After a few hours of phone screens, a mid-west company flew several candidates to their headquarters. The job seekers had a full-day of interviews talking to various executives and managers within the organization. Each of the three finalists spent at least ten hours of their time pursuing this position, not including at least one full day of travel time.
The HR manager notifies the two unsuccessful candidates via email that they didn’t get the job. Just a short two sentences that says
Sorry, you didn’t get the job. Better luck next time.
The HR manager didn’t take the time to have a personal call. She missed the opportunity to thank the candidate for their time. There wasn’t any thought by this HR manager that the losing candidates might be more dangerous to their brand than a disgruntled employee. Why did the HR manager act in such a callous way toward the candidates?
What The HR Manager Forgot
- The Internet exists.
- Acting like a human being is always in the best interest of a brand.
- The candidates will tell this story to dozens of friends leaving a bad impression in their mind of this brand.
- Word of mouth about this brand will be harmed and other future candidates will learn about the way this was handled.
- Marketing a brand involves every touch point – even an unsuccessful candidate who has invested many hours with you and your colleagues.
How can your HR team support the brand?
- Remember that every candidate is a potential ally or enemy. How you treat them will become known publicly. Ever hear of glassdoor?
- A brand is not just about the promise of the product or service – but it is also a reflection of how a customer views all interactions with you
- Acting insensitive or downright nasty to a potential hire is unprofessional and communicates to current employees how little management cares
Like most things in life, there is a piece of treasure in the way the two candidates were treated. They avoided several years of frustration and hardship working for an employer who didn’t realize how much harm a gesture of indifference can carry. The signal of indifference led them to keep looking for a better opportunity with a company culture that truly embraces their employees.
How is your HR team influencing how your brand is perceived?
How effective is your recruiting process at marketing your brand? Call me if you would like to meet. 919 720 0995
Photo Credit: https://www.pexels.com/photo/woman-smartphone-girl-bus-3566/
