- Jan 16, 2009
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Ok, this is what you WON'T hear from a Human Resource person.
I have been an HR Director for 20 years and I agree that it is NOT appropriate to call a job everyday about an application. My thing is, if I didn't call you back, then there is a reason. The reason might be because I am still reviewing applications or I am NOT interested in hiring you. Sure, people can say, well just let the person know so that they won't continue to call but when you have literally hundreds of applications, it is not physically possible to call EVERYONE back that has applied for a job and surely not possible to send out letters or emails. It doesn't work that way in 2011. With so many people looking for jobs these days, you just cannot contact every single person who applies. This includes online applications, walk ins and mailed resumes and applications. For smaller companies with about 20 -50 employees, it may be possible to return applicant calls but for a company that has 500+ employees (like ours) then it is impossible. I wish people could walk in the shoes of an HR person and they would see how hectic it really is. We just don't sit behind a desk and interview people, make calls and take calls. There is so much more to it. (Worker's Comp, Insurance Benefits to include administering 401K plans, Safety related issues, Unemployment Insurance Claims, EEOC, QA reports, Tax Reports, State and Federal Labor Law Compliance, taking phone calls from upset and angry employees, etc. etc. etc.)
After interviewing the person, I always tell them that if we are interested in their application or considering them for hire, I will call them. I purposely DO NOT tell them to check on their application. I DO NOT want all of those phone calls. In addition to the other work that I do, I DO NOT have time to take all of those calls. It is VERY frustrating for an HR person (well, I can only speak for myself) to constantly get all of those nagging calls about someone "checking on the status of their application". If I want to hire you I will call you. PLEASE do not continue to call and harass me. 9 out of 10 times, the HR person already knows who they are interested in and who will be hired and who won't be hired the minute they leave the interview. It's only a matter of checking references, criminal background, drug test, etc.
I agree that a person who calls EVERY DAY appears VERY mentally unstable if they continue to call me. I label them as my "STALKERS". The receptionist already knows to send the APPLICATION STALKERS to voice mail. There have been times when I have had to call the APPLICATION STALKERS and politely let them know that we are NOT hiring and that there is no need to contiune to call. Believe it or not, I have gone against my better judgement and have tried to give these stalkers a job. Guess what? They only worked for 1 or 2 months and then quit with NO notice. I was done!
And please don't think that they receptionist (or person taking the message) will forget to tell them or leave them a message. The HR person is getting the messages. Whether they call back or chose not to, then on well. And please IF you finally talk to the HR person, PLEASE don't tell them that you tried to call them and they didn't return the call. That will give you a few LESS points. That is not appropriate.
As redhen stated, this is the best, realistic advice. Ok, well enough of my rant about applicants and calls. I'm done.
Good Luck to you.
Not rude, just truthful. With so many people vying for the same job, it is very hard even for a pizza manager to call every applicant back.
Glad to hear you got the job, congratulations.
Ok, this is what you WON'T hear from a Human Resource person.
I have been an HR Director for 20 years and I agree that it is NOT appropriate to call a job everyday about an application. My thing is, if I didn't call you back, then there is a reason. The reason might be because I am still reviewing applications or I am NOT interested in hiring you. Sure, people can say, well just let the person know so that they won't continue to call but when you have literally hundreds of applications, it is not physically possible to call EVERYONE back that has applied for a job and surely not possible to send out letters or emails. It doesn't work that way in 2011. With so many people looking for jobs these days, you just cannot contact every single person who applies. This includes online applications, walk ins and mailed resumes and applications. For smaller companies with about 20 -50 employees, it may be possible to return applicant calls but for a company that has 500+ employees (like ours) then it is impossible. I wish people could walk in the shoes of an HR person and they would see how hectic it really is. We just don't sit behind a desk and interview people, make calls and take calls. There is so much more to it. (Worker's Comp, Insurance Benefits to include administering 401K plans, Safety related issues, Unemployment Insurance Claims, EEOC, QA reports, Tax Reports, State and Federal Labor Law Compliance, taking phone calls from upset and angry employees, etc. etc. etc.)
After interviewing the person, I always tell them that if we are interested in their application or considering them for hire, I will call them. I purposely DO NOT tell them to check on their application. I DO NOT want all of those phone calls. In addition to the other work that I do, I DO NOT have time to take all of those calls. It is VERY frustrating for an HR person (well, I can only speak for myself) to constantly get all of those nagging calls about someone "checking on the status of their application". If I want to hire you I will call you. PLEASE do not continue to call and harass me. 9 out of 10 times, the HR person already knows who they are interested in and who will be hired and who won't be hired the minute they leave the interview. It's only a matter of checking references, criminal background, drug test, etc.
I agree that a person who calls EVERY DAY appears VERY mentally unstable if they continue to call me. I label them as my "STALKERS". The receptionist already knows to send the APPLICATION STALKERS to voice mail. There have been times when I have had to call the APPLICATION STALKERS and politely let them know that we are NOT hiring and that there is no need to contiune to call. Believe it or not, I have gone against my better judgement and have tried to give these stalkers a job. Guess what? They only worked for 1 or 2 months and then quit with NO notice. I was done!
And please don't think that they receptionist (or person taking the message) will forget to tell them or leave them a message. The HR person is getting the messages. Whether they call back or chose not to, then on well. And please IF you finally talk to the HR person, PLEASE don't tell them that you tried to call them and they didn't return the call. That will give you a few LESS points. That is not appropriate.
As redhen stated, this is the best, realistic advice. Ok, well enough of my rant about applicants and calls. I'm done.
Good Luck to you.
Not rude, just truthful. With so many people vying for the same job, it is very hard even for a pizza manager to call every applicant back.
Glad to hear you got the job, congratulations.
