Why is the recruiter default to do everything by phone?
I don’t work in an industry that really uses recruiters except for very senior positions (and even then it’s search firms more than outsourcing recruiting generally) but every once in a while I am contacted by one. And they almost always do everything on the phone, without appointments, just calling whenever. Sometimes even getting the job description emailed is like pulling teeth.
People who are working often cannot just take unexpected calls, sometimes because they are in meetings or otherwise unavailable. Even if I am free, my desk at the office is not a conducive environment for discussing looking for another job. And yet, “email me the details,” or “I can send you my availability for a conversation” is often ignored.
I guess I am just wondering what creates and maintains this culture.
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Anonymous
As a Recruiter myself i get it. It's the hardest job i've ever had. We are held to make a certain number of calls per day. It's called a metrix. You don't meet the metrix you loose your job. They should however email you if you ask them to and wait a few days to follow up. But, if another recruiter from the same place calls you first to follow up and you go with it then the original person looses the deal/pay. It's a very hard job.
Anonymous
I'm sorry but that sounds like a recipe for insanity. You have to make a certain number of calls, And is that what you are paid for? Or do you get paid to actually fill the job with the client? I hope you are able to move on from that to a reputable staffing firm someday, that actually builds relationships with clients and with candidates.
Kat
Most recruiters have quotas of people they need to call daily and meet with a certain number of people monthly to keep their jobs. I've been a quota contact more than once. Those are the recruiters that ghost you after the initial contact, even though they claim to have access to hundreds of great jobs that aren't posted anywhere else. It's a sales job like any other. Some recruiters and firms are better than others. Ideally, recruiters should care about placing their clients in the right job. But too often, there's pressure on them to keep hustling for new contacts and get open jobs filled. It's another example of how broken the whole employment process has become.
Anonymous
I've had recruiters call me on my work phone # when I don't respond to their emails. If I never respond to your email, I think it's obvious I'm not interested in the role.
Anonymous
Anonymous
It's not obvious. Recruiting is a form of sales. Unless someone say NO it's a maybe to us. Be courteous and say No if you aren't interested, that only take a second to do. We are just trying to help people and make a living as well.
Paula Manczuk-Hannay
Exactly! Not responding is an answer. I am Ok with one follow up email, just because things do get lost in inboxes, but do not call me at my job. Ever.
Anonymous
Then take your phone number off your resume or get a google voice or forwarding number that you can check later. Make it easy for others and don't be the angry applicant, those people get blacklisted by good talent professionals.
Anonymous
And how are they suppose to know this? People are mean and disrespectful to Recruiters. We are doing our jobs. Trying to match people and jobs. It's actually a good thing. If we don't show we made phone calls we lose our job. Not responding is ghosting which isn't polite or professional. If you aren't interested just say or email no thanks.
Anonymous
Can you show that you contacted a certain number of candidates via email rather than cold calling? What if you were to schedule some of these calls in advance with candidates? Would you still lose your job?
Anonymous
I think, or at least hope, your employer will see you not answering it or better yet, deleting it. If your boss confronts you, you can tell them you didn't ask them to contact you and imply you are happy and/or satisfied with where you are. I've heard more horror stories about reference checks outing job hunters than recruiter e-mails or calls.