Since starting Corn On The Job I’ve read stories from job seekers trashing employers, recruiters, and hiring managers. I’ve sat back and watched, and I have wrote about and agreed with comments regarding how long an interview process can take, the rudeness of a recruiter or manager, and also how completely idiotic certain interview questions are for selection. You’ve all made great points, and many organizations and recruiters are surely at fault, but it’s about time the recruiters and organizations fire back. This surely won’t be my most popular post, but I’ll be damned if I’m not the one to finally say …
Job Seekers: It’s time to grow a pair, and stop making excuses
As recruiters, we’ve learned that scheduling an interview doesn’t necessarily mean our candidate is going to show up. In our early years, we may have experienced a bit of shock and some anger at your lack of consideration, but over the years we just come to realize that it’s all part of the job. We’ve heard every excuse in the book, two or three times over. Here are some of the most common:
- Car broke down
- Cat/Dog is sick
- Son/Daughter is sick
- I’m sick
- Alarm never went off
- Couldn’t find the office
There are others that fall a bit on the ridiculous side, and I’m sure my recruiting buddies can share some hilarious excuses they’ve heard. No matter what the excuse is, its hard for a recruiter to buy it. As a recruiter, we naturally begin to question how bad you want the job, if at all. We may give you another shot at rescheduling, but we’ll hold our doubts.
In a situation where you have changed your mind or decide the job isn’t for you, just call us! Even a simple e-mail will do. Give us plenty of time before the scheduled interview so we can inform anyone actively involved with the interview process. Canceling the day of is incredibly frustrating for everyone involved, and at times can embarrass the recruiter. You can also damage a recruiters reputation, especially those on the staffing agency side. Just do us a favor and call us plenty of time before the scheduled interview if your feet start dropping in temperature.
Are you a victim of “Boy Cried Wolf” syndrome
We do understand that sometimes your cat, Buttons, really is sick, or maybe you really have had stomach problems the morning of the interview (stay off Taco Bell and Chipotle the night before). Even though you really might have an emergency on interview day, we aren’t going to believe you. Luckily, in most situations you’ll be granted a chance to reschedule. This is your opportunity for redemption, and to be successful you must follow these critical steps:
When you must cancel, but really do want the job:
- Notify your recruiter immediately when unable to make an interview
- Apologize with sincerity, and beg/plead for a chance to reschedule
- Schedule a time that you can make, at all costs
- Thank the recruiter and apologize again at the end
- Show up extra early (30 minutes) or so to prove that you are excited and do want the job
- Thank your recruiter, interviewer, and interviewing team for rescheduling and apologize again for missing the first scheduled interview
When you burn us once, you need to come at us three times as strong the second time. Failure to show up on the second attempt results in crossing your name off of our list. Do as I say, and those suffering from “Boy Cried Wolf” syndrome will redeemed.
