Bad Form from an HR Department
A woman in the HR (Human Resources) department of a New York firm emailed me about an executive position, saying that my qualifications matched what they were looking for and would I be available to speak.
Although I am not actively looking for a full-time position, I am certainly interested when the right type of company and offering opens up. I opened their website and begin to read through the content, learning about their mission and goals to see if we were a good fit.
I emailed the woman back and suggested a time to talk. It was my understanding that since she wrote to me, she had already reviewed my qualifications and online portfolio. We agreed to a time and then surprisingly, she asks where can she see my work. (Really?)
I sent my website address along.
About 10 minutes later, she writes back and says this: “I have gone through your work. At this time we are looking for a highly creative person who has worked on large website projects specially in a banking sector. Your portfolio is not that impressive. We wish you best of luck for your future endeavors.” (I’d love to know how she was able to view my website galleries, links to live websites, blog posts and podcasts in 5 minutes?)
Not only is this a terribly, insensitive way to speak to anyone, but she works for an HR dept. Haven’t they taught her the proper ways to conduct business with potential employees? There is a right and wrong way to speak to and interview others. I now know, that company was not for me, but I’m wondering, do they have the right people working in HR departments? Has the whole process of finding a job or searching for a candidate become an impossible one?
This is the cover art for the album Etiquette by the artist Casiotone for the Painfully Alone. The cover art copyright is believed to belong to the label, Tomlab /, or the graphic artist(s).
By Source, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5147732
I’m not really bothered by this experience (except to share) because after 30+ years, I have had my share of good and bad experiences. I have always received the most respectful or just plain generic letters from an HR dept. “Thank you for your interest, we have decided on another candidate” or “Thank you, we’d like to set up an interview.”
Either way, it has always been plain, clear and simply put. So, where did this company go wrong by hiring someone in a position to judge others and do it so badly?
I am confident in my own capabilities and so I wrote this HR woman back: “I’m sorry to hear your response. For future reference all you need to say is that you are looking for someone with different qualifications. There is no need to insult another person.”
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Have you had similar issues with an Human Resources department or recruiter? Please share.