Things Candidates Say
I never got the email with the performance task
What is the most common excuse for bombing the interview?
"The candidate just wasn’t a good fit."
What is “the world’s vaguest rejection reason”?
Takes back-to-back phone calls all day.
What is “living life on mute and unmute”?
Candidate still hasn’t completed their background check a week before their start date.
What is “the stuff recruiter nightmares are made of”? Or "Can I still start on Monday?"
You get on a call with a candidate, and they are clearly doing multi-tasking, paying limited attention to our conversation.
What is “the most annoying thing ever," and "What are they even doing?"
Cancels an interview five minutes before it starts
What is “something candidates do that makes recruiters cry”?
"We need someone with more content knowledge."
What is “code for ‘we don’t actually know what we’re looking for’”?
Spaces out when a candidate is long-winded.
What is “nodding and saying ‘Mm-hmm’ until you realize you have no idea what they just said”?
Candidate forgets their Workday login and emails three times for help.
What is “our daily customer service role in disguise”?
You finally carve out time for lunch, but a principal calls you mid-bite to say their best teacher just resigned.
What is “why recruiters eat at their desks” or “no lunch break is safe”?
Ghosts the interview with no explanation.
What is “the ultimate recruiter betrayal” or “a classic disappearing act”? Or never considering you in the future.
"I have no coverage today and a ton of call outs—can we reschedule the interview?"
What is “recruiters’ worst nightmare an hour before an interview”?
Sends multiple follow-ups and reshares the same resources several times.
What is “I will send this email as many times as it takes”?
"Wait, I have to submit my official transcript too?"
What is “yes, for the fourth time, yes”? Or "We can accept unofficial transcripts in the interim!"
A student walks into the hiring manager’s Zoom interview and asks for a snack.
What is “the realest sign of working in education” or “future candidate in the making”?
"I'm super interested in the role!" (Then never replies again).
What is “leading us on” or “a recruiting love story gone wrong”?
Insists they need the "perfect candidate" despite a low salary and an urgent hiring timeline.
What is “expecting a unicorn on a goat budget”?
Takes candidate calls after hours just to close a role.
What is “Recruiter dedication… or lack of boundaries”
Candidate hasn't completed their workday tasks
You're working from home, and your dog, child, or neighbor’s lawnmower decides to be the loudest thing on Earth during an important call.
What is “Zoom chaos at its finest” or “mute button reflex training”?
Interviews with the Manager completely out of character from our Phone Screen.
What is “a plot twist recruiters didn’t see coming”?
Scrambles to find an alternate interviewer at the last second.
What is “the hiring manager panic shuffle” or “a live reenactment of The Hunger Games”?
Advocates for a candidate when a Hiring Manager gives vague rejection feedback.
What is “fighting for our people like it’s the final round of Shark Tank”?
Forgets to complete their I-9 and can’t start as scheduled.
What is “causing a recruiter meltdown in real-time” or “Workday’s revenge”
Your first Zoom meeting of the day is here. Your zoom decides its time for an update, and your WiFi decides it’s time for a nap.
What is “the universal panic” or “why does technology betray me at the worst times”?