News

Manners Matter With Job Candidates

Recruitment is not a statistically winning process. For every one candidate who gets a job offer, hiring managers and HR professionals must let down one hundred candidates who aren’t moving forward. No, it’s never fun to deliver rejection—that’s why ghosting has become so popular in today’s culture, and why it’s so tempting to let no-goes drop off the radar. But the rejection is your last opportunity to touch candidates during the hiring process. It’s your last chance to build brand ambassadors or retain would-be employees, or to create bad blood for your brand. That’s why a tactful “no thank you” can go a long way.

A courteous “no thank you” typically includes the following elements:

Appreciation for the candidate’s interest in the company, application, and time spent during the hiring process;
Acknowledgment of competition for the position;
Statement that the candidate will not be moving forward or that the position has been filled; and
Well wishes for the candidate’s future job search.

The rejection should also be sent timely after the candidate has been removed from consideration (but not so soon that the candidate is reading a rejection while changing out of their interview suit).

A form letter is fine for applicants who were not selected for an interview, but the further a candidate advances in the process, the more personal your rejection should be. That doesn’t mean going into detail about why that candidate wasn’t selected; it means instead of a letter, you make a phone call, and you sprinkle in specific things you liked about their background or personality (as is honest and appropriate). If you really liked a candidate, you can go as far as to keep in touch or suggest they apply for a future job opening. But always, always, always, remember to be courteous and attentive.

You might be thinking, “That sounds like a lot of work. Why is this so important, again?” You don’t want anyone’s last impression of your company to be a disrespectful ghosting. This is your brand we’re talking about! You want your brand to say, “Everyone is valuable to us, especially the people who want to join our team. We care enough to say ‘no thank you.’” So while recruitment may not be a statistically winning process, it is a winning opportunity to hire one stellar new employee and to create one hundred brand ambassadors.

YES! News

The “better” way to conduct layoffs

Layoffs are hard on everyone. Even as business leaders and HR professionals, layoffs are one of the hardest things we have to do. Regrettably, many of us remember this from the all-too-recent pandemic layoffs. Layoffs are a reality we may soon face again as the threat of recession looms. And while we may not have […]

Resolve conflict like a champ

We’re hard-pressed to say conflict resolution is a fun or glamorous part of a Human Resources or leadership role, but it’s one of the most critical parts. How you mediate conflict impacts employee morale and retention, and also shows your leadership abilities and your willingness to tackle the tough stuff. Your conflict resolution skills can […]

Stop! and hire this candidate

It’s easy to criticize potential hires and spot reasons why we shouldn’t hire them. That one is too arrogant, that one lacks technical skills, and that one knows nothing about the company. Process of elimination, right? But too often we fail to recognize the positive reasons why we should hire someone. Positive flags can be […]

Client Testimonials

"Kathi has been an extremely reliable, knowledgeable and indispensable resource for our growing business. Anytime we had a difficult issue or needed to refine, replace or upgrade our HR communication, Kathi provided outstanding support and feedback. She is a wonderful person and an outstanding, solution oriented communicator. I can't recommend her enough to businesses who need assistance with HR strategy and support."

"Kathi is reliable, knowledgeable, and an excellent communicator. She has always been readily available to help us with all of our immediate needs, from handbooks to policies, and notices. We highly recommend her. A great team player."

"SPMD has been partnering with Kathi for almost 4 years. She is a fantastic partner to our design firm. Her experience, knowledge, professionalism and ability to problem solve is the perfect package to fit our business. Over the years she has helped us navigate many employee situations quickly and re-wrote our Employee Handbook. Kathi is always there in a heartbeat when a situation arises and has the answers and advice we need. We highly recommend Kathi!"

“Kathi provided Senior Human Resources leadership to Orqis Medical for over six years. Her effectiveness is immediate, her contributions substantial, and her ability to integrate into the employee base as a consultant outstanding. I highly recommend Kathi to any company looking for senior management help in the HR arena, without the ability to hire a full-time manager. This is a go-to person for any small, medium, or start-up company.”

Free Consultation