I read complaints every day about the quality of the recruitment process on the other hand and the problems related to job seekers on the other hand. We live in a fast-paced world, the use of technology is constantly increasing and relationships are evolving, but respect should still be part of the business etiquette. Even the modern hiring process adapts to these changes and keeps up with mentality changes and current market trends.
Respect is a two-way street in the hiring process.
1. The job seeker should respect the effort made by the recruiter or hiring manager to offer him/her a job opportunity. Writing an interesting job description can take several hours and you can add to this recruitment strategies that have been discussed and approved by supervisors. Of course, finding the ideal candidate is not child's play and dealing with refusals can be exhausting. Job seekers should think twice before ghosting because recruiters and hiring managers would prefer them to tell that they are withdrawing from the hiring process. No one will force anybody to change the career for the sake of some agreements.
2. The recruiter or hiring manager should respect the effort invested by the job seeker in preparing for a job opportunity. Interviews are not something people are used to and many are afraid of the reactions on the other side of the table. HR personnel should understand that job seekers are full of hope while applying for a vacancy and they take interview preparation seriously and document on the techniques used nowadays by companies. Candidates always expect feedback and want closure, so ghosting them is not an option. Instead, recruiters should take a few seconds to explain to them how they can improve future applications. This can really make a difference in someone else’s life.
I am optimistic that there are many HR professionals and job seekers who know that respect is not dead, but a true sign of recognition and a basis for a future cooperation.