“I’d Like to Withdraw..." What Great Recruiters Do Next

“I’m not interested in the position anymore. I’d like to withdraw.” I’ve had this happen right before a final interview. If you were the recruiter, what would you do?

Here’s what happens behind the scenes. The recruiter has a choice:

Option 1:

They agree and cancel the interview. “Got it, I’ll let the client know. Thanks for telling me.”

Option 2:

They push. “Just go to the interview. It’s already scheduled. This job is great for you. Here’s why…”

They keep the interview on the calendar, shield the client from this interaction, and try to force momentum even if the candidate’s heart isn’t in it, hoping the meeting will sway the candidate. 

Option 3:

They pause. They talk to the candidate and ask why. Then they collaborate on a new next step. 

They go back to the client, share what happened, what concerns came up, and recommend what to do now. 

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Who you partner with matters. An interaction that is seemingly simple can change the trajectory of who is hired. 

Great recruiting is not just about keeping things moving. It’s about trust, knowing when to pause, how to listen, and how to move forward.

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PS: This has happened to me. If you hadn't guessed by now, I'm in the Option 3 camp. I proposed postponing the final interview, and instead scheduled a catch up with the hiring manager to address the candidate’s concerns before meeting their boss. We agreed that if the role still didn’t feel right after that follow up, we’d cancel the final round. The candidate ended up being the placement.

If you’re planning on hiring a technology executive this year, let’s chat.

🌟 Hiring? Get in touch: Somer@DistinguishedSearch.com 

📘 🎤 Want to know the behind the scenes of executive search? Check out my book, Search in Plain Sight: https://lnkd.in/gqgu4vuq on Amazon or Audible.

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