Have you ever had one of those moments when you are tempted to teach someone a lesson?
If you have, then the second you feel that way, rethink all the ramifications before you act. I want to share a “moment” with you that a job seeker recently experienced.
Visit this link, then draw your own conclusions.
Now, here are my thoughts.
Moments like the one here can happen in less than 30 seconds. They’re knee-jerk reactions that can end up causing you embarrassment. That short burst of energy may feel justified, but it can create a problem later on.
The job seeker in this example is not alone in his frustration, and his story reflects what can happen in a difficult job market and the result of a lack of communication. A job search is business, but it also has a distinct human element, because it is ego-driven in many ways. Never lose sight of the emotional side of the equation that affects the employer and the job seeker.
After reading this story, you might be smiling, thinking the employer got a dose of what it feels like to be confused by a lack of communication, but when the dust settled and the moment is passed, who really benefited? The job candidate and human-resource professional both had their egos bruised, and I’m not sure one will ever forget the other.
In light of comments I’ve heard over the past year, including this story, I decided to discuss this topic with human resource directors and recruiters to gather their thoughts.
Overall, employers appear to have policies in place to keep job candidates notified at every step of the process. Even when candidates send in resumes without a job posting attached, they receive an automated response stating their information was received and will remain on file for a given amount of time.
One employer described their philosophy this way: “The way we treat candidates is the way we treat employees.”
Another recruiter stated that after a job is posted, “we respond personally via e-mail to each applicant. We do file every one (application) for future reference, and we read every resume.”
Here are some thoughts to take away from this:
• Job searching is stressful, and time is as important to a job seeker as an employer.
• While a job search may feel somewhat unbalanced, with the employer having most of the power, (such as deciding when or if to respond to an applicant), you do have control over how you respond.
• Emotionally charged moments can serve as signals that you need to take time to center your thoughts. Taking even a few minutes can help you settle down and rethink. If possible, call someone to get their reaction, or get your feelings out by writing them down. The point? Do something to give yourself time to think before you react.
• Good behavior is the only leverage you have outside of your skills, and how you behave sets the tone for developing a professional perception. The job market will come back, and the way you end an interview or close a deal most likely will be remembered.
• An employer’s timely response is good community relations. Employers know this, but for sometimes employers assume good job candidates always will be around.
• Expressing your concerns to an employer over following up with an interview is not a mistake. In many cases, being persistent shows diligence and interest.
• Job searching is a balancing act of rapport building and filling employment needs.
• Most HR departments realize the need to get back to job candidates because it sends this message: If this is how we treat our job candidates, most likely this is how we will treat you as an employee.
• Embarrassment causes a distinct emotional memory. If your intentions are to create an uncomfortable situation, most likely you will be remembered not for your skill sets but the embarrassment.
What leverage do you think a job candidate has with an employer? I’d like to hear your thoughts.
