“How to Handle Rejected Candidates Who Persistently Contact You About Their Application Status?”
Recruiting for a Government Contractor: Dealing with Persistent Candidates
Have you ever dealt with a persistent candidate who continues to reach out after being rejected? As a recruiter for a government contractor, it’s essential to navigate such situations with professionalism and efficiency. Let’s delve into a real-life scenario to understand how to manage this effectively.
Background: Communication with a Rejected Candidate
Recently, a candidate reached out to us inquiring about the reasons for continuous rejections. Upon further investigation, it was revealed that the candidate had previously accepted a contingent offer but failed to complete security paperwork on time. Consequently, the offer was rescinded due to non-compliance with mandatory security clearance procedures.
Managing the Situation: Dealing with Persistent Inquiries
Despite explaining the situation to the candidate, they continued to email, seeking further clarification. As a recruiter, it’s crucial to address such inquiries promptly and professionally. However, when faced with persistent and repetitive communication, it’s essential to establish boundaries and manage your time effectively.
Best Practices: How to Proceed?
1. Setting Clear Expectations: Clearly communicate the reasons for rejection and the established protocols within your organization to avoid any confusion.
2. Managing Communication: Respond to initial inquiries politely and professionally. If the candidate continues to persist, consider setting boundaries and limiting further interactions.
3. Prioritizing Productivity: As a recruiter, your time is valuable. If repetitive emails become a distraction, it may be necessary to refocus on more pressing tasks.
4. Seeking Support: If the situation escalates or becomes unmanageable, consider involving a supervisor or HR department for guidance on next steps.
#Recruitment #CandidateManagement #PersistentInquiries #RejectedCandidates #GovernmentContractors
Sounds like you’ve been courteous to this person and they won’t leave you alone. Close the door respectfully and don’t respond to further emails IMO. As a recruiter, your job is to find people for jobs, not find jobs for people, the latter of which sounds like what they are expecting of you
“Karen, (use her name)
Thank you again for your email. At this time I have nothing further to add, and once again remind you that we have moved on to other candidates.
I wish you well in your searches.
You”.
Send it, then set up a mailbox filter and folder for her specific email address, and any ‘alternate’ email addresses she uses. Simply let them fill your folder and never look at them again. With it being a gov affiliation, I would just quarantine them but do not delete.
Block the candidate on any personal devices and #’s. Don’t return calls if they escalate. If it continues, send an email to your in house legal dept to resolve.
Eventually they will either tire of your non-response or get themselves a nice letter from legal instructing them to cease.
Or just don’t answer it at all, and follow the 2nd half of my comments only.
Yeah that’s her deal. I would just tell her “ look, I explained all this to you already. There is no other way I can explain this and there is nothing further that can be done. I wish you the best in your employment search. **stay silent**. “
File a police report, even if it means nothing and nothing will come of it. It’s the principle. We do not live in 1984.
Block her email address at the server
I would not engage with this person any further. You were kind enough to offer her an explanation. She frankly sounds unhinged and continuing to respond will only make things worse.
Can you just call her? I feel like emailing is a very convoluted way of dealing with this. A call is a much more personal approach and then at least you can say you’ve done everything you can to help her understand
Refer them to HR if they won’t leave you alone and have questions about their employment
Recruiter here. This happened a few times – I will take the time to explain the person the situation; a few times even and try different ways of explaining. At some point if they still don’t get it, I stop replying. No point in dealing with that
One of the greatest failures in business today is the lack of phone communication. The far majority of issues disappear when you address them directly with a phone call as opposed to email or text. Period.
Is there a point where she would be eligible again? Like maybe after X months or years your company will accept applications again? I just recently found out from a recruiter that I was not eligible for a position due to already submitting my application for the position directly to the company. I was told there would need to be 1 year from when i submitted directly to the company to when they could work with me again to try and get me into that same company.
I’m wondering if there is some information she is trying to get but maybe asking the wrong questions causing frustration on both ends.
This is probably why I stop giving reasons to companies when I turn their offers down
This stuff happens all the time, you just need to be professional with everything you do. If it escalates your leadership will understand a disappointed applicant but you don’t want them to see any unprofessional action. Like don’t block her, I wouldn’t call her (while I understand this isn’t as personal, it also isn’t documented and you can be accused of saying whatever), I wouldn’t text her.. I would simply reply with the common
Thank you for your interest, we have lots of applicants yada yada… keep an eye on the website, peace out.
She is trying to work out what she can do to get a job there so if the answer is “you will never have a job here” then you need to tell her and stop wasting her time.
Why do you reject applications from people who were dropped before, though? Companies really need to stop sending out generic “You haven’t been successful this time but keep trying” messages when it’s not true. This is why people pester you.
Just ignore her. No further action needed.
Just have her emails sent to a separate folder and ignore them, they’re now on file and you have a documented response.
Unfortunately engaging people who won’t take an explanation and move on is just going to be a frustrating waste of your time.