Candidate POV: Bombing the Interview, Just Hang Up!

Recruiting post-pandemic has become quite the challenge.  And with phone interviews now the norm as the first formal step in the interview process we’re seeing another trend: HANG UPS! 

A quick google search produces a multitude of online forums with job seekers posting and commenting about hanging up during a phone interview.  As the interviewer, your first thought is probably “what the???”, then anger (or “choice words”), and lastly confusion.  But after reading a few posts, there is one common denominator: fear. 

Most candidates end the interview after realizing they are not qualified and cannot answer your questions.  While the appropriate thing to do would be to inform the interviewer that you don’t believe yourself to be a “fit”, some candidates panic and just hang up.  While this may be frustrating in the moment, isn’t it better to find out sooner than later? 

Unqualified applicants that sweat out the phone interview can also become part of an even larger trend: candidate ghosting.  This can happen at the face-to-face or zoom interview, verbally accepting a job offer only to change their mind, turning down a job after formally accepting, or simply not showing up for their first day.   

When you factor in the costs of recruiting and onboarding, consider it a blessing (albeit rude) when a candidate disqualifies themselves early in the hiring process – they just saved you time and money!