Rejections by phone: The worst practice in recruiting
Recruiters who want to extend an offer usually set up a phone call.
What frustrates me is that some recruiters do the same even when there’s no offer.
I’ve never been able to tell from their emails. Maybe “quick” is code for hired. But a “quick call” evokes a thin envelope from college admissions.
The recruiter on the left offered me a job. The recruiter on the right inspired this post. My plea is straightforward.
Send rejections by email
The reasons I’ve heard for rejections by phone are:
It’s more personal.
It’s a chance to share feedback.
Personal does not mean preferable. I’ve been at shops where cashiers were open but the self-checkout had a line. People like to feel in control; emailed rejections allow candidates to process the news on their own terms.
Over the phone with the recruiter on the right in the above screenshot, I felt pressured to come up with some platitude about how I was disappointed to hear the news but grateful for the chance to meet the team.
The recruiter went on to share feedback. I didn’t ask for it and wish I hadn’t heard it. The feedback was an insult. It was nonspecific and offered no guidance as to how I might change my approach to interviews in the future.
The next best thing to a yes is a quick no
Every rejection is unpleasant. Nothing a recruiter can do will ever make it pleasant. What a recruiter can do is respect a candidate’s time and right to privacy by sending a rejection email as soon as possible, without requesting a response.
If you must call…
Please call on the same day. It was disgraceful for my recruiter to make me wait until the end of the week just to hear I’m not being hired.
In your email, don’t say “hope all is well”; on the call, don’t ask how my day is going. Based on what you’re about to deliver, all is not well and my day is about to get worse. Perfunctory as they may be, these phrases are insensitive, as are any jokes and playful banter, when you have bad news.
Stick to “Hello, is now still a good time? I have an update for you. Unfortunately….”
Better yet, just send an email. See below for a template.
One of the better rejection emails I’ve received
Hi Jason,
I wanted to touch base with you and give you an update on the status of your application.
We really enjoyed meeting you in person at our office and hearing about your experiences and background. We appreciate all of the interviews you’ve done—I know it has been a time consuming process.
Unfortunately, after carefully considering your background, qualifications, and our conversations, the hiring team doesn’t feel that you are the right fit for this role. They all had great things to say about you, but feel there are other candidates who have more of the experience necessary for this particular position. I’m sorry to give you this news and would be happy to discuss further over the phone if you have any questions.
(Emphasis added.) I was most grateful that the choice was mine, not the recruiter’s.