The other benefit of being civil, polite and responsive is the candidate may not be the best match now, but they will know other people and meet people when the

The other benefit of being civil, polite and responsive is the candidate may not be the best match now, but they will know other people and meet people when they do get a job. They are far more likely to recommend your company to those people. It helps sell your company and they will remember it in their future career and business dealings. My only qualms have been what to do about the people who made no effort - the folks who borderline spammed every email address they can find. So far we have also responded to all of them too.