as previously published on substack
Being “open to opportunities” means that I have been applying for various roles, and it’s already been interesting.
Some organisations are great at recruitment and a joy to work with, but many others just seem, well let’s call it for what it is, rude!
Having done a fair amount of recruiting over the years, I understand the joys and frustrations of the process. I know that there’s likely to be a lot of applicants and weeding through them isn’t fun. Many people will have applied who obviously don’t meet the criteria you’re looking for and that can be frustrating. I also completely understand that you will make the best decisions for the organisation about who to employ and if it isn’t me, I know it isn’t personal, there just happens to be one or more people who are better than me for this specific position.
What I really don’t understand is why so many people seem to treat applicants with such disdain – almost arrogance. This applies to those doing the recruitment themselves and to recruitment agencies. Remember, it’s not the organisation acting this way, it is the person.
We don’t submit applications to a black hole, we send them into people, so why do they just seem to disappear?
Prompt responses, politeness, and honesty – it’s not too much to ask for.
Acknowledge receipt of their application. They’ve spent time preparing their application – including working on their CV and cover letter, surely the least you can do is acknowledge that you’ve received it and thank them for their effort. By submitting the application, they’ve also said that they want to work with you, that must deserve some sort of response.
Let them know promptly if they haven’t made the short list. If they haven’t been short listed, you’re not interested in employing them – just let them know. So many organisations wait until someone is appointed before sending any ‘dear John’ letters out. Why make them hang on for what could be a month or more? Most will have guessed they aren’t going to be interviewed due to the time lapsed, but they may still be clinging on subconsciously hoping they’re wrong. Let them move on.
From a business perspective, they say to treat applicants warmly because while they may not be suited to this position, there may be other roles in future that they’re perfect for. I don’t buy into this approach at all. My view is that you should treat all applicants well for the simple reason – you’re human. Politeness isn’t a cost or a ‘task’, it should just be the norm!
The Optimistic Cynic 