Ask HN: Is there anything I can do about a terrible recruiter?

17 points by AdvicePlz 3 years ago | 11 comments

Is there any point trying to escalate to someone else at a company about a bad recruiter? I feel like if I say anything to anyone else it might jeopardize my candidacy.

Ever since I was passed off to a second recruiter for the onsite interviews things have been a nightmare. I passed the interviews and moved on to team selection but the process has now been dragging on for over a month and a half. For instance I had matched with a team but the recruiter took so long to reach out to the legal team about immigration that the team moved forward with another candidate. The recruiter is now taking days to reply to emails and has taken weeks to get feedback from other teams I've had intro calls with.

I'd love to work for this company but this is past the point of absurdity. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I've considered sending an email to the initial recruiter asking if he can take a look at what is going on.

eps 3 years ago |

It's not the recruiter, it's the company policy. They are stalling and keeping you as an option B, because for any company smaller than Google sponsoring a work visa is a major hassle. They won't move on unless they absolutely have to.

sokoloff 3 years ago | |

We're a medium-sized company and it's not that big of a hassle (or maybe more precisely, it's a hassle of invisible size that is packaged up by someone else in exchange for a simple bag of money).

The bigger issue is the uncertainty (for both the candidate and the hiring team).

gregjor 3 years ago |

I would interpret this as lack of interest, or the apparent offer rescinded in slow motion. Many tech companies have slowed or stopped hiring, some have laid people off. The additional expense and paperwork involved in a visa (you mentioned immigration) probably doesn’t help. I would simply ask the recruiter to explain the delays, you have little to lose at this point. I would also look at other opportunities, because if a company wants to hire you they generally move that process along. Delays and lack of response might mean a face-saving way to back away.

triyambakam 3 years ago | |

For what it's worth, I experienced what OP describes, though a few years ago - so wasn't due to current hiring slowdown

quickthrower2 3 years ago |

Keep your options open. If you have 5-20 irons in the fire, this wont even bother you. Which might mean falling out of love with a company and fall in love with getting the best role you can get.

Other than that, be polite and gently chase these bad recruiters up. Hold them accountable but if they flake out you have other options.

hunglee2 3 years ago |

hate to say it, but this sounds like the recruiter is stalling you. Even if there is no news, an update with the news that there is no news is minimum standard which can be expected.

Your own suggestion of an email to original recruiter is reasonable, I would go ahead and put that together and send.

PS: paste it here if you want the crowd to help with the phrasing

burntoutfire 3 years ago |

As far as recruiters go this one isn't that terrible. At least here in Europe, they frequently lie to you, sometimes back down on their offers (I had a verbal offer cancelled a day after, because another guy accepted the position for less money), sneakily extract information from you about your other applications (so that they can contact manager in that place and send them their candidates, which directly undermines your chances of getting in) etc. They also put a lot of pressure on you to commit to an offer that's not even there yet ("say, if they were to offer you x eur per day tommorrow, can I say you accept?" etc.). All and all a slimy bunch.

faangiq 3 years ago |

I take it this is Google? They’re notoriously, comically bad at this. I’d ping the initial recruiter too. You have nothing to lose.

dominotw 3 years ago |

nothing, for sure. 100% don't do anything.

p0d 3 years ago |

I remember a recruiter sending me some CVs. Googled one of the candidates. First result showed the candidate was wanted by Interpol for fraud (confirmed true). Enough said.

toast0 3 years ago | |

Sounds like a high profile candidate that everyone is looking for!