I’m Just Sayin’…and Emailin’…and Writin’…

I’ve made some observations in my interviewing/resume submission travels. My first observation is that less really is more. Most business people don’t want to have to bother to read a resume; they prefer to scan it. We’ve become a sound-bite community which means I’ve had to become extremely succinct in my verbosities. This is quite a challenge for an adjective junky.

My next observation is that most business people can’t be bothered with follow-up communication. Actually, I don’t think most business people understand the importance of proper business communication etiquette. I cannot tell you how many times I’ve not received written or verbal communication following an interview, meeting, conversation, etc… I’ve decided that business etiquette has changed to its own detriment. Almost without exception, most of the business managers/leaders that I’ve spoken with have complained about not being able to find reliable, articulate, experienced, and qualified job candidates.

Well, hello! Sometimes you get what you give, people. Have you ever wondered why those reliable, articulate, experienced, and qualified job candidates have just slipped through your fingers? It’s because you let too much time go by and they’ve moved on to the next opportunity. And this is the very reason why I believe that an effective secretary/assistant can make or break a business. I’ve always believed that the secretaries/assistants have more on the ball than most owners/managers.

I found one exception to this when I accidentally identified the assistant superintendent of schools as the Board of Education secretary. Well, she was really on the ball, didn’t have a nametag, and knew more than the board. Definitely secretary material with the exception of her glamour-shot photo on the website. She must have been an extraordinary secretary/assistant in her past. Oh, wait, she IS an assistant of sorts. Well, that explains it.

Looking for a job/career is a lot like shopping for a new outfit. It’s got to have the right fit providing for a little room for growth and/or comfortable movement. Sometimes, the most important parts of the outfit are the under garments. If they don’t fit right or create the most *uplifting* presentation; your *B-EW-TOX* will be hanging out in a not so complimentary way. Yeah, so, keep it tight, people. Speaking of that, there was one woman interviewing a guy and, I kid you not, you could see all the way to China down the front of her shirt. Evidently, she only wore part of her “outfit” that day…

I went to a job fair last week and spoke to several HR managers. They were quite gung-ho about finding qualified applicants and every single one of them attempted to recruit me. I followed-up with each of them within 48 hours.

I have yet to have heard back from about two-thirds of them. The people I did hear back from told me they were swamped with work because they were doing their job and the job of the person they are looking to hire. I completely empathize on this point. I have to stop myself from suggesting a better succession plan.

I currently have several irons in the fire for job prospects and I was truly intrigued by a couple of the positions being offered at this job fair. At this point, I am convinced that these folks are not worth working for because they don’t employ simple business etiquette and return a danged phone call. Also, they have skewed my view of them as a business which, as a result, will probably preclude them from my ever entertaining giving them my business. After all, an applicant is usually either a good client or customer.

I have been a retail manager for over 20 years. I’ve been in the position of hiring management teams who had the right qualifications and skill set, were a good fit for the organization, and had both the willingness and ability to do the job and beyond. I’ve had many successes and a few blunders but, all in all, I feel that my ability to hire, train, and manage performance has been positive and had lasting effects. A big part of that success has to do with the relationships I formed with these folks. Whether it was from transfer, promotion, or simply moving on, I am still in contact with many of my former employees.

One of the reasons I’ve been so successful is because I jumped on opportunities and followed-up in a timely manner. I worked in one of the most competitive job markets in the nation: Chicago. I had several frustrating moments after I’d found a great candidate and had to wait for my boss to clear her calendar to do a second (required for management) interview. When I mentioned this, she basically told me that her job was very important and if “those people” really wanted to work for us, they’d manage their time around hers. I would understand this if it was just a few days or into the next week but she would take it out by 3-4 weeks. That’s a really long time. My former supervisor’s level of (bullshit) arrogance cost my business some terrific opportunities. (This was also how she handled her work load and interactions with employees. No one liked her and only did things because she said so. I hear she’s on her way out…)

I haven’t had to interview (seriously) for a job/career in over ten years. The lack of professional communication is appalling to me. Whether it is within daily interactions, job prospects, hiring someone to work for me (handyman stuff), or simply trying to pay a bill; poor communication seems to be rampantly simmering upon the business landscape. It’s no wonder that customer service is so bad and that so many people have negative perceptions about so many businesses and institutions.

If you ever have to wonder what has happened to good customer service, business practices, communication; look no further than the interview process. It all starts (or ends) there. Here’s something really weird: I got a call from a company I submitted my resume to over eight months ago. They just got my resume; so much for online applications being expedient to the hiring process. I had to hand-deliver a resume because one company’s website kept going down in the middle of the process. If it’s broke, fix it; if it ain’t, work it.

And, just for the record, I will never again shop at Home Depot unless I absolutely have no other choice. Here’s the rundown: recruiters from outside the company who ask, “Do you have any questions” and then can’t answer them, scripted interview processes (to the extent of not being able to deviate), offensive testing (too many ethnicity questions), and a group of HR managers who willing admit that their jobs are “cake” because they rarely have to work their 8-5 schedules but that other management positions are actually “abusive considering the obscene amount of hours you are required to work.”

Now there’s a great first impression for you. What’s even more amazing is that they were trying to recruit me. I never intended upon seeking employment with HD and was initially excited because I used to really like to shop there. Not so much anymore. Interestingly enough, there are now two human resources manager positions open. Frankly, it’s not surprising. All I got out of the experience was a bad head cold over the holidays. The interviewer was very, very sick and intended to leave directly after she asked me the scripted questions. She went to all the trouble of not shaking my hand but forgot to stop breathing in that teeny, tiny broom closet of a room. Although she joked and apologized about it, I was totally not amused.

It’s a mad, mad, mad, mad world.

All it takes is a smile, a small amount of kindness and attentiveness, and timely communication. Really. That’s all it takes.

On the flip side: Anyone who takes the time to acknowledge, communicate, and follow-up has my business, confidence, and admiration. Keep up the good work. Need any help? Here’s my resume’…

I wonder if any of these prospective employers read blogs?
Nah…