Why I won’t be replying to applications in 2020.
I have always taken the time and prided myself in replying to pretty much everyone who takes the time to apply for a job with me. But this year has been really tough with some candidates. And before you roll your eyes, unlike some recruiters, I have been a candidate, so I know how frustrating it is. And for 3 of the jobs I got, I printed off old fashioned letters and wrote to companies that I had mapped out in the area that I wanted to live / work, so I have put a huge amount of effort in.
I have an automated system that collates all CV’s that I receive through job boards, but CV’s I receive through LinkedIn or that are emailed directly, sadly they can’t be added to this automation but hand on heart, I read every single one of them. And I have loved the fact that I communicate with candidates who take the time to apply for a job but this year, it feels like the dynamics have changed. And I have experienced far too many of these instances which is why I’ve taken the brave decision to not reply to unsuccessful applications.
More and more candidates are not reading the adverts I take time & effort to write and try to be creative for. I appreciate that I work in quite a niche market, but people are applying for jobs that they don’t have any experience for. I very rarely recruit entry level roles so 98% of the jobs I recruit require a significant amount of skill and expertise. If you’ve not read the advert, and I’ve read your CV, replying to every application takes more time up and there’s only me in the business so I’d rather spend that time talking to someone who can do the job. Sounds harsh but in this crazy world, we simply have to prioritise the priorities to ensure we have the work life balance right.
And this is the real biggy. I’ve had a couple of instances where I’ve replied to candidates and they have been downright nasty, vicious and threatening. Why would I choose to have that in my life? When all I’m doing is over and above what some recruiters do? But I’m opening up the communication for them to voice their frustration and I get frustrations, but I don’t want threats of being taken to court thrown at me because I rejected someone who didn’t have food industry experience when I clearly state on the advert that this is needed for a £60,000 job.
I can get an angry reply asking that I delete all their details as they don’t want me to communicate with them. And those 4 little letters GDPR sound in my head. I am totally covered when it comes to this but when someone threatens me with that all because they sent me their CV….it’s bonkers.
If someone looks half decent, I will pick the phone up to them anyway and have a chat. If they’re not right, they then don’t need an email rejecting them for something we’ve already discussed.
We all get too many emails and on all my adverts is states that if you don’t hear back within 7 – 14 days you have been unsuccessful. Candidate don’t need another email telling them what they possibly already know.
So, whilst I am sad that I’ll no longer be doing something that possibly reduced candidates’ frustrations when applying for a job, one recruiter said very openly to me, you’re putting yourself out there for frustrated job searchers to have a go at you. And I am a bit of a sensitive soul, so I’ve decided to protect myself and not open myself up for criticism and abuse. I’ve decided that 2020 is my year and I want to find lots of fab people, great new jobs. Of course, there will be ups and downs along the way, I just need to reduce risk of collisions in a pressurised situation. So maybe when you next apply for a job and don’t get a response, don’t always think that the recruiter is being lazy, they may just have had one too many unnecessary irate dressing downs and they too have decided to protect themselves.
Email: jo@winhurstrecruitment.co.uk
Tel: 0115 975 6513
@winhurstrec