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8 Signs You’re About to Lose Your Top Candidate

By Paul Slezak - Dec. 26, 2022
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It happens a lot. You’ve met a great candidate, who for all intents and purposes seems really enthusiastic on your role. There’s been a lot of nodding, smiling, and you may have even made them an offer. But then something changes. You might not be able to quite put your finger on it … or you might just find out the hard way.

Here are a few signs that despite thinking you may have found your needle in the haystack, you might actually be losing your great candidate.

Key Takeaways:

  • If your candidate doesn’t return any of your calls or you have not heard from them after they resign are signs that they are no longer interested in you.

  • Candidates who don’t show up for an interview or if they are only able to interview you in two weeks may not have intentions on actually interviewing wit your company.

  • Needing a long time to think about your offer is a sign that they are either waiting on another job offer before accepting yours or they are not interested in your company.

8 Signs You're About to Lose Your Top Candidate

8 Signs You’re About to Lose Your Top Candidate

  1. The Candidate Stops Returning Your Calls

    But you seemed so keen when we spoke last Friday!

    Filling a candidate’s voicemail box and not hearing back from them is pretty much a sign that they’re no longer interested in what you have to offer. Gosh this blog post could one day become the hiring managers’ and recruiters’ equivalent of ‘He’s Just Not That Into You’! Any budding film makers out there? I’m more than happy to write the screen play and produce it!

  2. You Don’t Hear From the Candidate When They Resign

    Here’s a tip for anyone making a job offer to a candidate. Get them to call you (or at least text you) as soon as they’ve handed in their resignation. If they say they’ll be handing in their notice first thing in the morning and lunchtime comes and goes, something’s gone wrong. They either had a last minute panic attack, they were counter offered, or somebody else has gotten into their ear and told them not to rush into it. You need to take control of the resignation process!

    Another true story – going back a long way (yikes … this was before everyone had a mobile phone!): I met a very senior candidate at a café on the morning she was going to resign. I told her I’d wait in the café and asked her to come back as soon as the deed was done. After about an hour I was literally about to walk out (fearing the worst!) when she walked back in so excited about the job I’d found for her! For the first time in months her boss hadn’t come in early! That’s what had taken so long. Definitely worth the wait.

  3. You Suddenly Realize Your Candidate is Interviewing Elsewhere

    If the first time you find out that your star candidate is either thinking about a different opportunity, interviewing elsewhere, or considering another offer is after you’ve made them an offer, it’s entirely your fault.

    Every single time you speak to your candidate throughout the hiring process you need to be asking them what else they’re up to. Have they applied for any other roles since you last spoke with them? Have they met with other recruiters? Has a new position been advertised internally that might have caught their eye?

    Always ask. Never assume.

  4. Your Candidate Can Only Come Back for a Second Interview in 2 Weeks

    This is a common one. You advertise your role. A great candidate applies the day you posted the job. You speak that afternoon and they can meet with you the next morning. They are then even happy to fake a doctor’s appointment to come back in the following afternoon. But when you ask them back again for a further discussion or to meet the team they suddenly have a full schedule, can’t make time, or say they’ll try to meet with you again in a few weeks.

    Move on.

  5. It Suddenly Becomes “All About the Money”

    Ah the dreaded counter-offer. During your first interview they tell you that no amount of money could possibly make them stay in their current role. But when you make them an offer, they resign and their boss showers them with praise and throws another $15,000 at them ($15,000 which you just don’t have lying around). Suddenly they’re happy again.

    Just remember that around 80% of candidates who accept a counter-offer end up leaving their job within 3 months anyway. And then of course it’s entirely up to you as to whether you’d want to open the door for them again.

  6. Your Candidate Doesn’t Show Up for an Interview

    As with the voicemail scenario, if a candidate doesn’t show up for a meeting that you’ve arranged and confirmed – and doesn’t have the courtesy to at least text you some lame excuse as to why they can’t make it (even while you’re sitting there), then that’s another pretty strong sign that they’ve lost interest in the role.

    Although I have to admit that I once made an offer to a candidate who was thrilled to accept the position. Then on her first day she went to lunch … and never came back! Must have been a good sandwich!

