Over the last six months, I’ve been working with an incredible group of recruiters, coaching them on their careers. Specifically, the intent has been to show them it’s not the technologies they use on the job, but the techniques they leverage day-to-day that will make it easier for them to recruit top talent for their company. However, the more I got to know these talented recruiters, the more I realized some of them were being disrespected by their hiring managers – and they didn’t know what to do about it.
Recruiters, you can’t do your job if a hiring manager doesn’t respect you.
I don’t care how great your company is to work at, if the hiring managers you support don’t give you what you need to do your job, that’s a sign of disrespect. When they fail to appreciate what it takes for you to provide them with good candidates, that’s a sign of disrespect. And, most importantly, when they don’t trust you to do your job, that’s a sign of disrespect. I know, I know. You want to make excuses for them. As you’re reading this, maybe you’re saying, “They are just really busy, J.T.” I’m here to tell you that people in business always make time for something they see as a priority. Thus, if getting the right people to join your company isn’t a priority, then you have to ask yourself, “Is it me?” And the answer, my friend, is “yes.”
“You teach people how to treat you.” – Oprah Winfrey
When hiring managers don’t respect you, it’s because you trained them not to. From your first interaction with them up until now, you have set the tone for how they see you and your role. The good news is, you can change this. But, to do so, you have to recognize the signs that your hiring manager doesn’t respect you. Here are seven to consider:
- They call you in a panic about an ASAP hire – only to go silent on you. When you get the urgent call that a hiring manager needs a new person yesterday, only for you to put the search in high-gear and send him some great candidates, but he doesn’t respond back.
- They change their mind about requirements daily. One day, they want 3 years experience, the next day, they want 10. They switch up constantly what they want you to look for in a candidate without thinking twice.
- They want to review every applicant you get. Your hiring manager insists she must see every resume submitted and personally choose who you should phone screen.
- They tell you to phone screen everyone. When you get 20 applicants for the job and the hiring manager tells you to phone screen each one in 2 days.
- They refuse to give you access to their calendar to set up interviews. You lose great candidates because the hiring manager won’t give you his availability for interviews and it takes days (i.e. 10 email exchanges!) to nail down a date.
- You spend days chasing down feedback after an interview. The hiring manager fails to respond to your repeated attempts to learn if a candidate is moving to the next round of the interview, causing you to lose credibility with talent while they wait in limbo.
- They dismiss negative Glassdoor comments or other critical feedback you get from candidates. In spite of hard evidence that your company’s reputation as an employer is hurting your ability to hire, the hiring manager blames talent for their ignorance and tells you to work harder at convincing them to take the interview.
It’s time to learn how to earn the respect of your hiring managers.
If one or more of the above is happening to you, it’s time you change how you work with your hiring managers. In this video, fellow recruiting specialist, Ed Nathanson and I discuss what you can do to fix it.
Don’t let a lack of respect from hiring managers hold you back from achieving your goals. Learn how to partner with hiring managers so you can get what you need to succeed!
About the Author: J.T. O’Donnell is the co-creator of RecruitHUB, where recruiters go for elite-level courses, coaching, and community to improve their skills and abilities. Watch her and fellow RecruitHUB creator, Ed Nathanson, in their new *free* tutorial, “How to Be Your Company’s Recruiting HERO” to learn more about how you can earn the respect of your hiring team!
