Andy Lewis ⋅ Denver, CO Hewlett Packard ⋅ 20 years experience

Scott Lackey's advice is great. If it's a trend for YOU, it's pretty obvious you've got nothing to lose by dialing the company's main # and asking for the HR person who "scheduled" you. Be POLITE, be COURTEOUS, but be PREPARED too - have your calendar open in front of you, and don't be afraid to ask for the phone interview now AND to book an on-site interview "while we're on the phone."
Recruiters are swamped and when they nail down "the" candidate they generally don't followup with others. That can really work to your advantage if you reach out to them so that you're at the top of the stack if the leading candidate declines, fails a drug screening, etc.
Also, learn about the Company's background and don't be afraid to say "I've researched several Companies and I'm VERY interested in yours because...[insert whatever appeals to you about the company here - NOT "because you're hiring"]
Good luck!
PS I disagree strongly that "this is unprofessional" etc. As there are fewer jobs, an explosion of candidates, and fewer recruiters it is becoming normal for recruiters/hiring managers to focus ONLY on front-runners. Sometimes you've got to persist to get on the front-runner list.

Frank Aburto ⋅ Jersey City, NJ U.S. Army, Captain ⋅ 6 years served

It is a serious red flag. A few years ago a defense contractor did that to me and even went as far as not replying to my email when I asked if they had a conflict and needed to reschedule. I found that it was usually a hiring freeze for one or two companies but in this case they knew I was getting out of the army and wanted to see how much I really wanted the job. When they started throwing out pay and numbers it was below my pay that I left as an O3 and they wanted to send me to Afghanistan when I had just returned from 15 months in Iraq. But it took me calling them directly to get a straight answer...which caught them totally off guard.

Eileen Laferriere ⋅ San Antonio, TX Hewlett Packard ⋅ 13 years experience

I'd say it's a erd flag for the HR department. You might try another route with the company. I would bet that the "higher up" don't know this is happening. If they did, it might improve the HR department significantly. Many company officials are in the dark about some of these practices. Bringing a bad name to the company is usually not on their agenda.

Scott Lackey ⋅ New York, NY Jugular ⋅ 25 years experience

Hi Mark

This type of behavior is really inexcusable, as everyone above has pointed out. Here are a couple more small, but practical, suggestions that might help.

1. I'd avoid scheduling any interview times via email. HR departments are inundated with email correspondence, and you could easily be slipping through the cracks into the "new applications but not to be considered" category--even though you're scheduling an interview. Call them up and wait until you get a live person to schedule the meeting. Don't leave voice mails unless you absolutely have to.

2. Make sure that any emails you do send have subject headers like "Your Request to Schedule an Interview"-- or something along those lines, so that your purpose in writing is crystal clear.

Best,
Scott Lackey

Jennifer Strong ⋅ Hartford, CT UPS ⋅ 8 years experience

This is definitely a red flag. The human resources department should act the "face of the organization" and should follow through with scheduled interview dates and times in a professional manner. This could easily be an indication of the company's lack of follow through and commitment, and I would focus your job searching efforts elsewhere. Perhaps a brief email or letter voicing your concern with the company could serve as positive feedback to help improve policies and procedures in Human Resources department.

Mary H. ⋅ Waltham, MA Hewlett Packard Enterprise ⋅ 20 years experience

Definite red flag, especially if you follow up as a courtesy and they still do not reply. It shows a lack of professionalism and/or disorganization.

Kermit Burley ⋅ Bethlehem, PA Hewlett Packard ⋅ 33 years experience

It certainly does look like a red flag, given the number of companies where you have experienced this. While it is a difficult job market, it is still very unprofessional and speaks very poorly of the company. I would also recommend you contact the HR department and discuss your situation with them. A persistent, professional and confident, yet not complaining tone would also be helpful. Sometimes it is the candidate who clears all the initial obstacles and hurdles who in the end, is the successful one. On the plus side, you will find that there are quite a few very professional companies out there and hopefully you will not experience this type of behavior again.

michael convey ⋅ Camp Hill, PA jh williams Oil company ⋅ 45 years experience

if this is one company , doing it three or four times, I would say it is a red flag about the company. Either they don't what they are doing, or they are in a state of caos over some operating problem. Situations develop that require a company or an individual to postpone a meeting once, maybe twice, but beyond that I would say it says something negative about the company

William Oplinger ⋅ Wilton, CT Alcoa ⋅ 13 years experience

I agree with the above. Definite red flag ... but in these tough times, it's always worthwhile following up again. Make the call to the HR department and find out why they didn't get it set up. Be persistent ... sometimes that makes a difference.

Mike Wendt ⋅ New York, NY ⋅ 10 years experience

the recruiter lacks of professionalism; it's a red-flag about the company and its culture; sorry to hear that it happens so much

Trevor Heringer ⋅ Bellevue, WA ⋅ 15 years experience

Definitely a red flag against the company - it's going to happen occasionally but at the very least it indicates a company recruiter with a serious lack of professionalism; at the worst they are doing it deliberately as Frank has experienced.