So there was this job I really thought was mine. Seriously. A friend delivered my resume to the sales director, he called me in for a "meet and greet". They were adding a position to begin in January and since the position did not yet exist, this was not the formal interview.
For an hour we talked. It was an extremely good interview. He said things like "I feel like we are connecting" and "your experience is exactly what I am looking for" and "I think you'd be great here." He asked me "how would you handle" questions and the answers I gave him made him happy. That's what he said. We talked about the job. The strategy. The possibilities. The client base. We talked about the salary and the benefits. He told me how he got started in the business and how he made a success of it. He told me how to do it myself. This was near the end of November. At the end of the "meet and greet", he said: "Well the next steps are to bring you in here in January and get the formal process started. If you don't hear from me in the next couple of weeks, don't worry - Christmas is an extremely busy time for us. But you will definitely hear from me before the holidays".
I sent him a thank you follow up. No reply. After the holidays, when I didn't hear from him, I sent him another follow up. No reply. Yesterday, I sent him another follow up and I finally got a reply. He misspelled my name and in three short sentences told me they had "gone in a different direction", thanked me for my "interest in their company", and asked me to "check back with them periodically".
Now I hasten to add, they never posted this job anywhere. So can someone please tell me what is going on out there in the working world? Who is running the show? I am fully aware that this company owes me absolutely nothing but is this really how its done? Give lots of encouragement and then dismiss you with a hasty standard format email? And then only after you have followed up professionally, multiple times? I mean, what the hell????
So for any company out there, I am offering my services to train your executives and staff on corporate manners, customer service, and honest diplomacy in the corporate world. It is a simple two-day seminar. My fee is $25,000 and I assure you, it is worth every penny.
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Val --
ReplyDeleteRegrettably, I've become an expert on the silent response from prospective employers.
Yes, it's true. Once rejected, they just kind of hope you "fade away" and they don't have to actually CONTACT you to say they're no longer (or never really have been) considering you.
I can see not replying to 500 basic applicants for every position, but in your case, when you actually spoke to them in person and got such a positive response, there was NO excuse for not being brave enough to reply to you after your first inquiry ... or even before.
Companies are in the catbird seat these days. And while I understand the manpower it would take to reply to thousands at the initial application process, once they go farther and actually MEET you, they should have the professional courtesy, the class, and the BALLS to deal with you on a personal basis.
Hang in there, sweetie. I managed to informally chat (in person) with a hiring manager at Apple today. He said he would definitely consider me for the specific position there. We'll see how it turns out.
Love to you and the family,
--Ted
It is certainly the loss of the companies to which you apply. No, we might not be the eye candy we were of days gone by, but we have the experiance and the passion..two traits that can only be learning thru one school..life. Your energy, your faith about things...holds dear. Have you ever thought of contacting the ED "gurus" and seeing if they can use your passion and your talents?
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