Some job applicants – well, they are appalling …

There's a lot of blood, sweat, and guts between dreams and success.” – Paul Bryant

I got a dose of reality the past month or so.

I have been helping a company review resumes of job applicants, calling them to talk about their skills and qualifications and determining who should be moved to a phone interview. It is fun, interesting and as I have learned, so disturbing.

What is disturbing?

The attitude and behaviors of some job applicants .. it is – appalling.

Let me give you a few examples – and remember, they sent their resume in application for a position – they reached out to the company – no one was chasing them.

The behaviors:
• Call, leave a voice mail message clearly stating they are being considered a candidate for a job they applied for – never to hear back from them at all.
• Same as above, a return phone call 5 days later, “… I was busy…”. Really?
• Receiving a call back and the opening line is, “… What was that job I applied for?”.
• First question, “… How much does it pay?”
• Next question, “… so let me tell you what I will do and not do…”.
• Person hangs up – yup – hangs up.
• Schedule a phone interview with specific instruction of what they are to do (call this person at this time) and they blow it – forget who to call and when or don’t call at all. That’s just rude.

… and the list could go on and on. I wish I was making this stuff up, but I am not.

Remember – it is you – I am sorry do not mean to personalize – it is the person who was seeking the job who made the initial contact and they blow it up after. Try showing you are interested – and polite and not rude. You will get so much further.

If you are as appalled as I have been, need this advice please:

• Every phone call should be returned acknowledged within the same day received. That is respect.
• If you say you are going to do something at a specific time, do it – no excuses. Period. There are no second chances when looking for a job.You have only one shot to make a great impression – don’t blow it – do it.
• Treat others as you want to be treated – with respect.

It is so important in this competitive market to be on top of one’s game, follow-through, be assessable etc.

You can win if you sweat the details.

And thank you for reading this. – Dan

PS: I followed up my blog a few weeks ago with an interview on CBS6 about employers asking for job candidate’s FaceBook log-in and passwords. My message was clear: Do you really want to work for a company that would require this?
Getting some strong response on LinkedIn (http://www.linkedin.com/groupItem?view=&gid=153859&type=member&item=103777385&qid=47e675cc-fe0a-4089-b6b7-68037c4efb57&trk=group_most_popular-0-b-ttl&goback=.gmp_153859) you may be interested in support of my recommendation. Want to see the interview? (http://www.cbs6albany.com/news/top-stories/stories/vid_320.shtml?goback=.gmp_153859.gde_153859_member_103777385).

Dan Moran
President & Founder
Next-Act
Career Management & Transition Specialists
Celebrating 24 years providing career management services in 2012!
125 Wolf Road, Suite #128
Albany, NY 12205
Office: 518-261-4212
Cell: 518-641-8968
eFax: 586-279-4212
dmoran@next-act.com