Speaking from a hiring manager side, I’ve noticed a lot of really unprofessional behaviour from candidates in interviews recently. Is this something recruiters are noticing too? I’m shocked by some of the entitlement.
The Changing Landscape of Job Candidate Conduct: Insights from a Hiring Manager
In recent months, as a hiring manager working within the technology sales sector in Ireland, I have observed a concerning trend: a rise in unprofessional behavior among job candidates during the interview process. While I am not a recruiter by title, I frequently engage with my internal recruitment team and interview prospective employees myself. Through these interactions, I have noticed patterns that warrant discussion and raise questions about the current state of candidate professionalism across the job market.
An Increasingly Disconcerting Candidate Behavior
Our team recently resumed active hiring, often prompted by promotions or departures within the organization. During this period, I’ve encountered several instances of surprising conduct, including:
- Taking personal phone calls during interviews.
- Vaping openly in the interview setting.
- Excusing themselves abruptly, stating, “I’ll be back in a few minutes,” and leaving the room without explanation.
Beyond these behaviors, there have been notable attitudes of entitlement from some candidates. For example, one applicant dismissed an interview question, asserting, “I’ve already answered that,” in a tone that suggested they saw the process as beneath them.
Challenging Interactions and Expectations
In one case, I provided feedback to a candidate whom I deemed slightly junior for the role—specifically, a position requiring approximately two to three years of experience. I took the initiative to contact him directly, sharing that another managerial colleague was interested in a role suited to his profile, albeit at a different level.
Before I could finish, he became defensive and aggressive, asserting I had no idea what I was talking about, claiming the role was beneath him, and that our company was wasting his time. Considering we had invested nearly two hours across two interviews, this reaction was both unprofessional and discouraging.
Are These Isolated Incidents?
While my observations originate from my own experiences, I have corroborated these sentiments with colleagues involved in candidate interviews at peer organizations. Many have reported similar challenges: candidates failing to answer phone calls after scheduled interviews, ghosting after initial contact, or neglecting to follow up with polite communication when withdrawing from consideration.
The Impact of Candidate Behavior on the Hiring Process
This pattern appears not to be limited to my market or sector. It seems to be a broader trend reflected across different companies, interview panels, and industries. Such behavior hampers the efficiency of hiring processes and creates an unsettling environment for recruiters and hiring managers alike.
Understanding the Market Context
Our organization primarily attracts applicants with 2-3 years of post-university experience. The volume of applications we receive, especially over short periods, is substantial—making it easy for candidates to underestimate the competitiveness and the number of qualified applicants vying for the same role.
Moreover, our salary structure is transparent and benchmarked, with compensation aligned to industry standards. We clearly communicate the entry-level salary during initial conversations. Despite this, some candidates attempt to negotiate salaries at the offer stage, reflecting a possible misunderstanding or mismatch in expectations.
The Broader Conversation
While I acknowledge that job searching can be stressful and that not every candidate will behave perfectly, a growing sense of entitlement combined with unprofessional conduct seems increasingly prevalent, particularly among individuals who may lack extensive experience or understanding of professional norms.
Final Thoughts
The recent experiences I’ve shared highlight a need for both candidates and employers to reflect on professionalism and mutual respect. Candidates should recognize the importance of respectful communication, punctuality, and appropriate conduct—regardless of their level of experience. Likewise, recruiters and hiring managers might consider how to address these challenges constructively to maintain an effective hiring environment.
Note: On a lighter note, I’d like to address the individual who reported this post to the Reddit moderation team—rest assured, your actions don’t detract from the core message here. We all have moments in the job market that prompt reflection, and I hope this discussion contributes positively to understanding and improving our collective hiring experiences.
By sharing insights and firsthand observations, this article aims to foster a dialogue about professionalism in the hiring process, encouraging candidates to meet expectations and employers to uphold standards that benefit everyone involved.