You have to follow through.
One of my biggest pet peeves is no follow through. If you say you’ll do something, do it. Or if you can’t, let me know. Otherwise, you will annoy me.
There I am, working hard, putting stickers on candy bars (United Way stuff), when I get a call about possible job openings with the company. Even if we don’t have any current openings, I like to take the time to talk the callers. I ask them about themselves, what they are looking for, to tell them more about the company, or answer their questions. I then invite them to email me their resume so that I will have it the next time we have an opening. Part of my job is staffing for a call center so that can happen rather unexpectedly and frequently. But after I hang up the phone I often find that I get… nothing. No return call, no email, nothing.
If it is rude of a recruiter not to call back candidates they’ve meet with, it’s rude not to follow through with a recruiter that you talk with as well. If you are no longer interested, fine, let me know. I won’t take it personally. But that lack of follow through will get my attention, and not in a good way. Don’t waste my time. These United Way posters don’t hang themselves you know.
Today’s post was inspired by Gavin DeGraw’s song Follow Through.
So, since you want to be with me, you’ll have to follow through, with every word you say.
July 30th, 2008 saat: 12:59 pm
I am totally having this situation play out right now with my recruiter. No response to emails, I have to email at least twice to get an answer and the answer she gives clearly shows she did not really read what I sent.
I finally gave up and just went over to talk to my HR person here and share with her what has happened in the hopes she can help me out with the recruiter since she knows people higher up than I do.
I know I don’t always do it perfectly, but it is annoying to have to keep coming back around with the same people over and over.
July 30th, 2008 saat: 4:50 pm
Kelly – that sucks and the recruiter sucks. Even if someone annoys me I still respond to their emails. No cookie for them.
July 30th, 2008 saat: 5:11 pm
OMG, I have no follow through since becoming unemployed.
Follow through requires commitment and effort. Since no one is paying me for my time, I tend to ebb/flow a little easier. I like to say that I’m fluid, but my family calls me ‘flaky.’
July 31st, 2008 saat: 4:22 am
It’s a nice snapshot of who people are – I remind myself that if this is how they behave BEFORE the hire, it’s only going to be better. 😉
Do you think that you could save a little time and talk to them after you get an email? I think about time and efficiency – if you never get anything, you have saved yourself AT LEAST six minutes for those posters.
July 31st, 2008 saat: 6:44 am
Laurie – as long as Mr. Scrubby and the other kitties get to enjoy your commitment and effort, that’s all the follow through you really need.
HR Maven – that’s a good idea. I would be less annoyed if I did that are there was no follow through.
July 31st, 2008 saat: 5:11 pm
Darn right those posters don’t hang themselves!
This post reminds me of a guy that used to call me about every 3 months or so about “possible openings”. We had positions he would fit in, but not in his area of the country. He kept calling though. It was kind of weird.
July 31st, 2008 saat: 10:50 pm
HR Wench – That is weird, there is something called too much follow through.
August 13th, 2008 saat: 2:29 pm
Very interesting – I recently had a few unpleasant experiences with HR. Both times I was told that I should receive a call back and nothing ever came. So taking the initiative I emailed and left voice mails simply thanking them for the initial interview and requesting a status.
Still nothing.
One company did not get back to me until after several attempts just to tell me that they had re-organized the position and have not moved forward with any interviews. Hey thanks!! Would it have been so difficult to email or call?
Rude, rude RUDE!!
With the second company I was told to expect a call the week of my 2nd interview.
Nothing.
Left a voice mail, and sent an email.. still nothing. Gave it another week and left a voice mail and email again… nope.
A few days ago I had the embarrassing experience of finding out I didn’t get the job by going to their web site and finding a name and contact info of the person they did hire. I very much wanted this job and was disappointed that I did not get it but to have to find out this way is unacceptable. I am seriously considering writing a letter to the CEO of the organization describing the lack of communication.
I don’t work in HR but I do know how busy they get and how hand can get tied, but don’t say you will call and don’t and if you choose to not return emails or voice mails – then your lack of communication is reflective of the company and that is a company I don’t want to work for.
August 13th, 2008 saat: 3:00 pm
Dave – You’re right, that was very rude of them. I think that if you talk to or meet with a candidate, at the least they deserve an email if you don’t plan to move ahead with them. It’s frustrating and indicative of bigger problems with those companies. No cookie for them.
September 2nd, 2008 saat: 4:35 pm
I think the incompetence of HR these days is astounding. My biggest pet peeve is when HR have no idea how to even write an email.
SO tHey writte theirr e -mails like this,,,
Perhaps Americans have gotten lazier and dumber over the years.
September 3rd, 2008 saat: 12:20 pm
Anon – I think the problem is not isolated to HR.
September 28th, 2008 saat: 7:58 am
Good Job! 🙂
October 1st, 2008 saat: 7:47 am
Carlos – Thanks!