Dear McCrabby,
Why can't a hiring manager respond to a letter? or, pick up a phone? or, reply to an email?
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Dear E-D:
We're all Through, is a song by Randy Travis, that talks about not getting call-backs. The best line in the song is "Since my phone still ain't ringing I assume it still ain't you."
We don't think he's talking about hiring managers, but in today's employment climate, the job applicant may feel like that line defines his relationship to hiring managers in the employment process.
So, E-D, let's look at your dilemma. First, you're assuming common sense, empathy, and a thoughtful and caring attitude in your hiring manager, and we all know what we do when we assume. Second, the hiring manager doesn't really think about what you're going through. He's concerned that he has 400 applicants, he's narrowed it down to four, you aren't one of them, so he ignores you.
Good luck on your job search.
By the way, here are a few more words from the Randy Travis song (maybe he IS talking about hiring managers, after all):
I know it only takes 30 seconds to hit "REPLY" and type out a dozen-word response to our request for an update. Those of us who are looking for work are on pins and needles for two weeks, or two months, or forever, awaiting a response to our follow-up email, yet the hiring manager can't take a half-minute out of his day?
Come on. What happened to etiquette?
E-distracted in East Detroit
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Dear E-D:
We're all Through, is a song by Randy Travis, that talks about not getting call-backs. The best line in the song is "Since my phone still ain't ringing I assume it still ain't you."
We don't think he's talking about hiring managers, but in today's employment climate, the job applicant may feel like that line defines his relationship to hiring managers in the employment process.
So, E-D, let's look at your dilemma. First, you're assuming common sense, empathy, and a thoughtful and caring attitude in your hiring manager, and we all know what we do when we assume. Second, the hiring manager doesn't really think about what you're going through. He's concerned that he has 400 applicants, he's narrowed it down to four, you aren't one of them, so he ignores you.
It's a definite McCrabby-pet-peeve. McCrabby agrees that if you email the hiring manager, he should take that half-minute to respond, at least within a day, even if it's just to say, "we'll have our decision next week." That took McCrabby eleven seconds to type and that's because we mis-keyed the quote mark.
It just seems like a common courtesy that ought to be understood. By the way, if you email McCrabby (mccrabby@humantransitions.com) and ask for a response, you'll get one within a day, and probably more quickly than that.
So, McCrabby is hoping this makes an impact on at least one hiring manager, to try to understand what his candidates are going through in their job searches. Have some empathy for those candidates; they're hurting. And, if you're a hiring manager, thank you, in advance, for any effort you're willing to make to have a heart, offer a comforting word or any word, or simply to extend some common decency. We don't expect you to respond to 400 resumes, but take a shot at least responding to the four you interviewed; it won't take you more than a couple minutes.
In the meantime, here is a humorous (or, is it sad because it's too real?) video on email etiquette in the workplace..
Good luck on your job search.
By the way, here are a few more words from the Randy Travis song (maybe he IS talking about hiring managers, after all):
Being without you has turned out to be so inconvenient
And wishing I was with you just seems to use up all my time
You've been gone so long that it's hard to recall just how the dream went
And all but this broken heart in me I guess is doing fine.
Chorus:
Is it sill over, are we still through
Since my phone still ain't ringing I assume it still ain't you
I've half a mind to take the time to find somebody new
Since my phone still ain't ringing I assume it still ain't you
I've half a mind to take the time to find somebody new
But I'm not too sure that I'm still over you.
If I repeat myself it's 'cause I've nothing else to do
If I repeat myself it's 'cause I've nothing else to do
And I'm not too sure that I'm still over you.
I'm not too sure that I'm still over you...
Thanks for reading, and good luck on your job-search. Send an email and we'll respond.
..
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McCrabby can be reached by email (mccrabby@humantransitions.com)
McCrabby can be reached by email (mccrabby@humantransitions.com)
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