to ask people to remember that recruiters are people too?

[NotRobots]

Absolutely prepared to be slated for this because many people seem to hate recruiters but anyway

I’ve worked in recruitment for years, quite senior level, so I have quite the thick skin. I’ve experienced nearly all the abuse one can via phone, email and sometimes in person. I fully expect to be told horror stories of recruitment on this post, or be told this job isn’t right for me because I’m a whinger (despite being in the field years now 🙈)

but an issue this morning has really gotten under my skin. I am experiencing some major health issues at the moment, and am awaiting treatment. All my colleagues (who are my friends at this point) know, but obviously I’m not advertising my struggles to candidates.

These symptoms flared up recently and I had to reschedule a call with someone. Well, wasn’t that the most offensive thing I could do? The reaction from the candidate was more so I’d killed her entire family rather than just rescheduled a call to the next day. I apologized profusely, but I refuse to give my medical details as explanation when it’s not her business, so I won’t.

But AIBU to remind people that when dealing with recruiters, there is an actual person on the other side of the line? With real problems, real deadlines, and absolutely no personal vendettas against you/no intention to mess you about?

When we reschedule, or when we’re late with feedback, it’s not because we want to or want to be, but there are things beyond our control. Some recruiters are absolute wankers, but the majority are just trying to do our jobs so we can survive and pay our bills like everyone else.

You're absolutely right. And that goes for everyone who has to deal with the public.

It sounds like she was stressed about being unemployed and took it out on you. Are you in house or with an agency? 💐

Are they though? 😏

sorry that was a joke and i Know lots of recruiters who are all lovely and, like you say, just doing their job. There’s no need to be rude to anyone.

being late with feedback is also really rude though and very very common. A quick message to say “sorry for delay, we are waiting on xyz” would go a long way.

hope you feel better soon!

I was, which was why I rescheduled. I’d unexpectedly had to leave work, and unfortunately I can’t schedule my flare ups. I reached out to reschedule because I didn’t want to not make contact

She’s not unemployed, just looking to switch jobs.

Agency recruiter

Oh absolutely! I’d be the first to defend recruitment while also being the first to acknowledge there are some insensitive recruiters who view people as numbers. I’m in constant contact with my candidates, via phone or email, but I recognize not all people have the same experience.

If you don't explain what's going on then they are going to make up their own story.
Everybody knows that you put employers - your paymasters - ahead of candidates. I'd assume that you were enabling some stalling game of the potential employer.

Some people are rude, yes. It makes no difference if you are a recruiter, nurse, door to door salesman, teacher or shop assistant.

Of course there's no need for rudeness ever, and people talking to you like that is unacceptable in any circumstance, especially when you're doing the decent thing and rescheduling despite being poorly. I suspect their frustration is with the agency who don't have any sort of contingency plan for staff sickness. Job hunting when already in a role is soul destroying and people often spend hours preparing or searching and are aware of time constraints, again not your fault but doesn't seem like a great system.

I explained that I’d unexpectedly taken ill, but didn’t go into further detail because my privacy is mine.

I explained that I’d unexpectedly taken ill, but didn’t go into further detail because my privacy is mine.
How do they know it's the truth? And why haven't you got a contingency plan?

There's no excuse for rudeness any time

But there are recruiters who will proudly talk about deliberately rescheduling or making candidates wait as some sort of test.

People are being really unkind on here.

@NotRobots I hope you feel much better soon. I've also worked with some wonderful recruiters and some that are absolutely awful, same as every other role. Please do continue being one of the ones that care.

And I would absolutely blacklist her for being unkind. That's a hell of a red flag.

There is a contingency plan, but as it was short notice, no one aware of the role requirements was available to take the call. I couldn’t just give the call to anyone, as it’s a role that’s a high security level.

And why would I lie about being ill?! If I was so concerned about keeping my “paymasters” happy as you call them, I’d have gone through with the call. There was no benefit to me rescheduling, so there’s no benefit to my lying about being ill. I’d assume most would understand that.

Who cares if they believe it or not? That's their problem. OP provided an explanation and apology, what else was she supposed to do? She's not mystic meg, she can't predict when her illness is going to flare up.

Not doubting you at all, but I can honestly say I’ve never heard that from any of my colleagues.

Yes of course and this applies to anyone who has to deal with the public. My friend works in a bank and has to suck up a barrage of abuse on a daily basis. However you are clearly a bit oversensitive because are ill. Compared to many job roles I doubt you have it that bad. I've just had a spell in hospital and I can't believe how some people spoke to the nurses there.

That's because recruiters never lie.
Allegedly.

It's no excuse for someone being a dick, but recruitment does have a bad rep.

Maybe you are one of the few good ones, but certainly in my experience dealing with recruitment agencies both as an employer and employee is akin to having your eye stabbed repeatedly with a screwdriver. I can understand why people get frustrated with them.

I expected this response, which is why I put it in my original post 😂
Yeah, I probably am being over sensitive, but when facing severe health problems, most people would be. I’m not so much upset by the candidate’s behavior as baffled.

Like you, I’ve spent some time in hospitals over recent months and couldn’t believe the abuse the nurses received. Even the admin staff were getting abused. It baffles me that people think it’s ok to treat other people horribly is all

No, it was a high security level, need to know type role, so only senior level would know about it. Unfortunately, no one was available to take the call so I had to reschedule

Jesus Christ she deals in jobs not transplant organs, she doesn't owe a candidate anything more than "I'm not well".

OP you'll find that anyone who has to deal with "people" (customers, candidates, patients etc) will agree with you about how utterly rude a lot of them are.

I hope you feel better soon