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Lack of Follow Up by Employers
I am beginning to think that it is the rule, rather than the exception. Recently, I have been fortunate enough to have gone on several interviews, many of them being second or third interviews, however, I have found that the lack of follow up from employers to be frustrating, to put it mildly.
I am not one who has a thin skin, but after going on what seems like a countless succession of interviews, only to be met with silence from perspective employers, I do not know what to do at this point.
I am just tired of all of the unprofessionalism and the absence of common human courtesy.
I am not one who has a thin skin, but after going on what seems like a countless succession of interviews, only to be met with silence from perspective employers, I do not know what to do at this point.
I am just tired of all of the unprofessionalism and the absence of common human courtesy.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Brett Gold on -
I would have to agree with you. I am just perplexed at frequency in which interviewees are met with such little regard and courtesy.
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Permalink Reply by Sabrina Compagno on
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I wish that I could say that this was something new; however, we have heard the same complaint from executives about companies and recruiters for over 17 years. They expect professionalism from the candidate but many (not all!!!) have forgotten that it is a give and take relationship. The candidate they are treating unprofessionally may very well be the contact they need in the future. They have very good memories and have often mentioned that the chance of business dealings in the future with that company or person has been adversely affected.
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Permalink Reply by Jim Trainor on -
I could be softer with this response but why. If a client has an interest in you following an interview they will make contact. If, following the interview you are not a viable candidate you will not be contacted. Stop expecting anything from an employer and your will be disappointed seldom. Human nature teaches us to be
uncomfortable telling an interviewee they "suck” so they say nothing. It's not a cumbia place in the employment field, Thicken up you skin, figure out what you have to sell (you better know that before to interview) and go out and sell. If someone doesn't call you back and tell you what a super person you are so be it. Their loss
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Permalink Reply by Job Magician on -
You're right, it stinks when they don't take the courtesy to tell someone that they've interviewed that the answer is no. I think that happens more often at the lower levels than at the senior levels.
I run a retained search firm, and do call every candidate that I interview and disqualify. If a company that interviews you doesn't, it shows that they are stinkers and that you don't want to work for them.
A lot of people complain that they get no answer when they merely apply for a job. You really can't expect an answer in these cases. A small recruiting firm will get a hundred resumes a day, unsolicited. A Monster ad for a CEO would get 400 to 800 responses within three days. It would take someone working full time to respond to all of these, unless the response was merely an automated confirmation.
The only way to deal with these non-answers is to move on. I know that you don't want to hear that, and that it does hurt when you hear no, or worse, nothing. You have to treat your job search as if you are a sales rep. Those who have sold something for a living have found out the following:
- anything received in the mail is junk mail, and can be thrown away without giving it a second thought.
- messages left by salespeople can be ignored.
- prospective customers feel no obligation to call you back afer you've met with them unless they have an interest in what you're selling.
- follow-up is necessary, but it shouldn't be so soon that you become a pest. Following up the day after an interview or three days after the interview puts you in the pest category; following up after a month puts you in the he doesn't seem very interested category.
For better or for worse, this is the way it works. The same goes when you're looking for a job. You're selling something, and you're personally attached to the product (you), which makes it tough.
Smart companies recruit an employee the same way Notre Dame recruit a quarterback, and they get the best people. My best advice is to go look for a company like that by putting 20 resumes in the mail today, rather than feel rotten about these jerks who don't call you back.
Job Magician
www.jobmagician.com
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Permalink Reply by Lisa Epstein on -
Hi Brett,
turn the annoying experience into a postive: the level of professionalism (or lack of) exhibited at this early stage is an indication of what you can expect later on potentially as an employee. If a company treats you this way now, they are jeopardizing their brand experience with you as an employee and possible consumer.
No company these days can afford to leave people with a negative perception at any touch point.
I've just finished the book titled: Finding Keepers - The Monster Guide to Hirirng and Holding the World's. It had me thinking about my own branding and the experience I leave with others. (And I'm a little biased becuase I work for Monster Worldwide but it's genuinely a great book with a strong message I've internalized.)
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Permalink Reply by Heather Mundell on
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Lack of follow up is very frustrating, and is the way it goes a lot of the time. Many hiring managers/HR people are slammed with recruiting tasks and it's all they can do to review resumes, call candidates and arrange or conduct interviews.
Also many people who conduct interviews will do whatever they can to avoid telling you directly that you weren't selected for the position. They can feel uncomfortable "rejecting" you and nervous about your response - how they will answer the question, "Why wasn't I hired?, etc. They haven't figured out a graceful and concise way of delivering that news, so unfortunately you get ignored.
I think everyone who has taken the time to interview for a job deserves a call or email confirming that someone else has been selected. The degree to which this is done tells you a lot about the professionalism of the organization.
