3 ms·

I'd settle for "do you at least send a rejection email of any kind to the candidate?" vs. the "dropping someone on the floor and not responding for weeks/months

by rdl 8y ago

I'd settle for "do you at least send a rejection email of any kind to the candidate?" vs. the "dropping someone on the floor and not responding for weeks/months/ever". Even without detailed or personalized feedback, it's a huge improvement. Also if an internal person refers someone, you should let the internal person know if you're passing, I think (depends on other factors, though.)

Liron 8y ago
"Ghosting" seems like a common phenomenon across different types of human interaction. There's dating, interviewing, and even pitching investors. This was a common experience for me pitching my company last year: 1. Investor likes my co enough to schedule an in-person meeting 2. I meet investor in person to pitch 3. I send them a followup email 4. Radio silence I'd read that investors like to keep you in limbo instead of passing, I just didn't realize these well-respected professionals would value someone highly enough to give them an hour of their day, but low enough to neglect all followup communication. In retrospect I don't think it's a big deal, but I felt bad about it at the time.
_delirium 8y ago
This is the biggest US/Europe cultural difference I've noticed. I can't speak for every country in Europe or every industry, but for every job in Europe I've personally applied for, I got a rejection letter if I wasn't offered the job. Sometimes just a minimal notification, but always something. Not in America though... The best is for European academic jobs. Often there's a schedule up front for when they'll make a decision, usually a 2-stage thing like: we will shortlist candidates by Sept 15, interview in the following 3-4 weeks, and make a hiring decision by Oct 15. So if you didn't get shortlisted, you get informed early and don't have to wonder whether your resume is still under consideration or what. American universities, though, leave you guessing what their schedule is, may take months to get back to you even if they're interested, and usually don't send a rejection letter if they aren't.

by rdl 8y ago

Liron 8y ago

"Ghosting" seems like a common phenomenon across different types of human interaction. There's dating, interviewing, and even pitching investors. This was a common experience for me pitching my company last year: 1. Investor likes my co enough to schedule an in-person meeting 2. I meet investor in person to pitch 3. I send them a followup email 4. Radio silence I'd read that investors like to keep you in limbo instead of passing, I just didn't realize these well-respected professionals would value someone highly enough to give them an hour of their day, but low enough to neglect all followup communication. In retrospect I don't think it's a big deal, but I felt bad about it at the time.

_delirium 8y ago

This is the biggest US/Europe cultural difference I've noticed. I can't speak for every country in Europe or every industry, but for every job in Europe I've personally applied for, I got a rejection letter if I wasn't offered the job. Sometimes just a minimal notification, but always something. Not in America though... The best is for European academic jobs. Often there's a schedule up front for when they'll make a decision, usually a 2-stage thing like: we will shortlist candidates by Sept 15, interview in the following 3-4 weeks, and make a hiring decision by Oct 15. So if you didn't get shortlisted, you get informed early and don't have to wonder whether your resume is still under consideration or what. American universities, though, leave you guessing what their schedule is, may take months to get back to you even if they're interested, and usually don't send a rejection letter if they aren't.