In the last couple of weeks, I’ve applied for or inquired about an assortment of jobs from one as a trainer for a local company to one as a part-time grant writer about 35 miles away to two part-time teaching positions at private schools. So far, except for the “NO” I got when I asked about the possibility of telecommuting as the grant writer, I haven’t heard anything definitive even after following up with the organizations.
It’s so depressing as there is absolutely no question that I could do the jobs and would bring lots of experience and enthusiasm to the organizations and along with my strong work ethic and sense of humor.
With so many people applying for jobs, I have gotten over expecting to receive an acknowledgment for my mailed and hand-carried applications. My technology head wonders, though, how companies that require applying online can’t have an automated response letting you know your info has been received. (Gee, maybe I could help in that area.)
My big frustration (and, yes, annoyance) is when you don’t hear anything from the interview committee. It’s bad enough not to be offered a position, but it’s inconsiderate (dare I say “rude”?) not to be informed that another person was selected when you have taken the time to prepare, spent gas driving to the location, come in, bared your soul, and written thank you notes to everyone on the committee.
Is it too much to ask to be contacted about the results? That has nothing to do with one’s worthiness for the position. It has to do with manners, something missing from so many places these days. I wish more committees would be like my former boss who would stay after everyone had gone so he could call each person interviewed who was not moving to the next level. Greg would personally thank them for taking their time to come in and wish them well in their future endeavors. The letter from the Superintendent might not be generated for many weeks, and he felt very strongly that people needed to get on with their lives that didn’t include a place with our company. I wish more companies had folks like him.
So, if there’s any HR folks or interview committee heads reading this blog, when you are finished interviewing and deliberating, put yourselves in the moccasins of the interviewees for just a moment. That uncomfortable experience should be enough to encourage you to make that follow up contact.
Don’t keep us hanging on and trying repeatedly to contact you. Get back to us in a timely manner. You don’t even have to do it on the phone or spend the time and expense of producing an individual letter that has to be mailed. Send an email advising that someone else got the job. (It’s so easy now that you can do a blind email to ALL the unselected interviewees at once. If you don’t know how to do that, I’d be glad to show you.)
Oh, and while you are at it, do a good job with what you say. I received a letter that said I was “unqualified” for the position for which I had applied. I was more than qualified for the positions advertised (I teach the skills!), but even if I hadn’t been; was that verbiage necessary? Be kind and say that someone else’s qualifications and experience more closely matched the requirements of the position and wish the person well in the job search. (I can help you write that letter, too.)
I’m sorry if this particular blog has taken more the tone of a vent, but these thoughts have been going around for months and have little to do with me per se, but good manners and being kind to one another which are much bigger issues that touch many places in our lives.
That “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you” phrase takes us from the playground to the grave and every place in between.
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