On companies and applicants (Already updated!)

25/12/2004 19:29 | Categories: General | 0 Comments 

Today I received in my email account an answer to one of the many applications that I sent while I was unemployed (March-September 2003) That wouldn't be big news if it wasn't because that was over half a year ago, and the application to which they answered was over 9 months old! It really pissed me off because it shows how little respect they have towards applicants... I mean, why the f*ck do they even have an email address dedicated to job applications advertised in their page if they check it every 9 months? A few weeks ago I also received an answer to a very old application and I felt tempted to (politely) answer but for one reason or another, I didn't do it. This time, I did it and sent it to them. The name of the company doesn't really matter. I think I was polite enough not to enrage anybody there at my response but if they still do and want to get back to me, I haven't hidden behind any fake email address. I used my real one and signed with my name so they know who I am. Heck, they even know where I live but I have also asked them to remove any reference to me and trash my files.

Anyway, here is the letter:

Dear Mrs. xxxxx,

with all due respect that you and your company deserve, I appreciate your answer but I do not think that I would ever bother to work for a company that handles job applications so disdainfully. My application was sent over 9 months ago, and after such long time, the only official response I have got from your company is a ready-made template where not even my name was included. Therefore, I prompt you to completely remove any reference to my application, CV and personal information from your internal database.

Nonetheless, I do not completely blame you. The market is slowly recovering and applicans are many but jobs are still few and scarce. However, I strongly believe that you should treat applicants with a little bit more respect, because despite the great amount of applications that you may have received, they are persons and not sheeps. If you consider too much a burden to receive applications, do not advertise an email address for such purpose in your corporate page.

Hopefully I found a company over 6 months ago that trusted in me. I wish our professional paths will never cross and I hope you do not show the same attitude towards your own employees.

Best regards,

Oscar Renalias.

Don't know if it was a good thing but somehow, I feel much better. And if any of you is wondering if I would have done the same if I still were unemployed, the answer is that probably yes.

UPDATE: They have already answered to my feedback-complaint! It arrive about an hour after I sent my message. Click the "more" link to see the answer:
This is the answer:

Dear Mr. Renalias,

Thank you for the feedback. I truly appreciate your opinion, and I am sure that no one could disagree with it. I can not give you any excuse, but to say I deeply apologize for the rather blunt way of sending our answer.

It is kind for you to show understanding towards us, for indeed there would sometimes be more matters to attend to, than there are resources to do it. I am sure that the intention was never to leave an application on hold for such a long time, and it is most unfortunate that it did.

I promise to forward your regards personally to the HR-Manager. This of course does not make what happened undone, but it might help us improve the future handling of applications.

I wish you all the best in your career, and I hope our mistake did not completely ruin your day.

Sincerely yours,

xxxxxxx

At least this time it didn't take them forever to answer. I really appreciate their responsiveness this time and the really polite tone in which they have answered and sure I will let them know in my answer. I have to admit I was expecting something much worse but now I am glad that I let them know my opinion about their behaviour towarsd applicant. I hope it gets better from now on.