After a month of working on a particular search, I was told this week that the position I slaved over for Agency X has not been “approved” by the client.

Ok, wait, let me get this straight…

You asked me to find people.

I found them. I stayed late. I yanked them from current jobs. I stalked them. I told them great things about you.

When you rescheduled 47 different times with each candidate, I told them that it should in no way be a reflection of your agency.

When you came back and asked me questions about them that were printed in black and white, not only in their resumes but also in my emails, I didn’t point it out, I just gave you the information you needed.

When you wanted more folks as comparison candidates, I found them. That day.

When you dismissed that one woman because you said her skills weren’t right, I didn’t ask you if you were dropped on your head as a child. I just listed her relevant skills.

When you came back and told me that out of all of them, she was your favorite, I didn’t say, “Right. She was the one you didn’t want to talk to.”

But after all those people were schedule to meet with you in person and you never called me for three days. Then when you finally did and told me that now we must wait for this position to be approved (but you have no idea how long that will take), well, I was polite and said I understand. I lied.

What’s most important is that the candidate doesn’t and honestly, I can’t blame her. She has other interviews and other offers pending and all my dancing around it and making excuses only serve to make it seem like I’m slapping some lipstick on the ugly stepsister.

I believe I have made this clear to you and now we’ll see what happens. I hope I can deliver her to you in spite of this. But for the love of all things good - Why, Why, Why are we just hearing about this now?

I will do my best to work some magic but I need you to understand your role in this process is to woo the candidate. So far, she has been dismissed, rescheduled, shifted, and now is asked to wait indefinitely. Not exactly sweeping her off her feet here, folks.

If this position is indeed approved, you’d better show up with some roses and a box of chocolates and you’d better be smelling good and be prepared to make her feel like you only have eyes for her. You’re the one she has to love. Don’t forget it.

[tags]interview, candidate, employment opportunity, hiring revolution[/tags]