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.
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
Amazing how many cats, dogs, grandparents, fish, hampsters died by me scheduling an interview for that day… it was equally amazing how many cars, pipes, alarm clocks also broke on interview day… OH and forget swine flue recruiters might be the single cause of illlness on interview day….
Ok so maybe that is an exaggeration but it is a amazing how often it comes up at all levels. Keep up the good work
Thanks for the comment Marty! It’s funny to look back, but it sure was/is frustrating when it’s happened.
I remember an interview that I was going for in NYC, and the train I was taking in was delayed – I felt so incredibly mortified! Fortunately, I still managed to make it and the team there was incredibly accommodating – and I even made it to the second round of interviews.
I have to say what helped me is that I was indeed incredibly sincere – and when it came to the second round interview, I was fortunately in NYC again that day and immediately found time in my schedule to go uptown to meet with the HR Director. Great advice, Rich!
Great comment Jonathan. Thanks for sharing your possible “boy cried wolf” story. Shit most certainly happens, and recruiters know that. They just are taught to never believe something until they see it. You handled it perfectly, and they gave you respect for it. Thanks for the comment!
Great tips Rich! I try not to let my normal pre-interview nausea get in the way of arriving on time. Instead, I usually arrive way too early, sit in the waiting room trembling, sweating and feeling like I’m going to throw up. The most embarrassing part is sweating during the interview. Even if you know you’re qualified, you can’t always prevent your bodies natural reaction to nerves!
Anyway, great post!
Hi Lindsey, thanks for your comment. It’s quite OK to be nervous, and its even OK to sweat a bit. The interviewers job is to find a way to take intimidation and fear out of the candidate. Some are really good at it, and others are not so good.