Maybe I’m Just Dreaming the Impossible Dream
(April 23rd, 2005)

Whether it is the corner shop or the fortune 500 company in the middle of Wall Street, I’ve begun to notice that the business world is exasperatingly rude when it comes to recruitment and hiring of potential members of their company. My personal opinion on the subject matter is simple, if someone contacts you, it is only appropriate to contact them back. In an era where electronic mail is the norm, there is absolutely no explanation that can justify not returning contact with a person in order to let them decide a next course of action.

Of course I would not expect that every resume be replied with, that would be living in a utopian fantasy which we unfortunately do not. However, I believe it to be proper, for the following reason, that is the applicant, has chosen to take time out of their day to contact you, and therefore it is only polite to contact them back. Due to the large volume of applications which are submitted on a daily basis, I realize this is not possible to a large majority of companies in existence.

No, my beef lays deeper than this first complaint. It is those individuals, and those companies, who have begun the selection process and have contacted their first draft for interviews. A hopeful applicant has now taken the time to study where your location is, hopefully studied part of the company they wish to work for, and have taken time out of their schedule to present themselves, locate you, and make the best first impression they can. As these recruiters and potential employers interview the applicant in person, learning about their past experiences, personality, quirks and style, promises of further contact are made whether it through a telephone line or electronic mail.

How angry would it make someone feel, to not receive this contact, that their attempts at further contact with the individual within the company continually go unnoticed? I am no longer speaking of an anonymous resume being sent through the airwaves, I am speaking of a post-interview discussion, where decisions are to be made whether or not the applicant is able to continue pursuing employment opportunities with this company or move to the next one. And as this is a personal issue I hold closely, it angers me when companies are at first very forthcoming with replying and communicating, then suddenly disappear.

No phone calls, no e-mails. After two weeks of friendly banter between an applicant and the employer, suddenly it seems they have fallen off the face of the earth.

I realize it is general business practice that if someone does not return your phone call, it means you did not get the job. However, I find this business practice abhorring, continually leaving applicants hanging, wondering and worrying.

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