I'm continually amazed at the lack of courtesy that businesses extend to their prospective employees. I've had several friends tell me horror stories about how they had fantastic interviews, and then never heard a single thing back from that employer. On the same token, even if an interview didn't go as well as planned, they were still expecting that letter of regret in the mail. How is it that corporations are able to throw in the towel when it comes to consideration, yet they expect nothing but that from the employees?

I've experienced it myself, and it infuriated me at the time. I was contacted by a small construction business and asked if I would be interested in a position as their office manager. I had a wonderful interview with the owner of the business and had a real conversational connection. He assured me that he would call me later in the week to work out the details as to when I would be starting, salary and such. After the week had gone by and the weekend had passed, I decided to be proactive and call them myself. After a couple phone calls that week with no response, I got the hint and let it go. About six months later, I got a voice mail on my cell phone while I was at my fantastic new job I started about two weeks after my interview with the construction company. It was them! The owner was offering me the position, and from the tone of his voice and the phrasing he used, it didn't seem that it had even occurred to him that I might already have a home somewhere else. I was floored. With not so much as an apology for the delay in response, he fully expected that I would bow at his feet for the opportunity to work for a business as disorganized and haughty as his.

So what prevented him from making the courtesy call or writing the letter stating that he just isn't able to hire anyone at this time, but would like to keep my information on hand if he has an opening in the future? My theory is that the members of his team share little to no respect for one another. The work ethic in an office is directly related to the attitude of the personnel. If giving attitude to an unhappy client is acceptable, then so is putting off a project until the last minute.

The reputation of the business is a reflection on the client-business interactions. It's a fact: you're more likely to tell someone that you had an awful experience with a company than if they treated you well. Words spread like wildfire, and soon you're up and coming company is burning to the ground all because you gave attitude to a single customer.

Something as simple as a politely worded, cookie-cutter letter of rejection can help the discarded candidate feel closure, and generally ward off any bad feelings that person may have towards the company. They may be disappointed, but at least they aren't sending out a mass e-mail to everyone they've ever met regarding the terrible customer service at XYZ, Inc.

Learn more about this author, Leslie Haasch.
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