Several people have recently lamented to me about how search firms are often quick off the mark, but once initial contact is made there is a huge gap of time before the potential candidate hears back. This seems to be consistent as to whether the individual is the search firms "preferred" candidate or whether the individual has not made it past first base, so to speak.
Every one of my corporate gigs has been obtained through a search firm. And I have dealt with the good, the bad and the ugly.
I have experienced the hot and cold approach. You feel that you are basically in a vacuum, no information, not knowing whether things are moving ahead or not. The deadline for when the search firm said they are getting back to you is never met and emails or calls are not returned. And all of a sudden things are hot and heavy again -- let's get together, client wants to meet with you -- you get an interview and then silence again. Until the next time.
It reminds me of the dating scene. You know when you have a great date, you seem to click, conversation flows easily and you feel, hmmmm, maybe there is something there. And then nothing. You can find yourself looking at the phone or email and saying "Why haven't I heard anything from him/her?" So you send an email or text saying something like "Had a great time. Looking forward to our next get-together. Hope you are too!" And then again nothing. If you've emailed, you wonder whether it went into their spam folder. So perhaps you call, leave a message and then nothing. You may believe that the writing is on the wall, so you move on, only to hear back from the "date" a few weeks later, as if no time had transpired, no excuses, no indication of having received the communication and then it's "Let's get together again."
Search firms are guilty of the same transgression. And let's face it, when considering a new job, even if you have a job currently(or even worse if you don't), there is a vulnerability, because by having gone to first base, you have already in some ways put yourself into this potential new reality. To not hear back, even if it is just a "We are still in process. Will get back to you shortly" is wrong.
If the search firm believes that the candidate is not a fit, just let them know. What is wrong with saying "Hey, you know it was an OK first date, but there are others that I think have more potential in the long run." In my experience and in the experience of many others, this communication never occurs. You just have to make the assumption that not hearing back, is the same thing as saying "we've moved on."
I am a person who believes in proper etiquette and not to keep the potential candidate in the loop is unacceptable. I get it, the search firm is dealing with many clients and many candidates. Years ago it would have meant a phone call, which would be time consuming. Today? Well, it is just an email or text and you're done. A few seconds that demonstrates some consideration and professionalism. I'm not saying do this for everyone who applied for the role, but at least for those who have made it to first base -- they've taken the time out of their day to talk to you. They have shown you consideration, show some in return.
The other side of this coin, is that what goes around comes around. The very person that the search firm chose to end communication with, might very well be the person who they encounter in the future as a potential client. That's happened to me, more than once. Although there is a wonderful karmic feeling that accompanies such a situation, for me the key thing has been that the way the firm treats candidates is a reflection on me and the company that I work for. So if you can't demonstrate proper etiquette and professionalism to potential candidates (and let's face it for many companies these candidates may also be consumers of their goods/services) then I don't want to work with you.
And you might think that this has only happened when I haven't moved forward with a search firm. That is not the case. A few firms with whom I dealt, where I did get the role, came knocking on my door expecting to get business just because of having placed me. And I've told them that given how they treated me through the process, I could not entertain them representing me or the corporation.
At the end of the day, whether a dating scenario or a search firm dealing with candidates, the Golden Rule applies "Do unto others, as you would have done unto you." If not, karma will not be working in your favour!
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