Recruitment and Ghosting

[Jared Norris]

Hi James,

I've seen you post this on a few lists now. It sounds like an odd situation
but I'm struggling to understand what you expect to get out of just
plastering the note all across the internet.

As others have pointed out, this list is for Ubuntu User technical support.
Please refer your request to the relevant social media or forum.

Regards,

Jared Norris
On behalf of the moderation team

On Wed, 30 Jul 2025 at 01:29, James Tobin <jamesbtobin at gmail.com> wrote:

> Hello,
>
> Have you ever heard of a headhunting firm going so far as to pursue
> legal action against an employer for failing to provide feedback or
> progress a candidate's application?
>
> Here’s what happened:
>
> An employer abruptly and suspiciously cancelled their contract with a
> headhunting firm after refusing to provide feedback or move forward
> with candidates that were secured after meeting with a hiring manager
> that they had previously recruited for with no issue. What’s striking
> is that this wasn’t just any recruiter — this was a headhunting firm
> with a solid track record. They took the time to meet hiring managers,
> understand the roles, and craft compelling narratives to attract top
> talent. This wasn’t a “spray and pray” approach via LinkedIn; it was
> bespoke recruitment.
>
> The firm ran into serious issues with one manager.  These concerns
> were escalated (as per the contract) to HR and the recently retired
> CTO (as well as the CEO who chose not to converse with the recruitment
> consultant by phone). Concerns raised included:
>
> 1. Unfounded rejections of qualified applicants;
> 2. Frequent and inconsistent changes in hiring location preferences;
> 3. Inappropriate comments made to the recruiter about a candidate;
> 4. Allegedly describing the role to a candidate during the interview
> as “shovelling horse shit”.
>
> That same manager now possibly holds more sway within the organisation.
>
> The headhunting firm sent a concise one-page letter outlining their
> concerns. The employer replied with a lengthy four-page document,
> firmly stating they were under no obligation to provide feedback or
> engage further. Four pages — in response to one — defending their
> refusal to comment or cooperate. That reaction alone raises eyebrows.
>
> To make matters worse, when the headhunting firm tried to speak with
> the HR representative responsible for terminating the contract, that
> person refused to discuss the candidates altogether. However, they did
> make unsolicited comments about the recruiter’s assumed skin colour
> and gender, and dismissed the firm as a “one-man band.”
>
> This story is still unfolding, but one thing’s clear: the issue of
> employers ghosting candidates needs serious attention. When
> headhunters are putting in real work — representing employers with
> professionalism and dedication — being stonewalled and insulted isn’t
> just unprofessional. It’s unacceptable.
>
> // James
>
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