise they would’ve interviewed you for another position instead. At least you no longer have to deal with the stress of their incompetence.

28. rgstaffing@bellsouth.netApril 13,2024 at 7:00PM UTC

    That is ugly and not true. Candidates such as yourself with huge attitudes really can't do much other than that.

29. AnonymousApril 19,2024 at 3:15AM UTC

    Just like a recruiter, so presumptuous! I make 6-figures ?

    You’re a complete internet bully. You troll on comments & posts on this site. They hire anyone to be a recruiter. Since the shoe fits for you, put em on & dance. Most recruiters are unskilled yet feel entitled, with the most enormous egos. Just like a 3rd grade math teacher who got fired and weaseled there way into a “recruiter” role and say an IT professional isn’t the best fit for role when they’re the only ones in the room who don’t know the first thing about programming languages.

30. rgstaffing@bellsouth.netApril 13,2024 at 6:46PM UTC

    was the recruiter in house or an outside recruiter?

31. Rhonda TeagueApril 13,2024 at 6:57PM UTC

    I’ve had a similar experience- the interviewer didn’t show for virtual. I sent an email to her and director with no response. A week later, the interviewer rhetorically responded that she had been sick, “Can’t a person be sick?!” She never scheduled the interview.

32. AnonymousApril 14,2024 at 12:17PM UTC

    Yes. This is the "new", sloppy way job seekers are treated.

33. AnonymousApril 14,2024 at 1:50PM UTC

    The lack of professionalism and business acumen with TA and recruiters today is astonishing. They either come to the interview unprepared to answer simple questions about a role, ,unorganized or conduct themselves in the manner which you described. They don’t listen to what is said and end up reviewing topics one has already answered.

    I’m just amazed at the lack of professionalism from not following up on their word.

34. Kimberly HubertApril 14,2024 at 4:55PM UTC

    Unfortunately, yes, this is normal practice these days based on my experience interviewing for the past 9 months. Consider this a bullet dodged and report your experience on Glassdoor so that others like yourself can read the reviews prior to wasting their time with an interview or even accepting and offer.

35. AnonymousApril 14,2024 at 7:58PM UTC

    All I can say is that it is most likely that the position was filled either filled internally or perhaps by a temporary worker. All I can say is to continue applying and apply elsewhere.

36. AnonymousApril 15,2024 at 12:28PM UTC

    Employers and recruiters are thinking of employees as slaves. Work slaves. No respect from their side is to be expected. We are back in the 1930s-1950s and it isn't over yet.

37. AnonymousApril 15,2024 at 6:15PM UTC

    Sadly, I agree with you about this. Truth is I experienced that last summer when I took on a full time job but I got sick.

    The HR office didn't seem to care that I was sick but still expected me to do the work without pay.

    Truth is, I had already accumulated 9 sick days from prior employment. But the HR office refused to use them.

38. AnonymousApril 15,2024 at 11:36PM UTC

    Gotta love the US of A....you have to "accumulate" sick days so you effectively have a 90 day window where you can't get sick. Period. Total madness.

39. AnonymousApril 15,2024 at 4:34PM UTC

    It's been like that for ages, unfortunately. Another thing is that employers use that as a way to "prove" that they looked for outside candidates after they've already selected their boss's kid/wife/etc.

40. AnonymousApril 18,2024 at 5:15AM UTC

    Absolutely true to prove their hiring policy was followed while in reality a backdoor or internal hiring was done.

41. AnonymousApril 17,2024 at 9:15AM UTC

    Companies don’t face any real consequences for their terrible hiring practices.

    They will ghost at any stage (including after several interviews), post jobs that they have no intention of filling, ask for ‘one way’ video interviews to weed people out by age/race etc., try to get free work out of candidates and require ridiculous ‘personality’ tests.

    Imo it’s time government put some rudimentary protections in place for candidates.

42. AnonymousApril 17,2024 at 8:53PM UTC

    Truth is, companies can find ways to part ways with candidates who have already been hired and find ways to break a contract for whatever reason, even if it is due to illness.