Job Search Etiquette Needs to Be a Two-Way Street

Rebecca Mazin
Thu, 27 Oct 2011 11:23:00 +0000

Today's job searches are light years away from the days when we mailed resumes on bond paper and candidates always showed up in white shirts and dark suits. Yet the changes and new technology we see in recruiting today can create missteps and snafus for both candidates and employers.

Be Proactive

Unemployment is high, and plenty of people are searching for work. Yet I keep hearing stories about candidates who drop the ball. At least once a week I hear about candidates who don't show up for interviews. Those mysterious absences waste an employer's time, and the problem is even worse when a search firm referred to no-show.

Small businesses can cut down on this pre-hire absenteeism by confirming appointments and making certain that directions and addresses are clear. After setting up an interview I like to follow up in an email with written details, particularly when the appointment-setting conversation was via cell phone on the street. A thorough telephone screen to ensure basic qualifications for the position and to gauge individual interest will also be helpful.

Thank You -- and No Thank You

The best candidates know the value of well written thank you notes sent to an interviewer as a follow up. I always recommend that a handwritten note is never out of style. If time only permits email it should be specific and reference both the conversation and include criteria that match the job opening to the candidate. Candidates need to send thank you notes and employers should follow up with no thank you correspondence.

One of the biggest complaints of today's job seekers is the frequency of sending resumes into the black hole of the internet; they never hear a word about an application. I sympathize with employers who are inundated with responses to postings and never send responses. But I also know the value of a simple note that says, "Thank you for your interest in XYZ associates your talent does not meet our needs at the present time but we will keep your resume on file for one year and will contact you should a suitable opportunity become available." There are plenty of variations and your letter might be warmer, and coincide with a phone call, for a candidate who could be well suited for another position.

There have been times when volume has forced me to shy away from sending out the follow up notes that indicate a company lack of interest. There are ways to automate the process including services offered by some of the big job posting boards. When I do send a note, including some encouraging comments where appropriate, I am often pleasantly surprised to get nice responses from candidates thanking me for simply letting them know their status.

Cell Phone Use and Overuse

I love making job offers. Once conversation did not end well when I heard a siren in the background. The candidate was talking on their cell phone while driving. They called back to complete the call, reported that they had not been ticketed, and accepted the job. If I'm calling a cell phone at any point in the recruitment process I make certain that it's an off road discussion.

Debates about texting have entered the job search arena. I know employers and recruiters who text candidates to set up interviews and communicate openings. There are others who would never touch a cell phone key for this purpose. Last week a senior manager was pretty upset when a strong candidate sent a text to inform that they had to cancel the interview. I followed up with an email; under the rationale that the person was too embarrassed to call back. I learned that they had been called into work, due to a number of call outs, and the manager was physically covering a line position. They couldn't stop to call. The interview was rescheduled and went really well.

Keeping up with technology is terrific but should never be done at the expense of common courtesy. Your small business will look better to potential employees when you do both.