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Permalink Reply by Miriam Salpeter on -
This is obviously a hot button issue for those on both sides of the hiring desk. I agree with Lisa's point that inconsiderate behavior is a red flag. I actually blogged on this topic:
http://keppiecareers.wordpress.com/2008/02/26/interview-warning-signs/
As a career coach, my advice is to focus on what you DO control. It is NOT possible to force hiring managers to be more polite and considerate. It IS possible to look at your job search materials, interview style and substance, appearance, attitude, etc. and do what you can to continue to improve your chances of getting a positive reply and "landing" at a great new job.
Best of luck...It can be a difficult road.
Miriam Salpeter
Keppie Careers
Encouraging, Enlightening and Empowering Job Seekers for Success
www.keppiecareers.wordpress.com
www.keppiecareers.com
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Permalink Reply by Karen D. Swim on -
Hi Brett,
I am a resume writer and career branding professional. As Chris stated, this is the number one complaint that I hear from my clients as well. Unfortunately it mirrors a decline of etiquette in our society but makes it no less acceptable. I have also been a hiring manager and understand it's uncomfortable to make that call but it is one that you should make. I used the "turn-down" calls as an opportunity to build a relationship and offer encouragement. Sadly far too few hiring managers take that position today. One reason that some hiring managers do not follow up is their fear of saying something that could put them in an uncomfortable or even litigious position. Most candidates will want to hear more than " Sorry, we chose another candidate." Candidates would like to gain insight on their weaknesses so they can make improvements for the next interview. Hiring managers are reluctant to get into a confrontation. or at worse say anything that would give a disgruntled candidate fuel for legal action (we do sue a lot in America!).
All this leaves you needing to rely on others to provide feedback and direction. If you are getting interviews and not being selected a professional can help you determine what may be happening. If you are not getting interviews, again a professional can help determine if you need to tweak your strategy or your resume.
Above all things, don't allow the lack of courtesy to impact your confidence in your abilities! You can come here for a pep talk (and good advice) anytime.
Warm regards,
Karen
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Permalink Reply by Shawn Maynard on -
I believe that recruiters/interviewers that do not follow up with candidates have shut the door on a source of referrals. If you keep even the “no” candidates in your good graces they may be your next client. If they do not show up it simply shows they aren’t made for this business – they just don’t get it.
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Permalink Reply by Janet White on -
Brett and everyone else,
I don't know how it happened, but somewhere along the line, our society developed this belief that somehow it's the employer's responsibility to follow up with applicants and that if they don't, they are rude, ignorant or just plain unfeeling.
REALITY CHECK: It is not the employer's responsibility to follow-up with job seekers; it is the job seeker's responsibility to follow-up with employers!!
When you don't follow up -- regularly, consistently and professionally -- the employer has no choice but to think you're not interested, don't care and have selected another company to work for.
Let's put it another way -- if you've ever hired had work done on your house and gotten estimates from contractors, do you call the ones you're not going to hire, or do you hire the one that's professional enough to follow-up with you to offer new information and ask when you're ready to start with the assumption they're going to get the job?
Also, when you fail to follow-up, you literally abdicate responsbility for getting hired and turn it over to the employer, and all you can do is wait. You become a victim, helplessly trapped in the web of uncertainty that you have woven for yourself.
But when you assume responsibility for getting hired by doing follow-up, the only wait you'll have is the short time between your phone call and your first day at work.
Janet White
Author, Secrets of the Hidden Job Market: Change Your Thinking to Get the Job of Your Dreams
www.jobmarketsecrets.com
Also available on Amazon
janet@jobmarketsecrets.com
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Permalink Reply by Shawn Maynard on
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I agree that if you are interested in the position you should follow up with the hiring authority. But are saying the employer/recruiter has no responsibility to the represented individual to follow up?
I would never allow my candidates to wait for an answer – their time/skills are more valuable to me.
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Permalink Reply by Janet White on
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Shawn,
It's very gracious of you to contact the applicants you're not going to hire, but it is not your responsibility to do so.
The problem is not that employers as a general rule don't contact applicants; the problem is that job seekers have the belief that employers are supposed to and when they don't do what job seekers expect them to do, job seekers blame the employers for failing to live up to their expectations!
How about we change the paradigm -- instead of believing a job seeker is helpless, powerless and at the mercy of omnipotent employers, how about we believe that a job finder has the power to determine whether they want to be hired or not, by whom and under which terms.
I don't know about you, but I prefer the latter.
Janet White
Author, Secrets of the Hidden Job Market: Change Your Thinking to Get the Job of Your Dreams
www.jobmarketsecrets.com
Also available on Amazon
janet@jobmarketsecrets.com
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