Tammie Christofis Ballis, a recruiter and career coach in Sydney, recently received a question from a job seeker during one of her live Q&A sessions on TikTok. The job seeker asked whether receiving a call from a recruiter at 7 p.m. was a red flag. Ballis responded by explaining that receiving a call after hours is a positive sign, as it indicates that the recruiter sees potential in the candidate and wants to move quickly in the hiring process to avoid disrupting their current work schedule.
Despite Ballis’ explanation, many viewers of the video still saw the evening call as a red flag. Some felt that the call showed a lack of respect for personal time and poor time management on the recruiter’s part. Others incorrectly claimed that the call violated the new Right to Disconnect laws. However, Ballis argued that this type of thinking only encourages entitlement and laziness among job seekers who are not willing to go the extra mile in their job search.
There were also viewers who agreed with Ballis, saying they would be happy to take a call after hours if it meant advancing in their job search. Some shared their positive experiences of receiving evening calls from recruiters who were excited to progress their applications. Those in favor of the late calls argued that it made sense for recruiters to contact candidates outside of regular business hours, as many people are unable to take calls during the workday.
Ballis emphasized that the job market is highly competitive, with hundreds or even thousands of applicants vying for a single position. She warned that job seekers who are unwilling to accommodate an after-hours call may be limiting their chances of success in the job market. Ballis advised that having a negative attitude towards such opportunities could signal to recruiters that the candidate may be difficult to work with, ultimately harming their prospects.
While Ballis acknowledged that job seekers have the right to set boundaries and refuse after-hours calls, she also highlighted the importance of being flexible and willing to engage with recruiters outside of standard office hours. She shared her own experience of receiving calls from candidates on weekends, emphasizing that recruiters often work long hours to ensure the best outcomes for their clients. Ballis stressed that cooperation and mutual respect between job seekers and recruiters are essential for a successful job search process.
