Recruitment can be a rollercoaster for everyone involved, from hiring managers and recruiters to candidates. Recruitment is a process that can be both rewarding and, at times, incredibly frustrating for those involved for many different reasons. That’s sometimes the reason why recruiters get such bad press.

Whether it’s the endless search for the right candidate, the disappointment of a declined offer or the stress of managing tight deadlines, frustrations are common in this industry. The good news is that these challenges are manageable with the right mindset and strategies.

Dealing with Recruitment Frustration as a Manager

For hiring managers, recruitment can often feel like an uphill battle. You’ve got your eye on the perfect candidate, only for them to accept a counteroffer or take another job at the very last minute. Or perhaps you’ve already sifted through countless CVs, but none meet the requirements for your open role.

Frustration is a natural part of the hiring process. We’ve all read rants on LinkedIn from unhappy recruiters, company owners, and candidates. As a manager, though, it’s healthier to focus on the things you can control and let go of what you can’t. One way to manage your frustration is by setting realistic expectations.

A man takes a deep breath, feeling stressed and frustrated about his company's recruitment process — Recruitment takes time. The best candidates might not always appear in the first round, which can be discouraging for hiring managers.

What can you do? What can you control to avoid feeling frustrated?

You can focus on nurturing your talent pipeline, which will also help reduce stress when you urgently need to fill a new vacancy.
You can partner with an experienced recruitment team and develop together a proactive recruitment strategy to reduce hiring times.

Employer Frustration: You’re Not Alone

We hear from many of our clients that recruitment is giving them a headache. Many are frustrated because they haven’t achieved the results they hoped for despite their advertisement spending, don’t have the time to deal with recruitment or can’t figure out what’s wrong with their talent attraction process.

It’s a common experience, and it’s completely valid. There’s nothing more disheartening than investing time and resources into a recruitment campaign that doesn’t deliver the right candidates.

How can employers reduce the frustration in recruitment?

The key here is to take a step back and analyse what went wrong in your recruitment process:

Was it the job description that didn’t quite capture the role’s requirements?
Did the hiring timeline cause delays?
Was there a mismatch between your expectations and the reality of the job market?
Do your employer branding and talent acquisition processes need some improvement?

Working with an external recruitment partner who understands your needs can make all the difference. You can start by working with a specialist recruitment consultancy that’s as committed to your goals as you are.

Job Search Frustration: Understand the Candidate’s Perspective

It’s not just employers who face frustration in recruitment; job seekers also go through their fair share of stress. Whether it’s not hearing back after a job application, receiving rejections, being ghosted, or feeling like they’re stuck in an endless loop of interviews with no result.

The job search process can be disheartening. Considering this, the recruitment consultants and hiring managers must create a positive candidate journey by providing clear communication, constructive feedback, and a supportive candidate experience throughout every stage of the process.

Candidates: Keep the bigger picture in mind

Every application is a learning opportunity, and every rejection is a chance to refine your approach. Resilience is critical here. Staying positive, proactive, and improving will ultimately lead you to the right opportunity. It isn’t just about finding a job; it’s about finding the right job for you.

How We Deal with Frustration Working in Recruitment

One of the most important lessons we’ve learned over the years is the positive power of resilience. Staying positive and keeping a solution-focused mindset is crucial for a successful career in recruitment, even when things aren’t going your way.

Some practical ways we deal with frustration that work for me:

Take a step back to assess the situation, understand the issue’s root cause, and then approach it with a fresh perspective.
Keep the communication open with my candidates, clients, and colleagues. Staying transparent and honest helps manage everyone’s expectations and reduce misunderstandings.
Analyse what worked, what didn’t, and how we can do better next time. Every setback is an opportunity to grow and improve.
Realise that, in recruitment, you sometimes win and sometimes lose. Resilience is essential to succeed in recruitment!

You cannot control everything. Staying positive and resilient is the best way to avoid recruitment frustration — Take a deep breath and repeat with me, *“Tomorrow is a new day.*“ We like to remind ourselves of this when things don’t go as planned.

Feeling Frustrated with Your Recruitment? We Can Help!

If you’re frustrated with your recruitment process, our team is here to help. Book an appointment with us, and we’ll have an informal chat about your talent challenges and needs, your plans and long-term goals. Let’s work together to turn your recruitment frustration into a plan for success.