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.

Who hurt you?

Thank you 💐

I think this post is actually a good show as to why people in public facing roles hate the public in the end. Some people are responding to me like I’m not an actual person reading their messages. Kinda proves my point really 🙈

Recruitment hell on redfot and similar sites quite explains why people are not patient with recruiters now.
No one should be rude, but they are now on par with most estate agents...

Too many to list. Unfortunately I work in an industry where most jobs can only be accessed through recruitment firms. They play silly games but we have to suck it up every time because otherwise there is no access.

You said yourself in your OP that some recruiters are absolute wankers. I put them in with other professional liars like used-car salespeople, estate agents and politicians.

I’m assuming so. The poster clearly has some issues to deal with. I don’t see the point though in assuming all recruiters are bad just because you’ve dealt with one, five or even ten, when there’s millions out there.

Seems very immature to let a few bad experiences dictate how you treat another human being

Hope you feel better soon OP and you are right of course people should be spoken to with respect.
I would say the flip side she might have had to do quite a bit of juggling in order to make the call in the first place which might also be part of the reaction.

I don't tend to deal with recruiters mostly because I have a specialist job and 90% of the stuff they send me isn't related. Or they tell me its a great package thats below my current one - one told me I had unreasonable expectations I pointed out that's what I'm currently on so to get me to move it needs to be more!

I’m genuinely sorry you’ve experienced this. I’m not in the UK, so maybe recruitment is different there, but I can honestly say my company is dedicated to using common sense. Many a times, candidates I’ve placed become friends of mine, and candidates I haven’t placed come back when in need of advice, because I stay connected.

I do understand this is rare, but I just wish people would give recruiters a chance. Just because one person was rude, doesn’t mean every person is rude

A third of people have said your very balanced and polite post is unreasonable 😱😱😱

and some of the posts here are awful. If any other professional had said they had to go home sick they’d get nothing but support.

Working in professional roles for the last 10+ years, and having moved around a fair amount, I've had a lot of experience working with different recruiters as a candidate and my personal view is that they (generally speaking) make a lot of money from transactions in which they do very little. It's a profession built entirely from the ability to make the right connections.

But that being said, some people are just rude, which obviously isn't acceptable. Nothing to do with whether they're dealing with a recruiter, doctor, teacher, <insert any other profession>, though...

It’s true - everyone should be treated fairly at work. No matter what you are.

Maybe people I have bad experiences with recruiter, but some are very nice and genuinely help or at least give tips during the job hunting process.

People often forget that work is work - people get sick - targets are to be made and just because you run into one bad experience it doesn’t mean everyone is like that.

Why? If the OP's absence would result in the building burning down, or serious regulatory action, or the loss of a multi-million pound tender then yes, they need a backup, and presumably they do. But having to reschedule an interview at short notice until another day is just one of those things. Unfortunate, best avoided if possible, but not the end of the world.

I'm assuming the candidate hasn't specifically flown in for the meeting, as the OP hasn't specified. That would make a difference.

I just wish people would give recruiters a chance. Just because one person was rude, doesn’t mean every person is rude
It's not "one person", it's a lifetime of recruiters! Thank goodness I now get work based on reputation and contacts so I don't need to come into contact with them any more.
It would be lovely if UK recruiters were as wonderful as you / your company / your country appear to be.

I’m not so much upset by the candidate’s behavior as baffled.

I am too but then I was brought up with idea that it pays to be polite to everyone as you never know who knows who.

Abusive rude behavior is hardy likely to make you work harder for her and get her a great next position - or pass her on to colleges.

I've been frustrated with recruiters - insisting on calling when your at work despite asking them not to - playing games etc but I've still managed to be polite and professional.

Same with estate agents met some absolutely wankers who really messed us around. We were even polite but firm with estate agent wanker who turned up to show property having left key in office - we'd travel 150 miles are were putting an offer in that weekend or giving up buying and going into rental meaning two moves- we were stood outside in pouring rain with 3 young kids while he went back for the key though he made it clear he didn't want to go.

Yes, my company has been brilliant!
Professionally, the seniors of my team has been given access to my roles for when I am on medical leave, and our candidate lists are accessibly by those on our teams.

Unfortunately, the issue with that specific call was that it was short notice. Every one on my team are hard workers and had calls/meetings scheduled for that time. It’s a high level role, so can’t be passed to just anyone. Our team is small, and our client is extremely private, so there are a limited number of people who can work on the role. Rescheduling to the next day was the best possible thing to do. It wasn’t like I was rescheduling to January, just 24 hours later, if the candidate was available and able to. If not, I’d have rescheduled to when the candidate was available, or even called out of my own working hours (which I’ve done before)

Aside from the professional side, my company have been amazing to me during this extremely difficult time. There’s a lot for me to face in the next few weeks, and they’ve been beside me through it all.

When I worked in this field years ago, we used to send emails out advertising our roles. I had a response back from a candidate telling me to go and get cancer and he hopes I die.
Funnily enough this guy was a teacher in a primary school. Some people are awful especially in this business

Completely missing the point but why do people quote the (often long) op when they are the first one replying!? Who else could you be replying to!?

I am a fellow recruiter.

You have a combination of absolutely cow-boys and frankly useless recruiters giving the industry a bad name, and the general public being it usual self.

It doesn't help that people do not like rejections, and take it on the recruiters.

There's also a very deep misunderstanding and too many people forgetting that recruiters are professionals, employers are professionals, recruitment is time consuming and very expensive and it's more than rare that people like to mess around for the fun of it. I guess it's easier to blame the recruiters than admit that you were not good enough for the job, or even that someone else was better.

Absolutely not! It was just a phone call

trust me, often you want us to lie, and be very diplomatic in our answers. You would not like us to be completely honest 😂

Because while I can’t anticipate a flare up, I do know how long they last. I knew I’d be back.

My candidates are fine, and in good hands. I rarely reschedule, and I often go out of my way to fit the calls/emails/interviews around the candidate’s specific schedule. This was a one off, and even if it wasn’t, it doesn’t excuse treating someone horribly.

I sympathise. I'm not a recruiter but work in a role where there's a bit of overlap and I deal with recruiters a lot, the majority of whom are excellent. Off the top of my head, we've had candidates sending the recruiters death threats and threatening to turn up at the office with a weapon, harassing phone calls to anyone whose contact details they could get their hands on, regardless of whether they had anything to do with the hiring process or not...it's mad.

I totally get that it's a very stressful process for the candidates, but the number of candidates we've had drop out at the last minute for 'a family emergency' (I swear being in an interview process must increase the likelihood of a family emergency by at least 500%), often without telling us, and we just get a 'oh yeah, sorry. family emergency' response afterwards, is astonishing. If you want to drop out of the process, just do it! I don't doubt there are a lot with genuine reasons, but it's a two way street and respect on both sides is important.