Why Hiring Managers Screen Your Calls

Why Hiring Managers Screen Your Calls **Disclaimer: this post is probably an unfair mass generalisation of all hiring managers, based on one or two isolated and extremely annoying experiences.** Considering agency recruiters  have been  brought in to fill their urgent roles  as quick as  yesterday, hiring managers can make doing your job  particularly difficult at times. They cancel interviews last minute, go on leave without notice, erratically change their minds and feedback less  than an acoustic guitar. Most annoyingly, they screen your calls. You might get lucky with the odd email reply, but they just wont pick up their darn  phone. I guess its worth remembering  that hiring managers are normal  people who have day jobs to crack on with and bosses to answer to. They probably die inside when they hear their alarm clock in the morning. They have annoying colleagues, are  frustrated by unrealistic deadlines  and occasionally think about quitting just like the rest of us. Sure,  they  might  somehow inherit the hiring manager title by default, but it doesnt automatically mean they get what it will take  to  secure them new  talent. Is it only them with a major commitment issue? Perhaps not maybe theres something youre doing thats annoying them?  Instead of banging your head against the wall screamingWhat the hell?? when they bump your call, perhaps its worth hazarding a guess as to  why they dont want  to talk. Youre one of  a million Your mum and maybe even your boss will tell you youre one in a million,  but when it comes to  recruitment as a competitive industry, youre often one of a huge bunch. Their phone is constantly ringing off its hook (doesnt havent the same effect given cordless technology) and they just need to focus on their day jobs. HR is on their case Especially in large, heavily regulated organisations, the HR function is supposed to be the middle man between agencies and the business. That means keeping hiring managers and recruiters at arms length from each other. Fearful of losing their headcount or getting a slap on the wrist for giving away too much information, hiring managers will often refer all correspondence to HR to be on the safe side. Its likely  theyve been burnt before You keep asking the same thing For whatever reason, they think they know what youre calling about and dont want to deal with it.  It could be for a number of reasons, but  either they have the information you are looking for and cant/dont want to tell you, or they actually dont have an update for you and theyre sick of saying it. Theres only so many times they can say the same thing, even when youve got a candidate waiting on them to make a decision. You take too long to get to your point Hiring managers know that when you  get on the phone, you spend way too long going through the niceties and small talk,  delaying  asking the questions you really want to know the answer to. They know youre trying to be their friend, but not because you actually want to be their friend, but because being their friend will benefit  your business. They might just prefer to keep business as business. Theyre too busy They bump everyones calls,  not just yours. It might help your self esteem knowing they dont just hate you and only you,  but it doesnt make it any less frustrating. Some people just like working over emails. They  need to have  something  in writing in order to  drag  it into their to do folder before actioning it. You call at the wrong time Every time you call, theyre either running to a meeting, in a meeting or planning for one. Or theyre  on lunch, about to pack up for the day or busy responding to morning deadlines. Hiring managers do have full on jobs to do, and their calendars dont always stop for recruitment. Where to now? To overcome a hiring manager who bumps your calls, try using short, friendly and to-the-point emails. If that doesnt work, re-route through your HR contacts and keep trying its all you can do! Image: Shutterstock