to be annoyed that someone who I'm trying to offer a job to hasn't bothered to get in touch to tell me she has been offered a job elsewhere

[Bouncingturtle]

and so I've wasted 3 days, left messages on her house phone, and her mobile asking her to get in touch, not only that left 2 other candidates in limbo only to find out when I eventually managed to get hold of her mum that she has accepted an offer elsewhere!
When I saw her for 2nd interview last week I informed her that I would be making a decision by Friday and I would ring her then, along with all other candidates. When I was a job seekers, used to hate it when companies didn't bother to get in touch with me to let me know whether I was successful or not. So despite the fact it takes considerable amount of time out of my day (where I still have to do my ACTUAL job and prepare for my ML which starts next week), I made sure that all candidates are acknowledge, I let them know if they have or haven't been selected for interview, if they have or haven't been selected for 2nd interview, and I wait until job offers have been accepted before I tell the other candidates they were not successful.
Lucky have had a good crop of candidates, so even though this person has turned the job down, I have a couple of standbys who weren't quite as a good but are certainly good enough. Even if she was waiting to hear about other job, I wish she had actually bothered to ring me and tell me she wanted a bit longer to decided whether she wanted my job or not so at least I could tell the other candidates what was happening!!! AGGGHHHH!!
Anyway, not in work today, so have been in touch with other candidates to let them know I will be making a decision between them on Wednesday as I didn't actually do the 2nd interviews with these 2 candidates as I was at home with food poisoning and rather than cancel and rearrange at the last minute causing them inconvenience I arrnaged for my boss and my direct report to see them instead, so will need to canvass their opinions tomorrow in order to make the decision.
I'm a bit stressed here...

Blimey!yes a lot of hard work goes into recruiting candidates
Getting post approval
Write advert and JD inc person spec
write suitable questions
submit to HR for approval
Assemble interviewers
liaise with HR sending out letters
Book location for interview
Book out your own time for interview and post-interview paperwork

bloody hard work

so yes complete sympathy

Thank you I feel a bit better now I've got it off my chest!
I reckon over the past few weeks I've spent at least 2 hours a day on recruitment, making sure that all the paperwork is correct and that my selections are fair. Plus usually end up going to loads of meetings so have to ensure that interviews I schedule don't clash with any meetings and that they are convenient to the people attending.
One particular candidate who I'd arranged interview for didn't bother showing up, and didn't seem to be particularly bothered about the fact he had caused me a lot of inconvenience by not informing me he had changed his mind about the job when I rang him - he was sat at home watching TV! I'd had to drop what I was doing to meet this guy at my bosses office which is on another site only to spend half an hour twiddling my thumbs and checking my phone messages (didn't want to hassle him at first as he may have had a genuine reason for running late) only to eventually ring him to find out he is "not bothered about the job"

it is difficult esp when some candidates apply for every post avail without necessarily actually wanting the post

i like the candidates who have been on the whole job circuit turn up clueless about the post, don't know whether it is new york or new Year

Agree with you bouncing - after all the messages you left you should have had the courtesy of letting you know the score.

The problem I have is advertising through the job centre, they will send anyone regardless of suitability. I'm send through a person spec to the job centre and they seem to treat my "essential requirements" as "nice to haves". Means I end up trawling through a lod of applications which are clearly unsuitable! Plus had a few times when they just don't turn up for interview - I think it's because they just want the interview letter to prove that they are looking for work. Well I always ring the JC back up and tell them they failed to turn up. If it gets them into trouble, that's there look out. I have had good candidates from the JC in the past so would always use them just wish the numpties dealing with the recuitment would understand that if I say they must have an A level in Chemistry or equivalent that is not an option, applications without it will be rejected.

God my grammar is terrible today!!!!!

job centre have targets to meet and need to demonstrate sending candidates to interviews

That's very true, but they should be sending candidates who actually meet the basic requirements and not waste my time (or the candidates!). Though maybe they wouldn't meet their targets if they did this and that's why they send anyone! You can see why it puts a lot of employers off using JC but I prefer to peservere in the hope that I do find that one good candidate.