“Rejection is as Important as Recruitment”

Written on 16-Oct-2018

Communication is key to what we do and leaving candidates with a lasting impression is extremely important, whether we can work with them or not.

We speak to Chefs who are interested in joining the CJUK brigade every day, but what happens to those candidates that don’t match our criteria right now?

Having recently read Greg Savage’s article titled ‘You are not in Recruitment. You are in Rejection’ it got me thinking. With every one person we take on as a CJUK Chef, there is another candidate that didn’t quite make the cut.

Maybe they didn’t live in an area close to our clients or they didn’t have two years’ experience which we require, or perhaps they couldn’t provide us with two recent references.

But let’s think about it for a minute…

Those people that are unsuccessful, what happens to them? How is that candidate feeling after being rejected?

As Recruiters, we see first hand that the candidate pool is constantly evolving. So this means that, although we may say no to someone now, it may not be a no forever.

Perhaps the Chef who called us looking for work wasn’t the right fit in the first instance due to the fact they are based in a remote location with no car, but then a job comes up in their area a year later so we are now able to work with them. The only way I could confidently approach that person again would be if I built a strong relationship with them in the first instance and left them with a positive impression of me and the company.

This isn’t just related to recruitment or hospitality, but to every business in every sector. It’s about creating your network, keeping in touch and building strong relationships. When you do this successfully, you’ll be able to go back to those candidates you had to reject at first as you still have strong ties with them.

Remember, “It only take 7 seconds for someone to make a first impression.”
Forbes Magazine

Saying no isn’t easy for most people, even after you have been in recruitment for years. However, being honest and upfront will only gain the respect of candidates. If you offer them feedback and advice they may take it on board and one day, they may get the job!

Every candidate that you meet or speak to will most likely tell someone else about their experience with you, and you want it to be a good one. Referrals are the most effective way to recruit for most businesses and it’s important you take them seriously.

Responding to every application is another way that you can stand out from the crowd. It amazes me how many companies don’t have this procedure in place. Sometimes, simple things like letting a candidate know if they have been unsuccessful can put someone’s mind at ease and it saves them wondering why they weren’t good enough. Once someone knows, they can move on accordingly.

The key to successful recruitment is to leave a lasting impression with all your candidates, whether they got the job or they didn’t.