    Come on … 20 years in recruitment and only two people disappearing without a trace? I personally think that’s a pretty good track record. I mean it’s not like I’ve needed to have the missing persons report page bookmarked as a favorite!

  7. Your Candidate Can’t Find One Person to Act as a Referee

    You’ve listed on your resumé that “details of referees shall be provided upon request”. Well I’ve been requesting for a few weeks now.

    Need I go on?

    If a candidate can’t provide you with the details of somebody they’ve worked with previously who would be happy to speak professionally about their performance, then that could definitely be a red flag about their work history. But it could also just be an easy way for them to part ways. After all, you’d never make anyone a formal offer without checking references first (would you?) So this could just be their way of saying “let’s not proceed”.

  8. They Ask for a Whole Week to Think About Your Offer

    My suggestion would always be to make a verbal offer to any potential candidate before putting a formal contract together. That way you can gauge their initial reaction.

    Of course when you then present a formal offer, it’s still pretty standard for a candidate to ask for some time to think about it – and this usually means overnight. Sure – by all means.

    Perhaps they may even need the weekend to think it over. But in the event you make an offer (either verbally or in writing) to a candidate and they ask you for a week to think about it, this can only mean that they are not the only one involved in the decision making process.

    So remember to ask them up front who else will be part of the decision making process – perhaps a spouse, another family member, or colleague. Put it out there from the get go to prevent a lengthy (not to mention frustrating) stalling tactic down the track.

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Signs You’re About to Lose Your Top Candidate FAQ

  1. What makes a candidate stand out from other?

    A candidates professional skills, areas of expertise, and their personal qualities can make them stand out from other candidates. When picking a candidate for a position, you want to pick one that will out-do other candidates.

  2. What are the most important criteria to consider when selecting a candidate?

    When considering a candidate you should take into consideration their capabilities, the value they bring, and if they fit in with the culture. When hiring a candidate, you want to make sure that they have the ability and qualifications to do the task at hand. You should also consider what kind of value they bring to the company and how they will be beneficial. There also needs to be a cultural fit because if they don’t fit in with the company, they may not last long.

  3. How do you know if a candidate is still interested?

    If a candidate is still interested and wants the job they will be responsive. These responsive candidates will have positive responses to any emails or calls that you send. Chances are they are checking their inbox multiple times a day looking for your emails. Responsive candidates typically respond within six hours of hearing from you.

  4. How do you decide who the best candidate is?

    The best candidate will be someone who’s own values align with your company values. This candidate should also have a strong work ethic and a positive attitude. To find out if they are right for your company, make sure you pay attention to the questions they ask during the interview. The best candidates will ask questions to learn more.

Final Thoughts

When it comes to the recruiting ‘game’, some people say that you haven’t found your star candidate until they sign on the dotted line. Others say that you haven’t made a successful hire until they actually walk in the door on their first day.

From experience I’d take it even further and say that you’ve only really filled the vacancy when your rock star has signed the contract, come on board, and started making a positive impact.

After all, isn’t that what you’re recruiting them for?

Author

Paul Slezak

With over two decades of experience in the recruitment and human capital industry, Paul Slezak has established himself as a transformative force in the realm of leadership and career coaching, group facilitation, and talent acquisition. His unique perspective, drawn from his early career as a leader in global recruitment firms and his entrepreneurial success with his own start-up, has enabled him to make a significant impact on leaders, teams, and organizations across the world. Paul's passion for helping others achieve success and high performance is evident in his commitment to transforming leaders and their teams at local, national, and international levels. He specializes in promoting the importance of human-centered intelligence, focusing on soft skills such as authenticity, transparency, and trust to complement business-centered acumen and drive better workplace outcomes. As an impartial facilitator, Paul brings his expertise to team offsites and strategy days, ensuring alignment on goals, values, and culture while keeping participants on task. His engaging and energetic presence, coupled with his unique "entertraining" and "edutaining" delivery style, enables him to connect with audiences both large and intimate, sharing personal and professional anecdotes that inspire and energize.

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