DIFFICULTIES WITH THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS

Having done so well to secure a job opportunity, it is all about receiving a formal job offer, signing the contract and confirming a start date. Most employers have well-established recruitment processes.
It should be a matter of a few weeks before everything is finalised and work commences.

For some candidates, the process of finalising the job offer, receiving a contract and agreeing a start date can be prolonged. This should raise concerns or warning signals. It can ultimately determine whether or not a candidate ends up accepting the job role on offer.

Winning CV gives a breakdown of potential situations, places them into context and gives considerations for making what is an important decision. Any decision must not be taken
lightly and in isolation. It must feel right for the candidate.

Delays in receiving a formal job offer.

An offer of employment outlines important aspects of the job role. Any offer should specify the job title, job description / responsibilities, pay, company benefits and other relevant details.

Companies are bound by law to offer a contract of employment to its workers. An offer of employment is a pre-cursor to signing a contract. Failure to receive such documents could potentially highlight wider issues with the company (i.e. an administrative failure or woefully inefficient).

Feeling pressured into accepting a role

A good company will give you sufficient opportunity to consider the job offer. If feeling pressured into accepting an offer ask for more time. If the company does not allow a candidate sufficiently more time to consider options, then it is important to consider the motivations of the company.

It could be perfectly innocent where the company see a candidate as ideally suitable for the role and wants to secure their services.

Conversely, it could be that the company is desperate for an individual to fill the role. Also, the company offers a package less than the market-rate,  By applying pressure, a candidate could be more willing to accept the role without doing any research.

Feeling pressured before accepting the role could be an indicator of how much the company could exert pressure on its employees on a daily basis. Think of the wider picture - it might be worthwhile speaking to a current employee (discretely) to get a better picture of the management culture / style.

Lack of organisation - recruitment process taking too long

Employers want to do everything possible to find the right person for a role. A good company will have a fairly efficient recruitment process, only taking a few weeks to complete.

Delays could relate to technicalities of drawing-up a formal job offer or contract. There could be legal complexities or work permit issues for instance. A good employer should proactively keep candidates informed of any employment issues and set expectations accordingly.

Exceptional delays and inadequate excuses are unacceptable. It is important to consider whether there is a viable job opportunity and whether there are wider problems with the company (i.e. problems budgeting for the role). Look on the Internet and search the company to see if there are any wider concerns about the company.

Be careful about continuing with this process and whether it is worthwhile concentrating efforts on finding another position elsewhere.

                                                                                                                                 

The job offer differs from interview discussions

Sometimes companies will change some terms so it is up to the candidate to scrutinise the job offer very carefully. This could be a simple oversight and the company should take reasonable steps to correct any discrepancies. Failure to amend the job offer gives warning signals and a potential
mistrust issue.

Accepting a job out of desperation

There could be circumstances where candidates have little choice but to accept a job role that is not quite suitable. Instances could include being out of work for a considerable period of time, a lack of opportunities or someone lacking good skills and experience.

Remember, it is still necessary to assess the likely benefits versus drawbacks of any new role. If it does not feel right then it is probably best to decline the offer unless there are circumstances beyond your immediate control.

                                               

                      

Recruitment warning signs! - What to look out for when waiting to hear from recruiters.