Received an unsolicited email from an internal recruiter that turned into an introductory phone call. They stressed how they "wanted to get to know me" and how it was more important to understand me as a candidate at a different level than just what is on a resume. It all sounded great and rather refreshing given how most companies mishandle the recruitment process. As a result of that conversation I entered the pipeline to be vetted for a few opportunities at the company. So what went wrong? Internal recruiters are the ambassadors of the brand. They are the first point of contact a candidate may have with the company. How they handle the process will have a lasting impression especially if they are recruiting for leadership roles. In my case, while I was a candidate the recruiter was incredibly responsive to my emails with immediate calls where they took their time to speak at length and answer any questions I had. Yet, when it was time to turn me down they simply resorted to an email. My outreach requesting 5 minutes to debrief over the phone were never replied to. Recruiting is analogous to dating. One date may make it ok to turn someone down via text. After five dates or more? Not so much. That simply lacks decorum and respect. My recommendation is to show the same courtesy, respect, and empathy as they would expect themselves and as they had shown before. It goes a long way in leaving people not necessarily happy with the outcome, but dignified in how they were treated. That, matters!