When Compliance Meets Gut Instinct in Recruitment
One thing about being in recruitment for a while — you get good at reading people. You learn to pick up cues, read a room, feel a vibe, and sometimes spot the “unicorns” that make you excited to call your client. You also learn that red flags don’t always wave at you straight away. Sometimes they creep up later, and that’s when compliance and instinct go hand in hand.
Recently, my instincts were tested.
Meeting the Candidate
I met a candidate who ticked so many boxes it was hard not to get excited. On paper, they looked great. In person, they carried themselves well. My client was eager to meet them, and I was confident enough to put them forward — even without all the boxes ticked just yet. The interview was lined up, but I was still waiting on final references and additional ID.
This isn’t unusual. Often, things catch up in the background while the process moves. But I’ve also learned over the years that waiting too long on something small can sometimes mean something bigger is hiding underneath.
The Checks That Changed Everything
The references eventually came through, and they were glowing. Normally, that’s the green light. But something in me wasn’t convinced. So, instead of rushing ahead, I did what my gut told me: double-check the referees.
That’s when things started to unravel:
What looked like a star candidate suddenly didn’t shine so bright anymore.
The Hard Part: The Conversation
These are the moments in recruitment that test you the most. Going back to the candidate, asking for clarification, addressing inconsistencies, and ultimately stepping them out of the process is never easy.
But honesty and integrity have to come first. In this case, making that tough call meant protecting my client and maintaining trust.
What I Took Away From This
Every experience like this makes me reflect, not just on what went wrong, but on what I did right. Here’s what I reminded myself of:
Recruitment is about more than matching skills to a job. It’s about safeguarding trust with my clients, with my candidates, and with yourself. Because at the end of the day, the best outcome isn’t always the placement you make. Sometimes, the real win is the one you walk away from and having the resilience to keep going.
