Employers Need Manners, The Stress Interview and Other Rude Behaviors

Every time the economy turns into an "employer's market", where there are many more applicants (often desperate for work) than jobs positions, the power position strongly swings towards the potential employers side. Currently we are in an employer's market and sadly because of this many applicants are encountering a lack of courtesy that is all too common. 

Just recently I saw yet another article on how applicants should behave at an interview. I then did a search and found more articles for applicants on how to excel in the job search process. I didn't see much on how employers should behave. However I am hearing from so many people how horrible their job search is and how rude some employer and human resources are to them. 

This post assumes and strongly supports that the applicant does all the proper things to apply for a job. With that said, the whole application process seems flawed from very beginning to the end. Should the application go through and candidate be called for an interview, it is essential that the potential employer too follow some common sense manners. 

No Response to Applications
Businesses are flooded with applicants for every opening and many are showing a lack of respect for job seekers by failing to respond to their applications. Most employers request resumes and other documentation be sent by e-mail. Occasionally they use the old-fashioned method-the anonymous post office box. The huge volume of applications makes it seem difficult to respond personally to each one. However, the technology is there to reply to all.

Most e-mail programs have the ability to send an automatic response letting applicants know that their information has been received and how and when they will be notified of an interview or the lack of one. If the application is handled through postal mail, a generic letter can be generated and sent out with the same details. There is no excuse for leaving applicants in the dark.

The General Interview
Some organizations do the most unprofessional things during an interview. Who holds them accountable? We all must. Some if these behaviors include using making the candidate wait an unusually long time before being called, asking irrelevant questions, asking illegal questions, making inappropriate comments, making candidates jump through unnecessary hoops and even doing stress interviews.  

The Stress Interview
As if there weren't enough challenges to the job search or on your life, some organizations are doing what is called  "the stress interview". The stress interview purposely puts the candidate on the defensive in various ways. The purpose is to see how the person handles themselves in various difficult scenarios and under extreme pressure. The idea is that some employers believe that this is an accurate way to predict a person's behavior under these conditions. I of course question the idea of artificially creating these kinds of conditions and would like to see the data and results of their research. 

These stress interviews can range from a mild role-playing scenario to all out aggressive and unpredictable behavior from the interviewer(s).

I doubt these little experiments could possibly know what triggers can set anyone off into a dangerous emotional state and you would have to wonder how is that relevant to their potential job. Additionally, I find it ethically questionable to put anyone through this stressful situation because its effects emotional, psychological and physical effects are unknown. It begs the question, who is accountable for a job seeker's adverse reaction. 

If you feel you are under one of these stress interviews, you can do several things. This includes staying calm and simply asking if that's what they are doing. Just knowing this may be one of those tactics can put you more at ease. If it is not a stress interview and the person is actually being rude and abusive, make a note of the situation, date, the behavior, etc., and notify them you will end the interview and make an official complaint against them and their organization. You don't have to be abused when you apply for job. A job that is meant to sustain you economically not cause you harm. 

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No Follow Up
Following an interview, employers often continue their thoughtlessness. Applicants are told they will be contacted within a certain time, but it never happens. With the search narrowed, the number of calls or letters should be manageable. People who reach this level in the interview process deserve a follow-up. They need to know if the position has been filled or if the process is continuing.

Consider it public relations for the organization. The person who applies for the job and is treated shabbily by an organization has friends and acquaintances whom they are likely to tell. Furthermore, that applicant may one day be an influential businessperson with a long memory when it comes to choosing business connections.

Job seekers are customers, too, and should receive the same level of customer service as everyone else.

My quest on manners includes a message to a rude job market. Applicants are not powerless. They have the power of social media and world of mouth. The right person or people can make it known your business is known to be rude and simply said, unprofessional. This can have a very bad affect on the bottom line. Wait, now rude companies care? You should care at the human level first but know the consequence can be bad press and loss of profits and reputation. Remember, treating applicants with dignity will go a long way.

If you would like more information on me and my quest please do contact me. I am of course on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Youtube, Google+, Pinterest, Blogger, and BlogTalkRadio and all can be accessed via my website: www.thisisdiana.com and http://ow.ly/AGmlA 

~Always with Love, Light and Common Sense Manners~

Diana Navarro, M.S.
On a Quest to Bring Common Sense Manners Back!