An overwhelming majority of recruitment staff work beyond normal office hours – almost half on a once or twice-weekly basis.

A poll of recruitment agencies by www.RecruitmentTraining.co.uk found that many recruiters call candidates who are not available to talk during the day out of work time.

Many recruiters claim that they are more able to have an unhurried chat, and therefore more likely to find a good match for their vacancy, if they make these calls in their own time, added the survey.

But according to Mike Walmsley, chairman and video presenter of www.RecruitmentTraining.co.uk, relying on out-of-hours calls could disrupt recruiters’ work-life balance and raise their stress levels.

“Up to 50% of after-hours calls are unnecessary, and it’s possible for recruiters to achieve better overall results without making as many,” said Walmsley.

He advises recruiters to treat candidates’ objections to being called during the day as they would any other objection, and attempt to set up a conversation on a mobile phone, or use yes and no answers, to get round the problem.