Abby Ashman’s Post

Recently, I had a conversation with an HR leader who mentioned how many messages they receive from recruiters. What I shared was it's completely okay to tell a recruiter that you're already working with preferred recruiting partners. Seriously! A simple response like, "Thanks for reaching out, but we already have a few firms we partner with," is so much better than no response at all. Most recruiters don't expect every conversation to turn into business. We genuinely appreciate the transparency because it helps us understand where things stand and leaves the door open if your hiring needs change in the future. And one more thought...the recruiters who continue to bombard you every time you post a job probably aren't the long-term recruiting partners you're looking for. The best partnerships are built on trust, relationships, and understanding your business, not on sending the most messages. A respectful "no" today is always better than silence.