I'm just curious because I'm in a process with a firm that has a very good reputation but I'm getting bad vibes from culturally. I've only met a few folks so I'm hesitant to cut bait at this point, but if I somehow manage to get the offer and I don't take it, how pissed would the recruiter be? It's one of the big headhunters, so I want to maintain a good relationship with them going forward. Thanks all
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Had that happen, that headhunter didn't talk to me again for a while (it was clearly because of this)
they would only be pissed if the role got filled by somebody they did not refer..thereby costing them their commission.
Nah not even it's just not a good look if you're a HH to bring to a firm a candidate that eventually says nope I'm out... I think your example would make a bad situation worse
In my experience, yes. When I’ve had a good relationship with them they often ask me to let them know post-interview (before receiving the offer) if I don’t think it will be a fit - this helps the headhunter save face. Since there are zero barriers to entry, headhunters survive on reputation - they want to be known for delivering good candidates who accept.
Obviously I’d never accept an offer just to please a headhunter, but there is a decent chance they’ll stop talking to you (at least for a while)
Yeah, it will happen. A lot of the time once a HH knows you have an offer they will aggressively badger you to take it under the guise of "can I help answer any last questions about the firm, blah blah blah". If you don't accept, it will be viewed as you not having done your due diligence about the firm earlier and wasting peoples' time.
With that said, it is absolutely not a good reason to accept an offer you don't want. Just realize it will happen.
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