Be Courageous!

Happy President's Day all. I had originally planned to take the day off in honor of our glorious leaders, but then realized that I have neglected my blog this past week and then further realized that this isn't a real holiday anyway. I think most folks are working today (unemployed like me aside), if not in corporate jobs, then staffing the latest in the unending excuses for retail sales days. Perhaps I'm just bitter at my lack of expendable cash. I digress.....

The past week has brought me into the third round of interviews for one position and to the discovery that the position that I was offered back in November that was cut out of the budget is now being recruited for again (without me, apparently). It's funny what you find out when you're networking.

So this brings me to my pet peeve for the day........ Honesty. I pride myself for treating people well, especially candidates that I am interviewing for a position. While this may be a particularly empathetic thing to do these days with all the newly unemployed out there, I've always believed that people deserve more than they typically get, especially in the recruitment phase.

Does this sound familiar to anyone?: "I'm sorry, we've selected another candidate that more closely aligns to our business objectives." Has there ever been a situation in which this information was helpful to anyone?? I can't think of one. I have also recently received this message after a phone interview that I felt went very well. Not to be pushy, but I responded to the email with a request for more information, a la "How can I improve myself if I don't know why I wasn't selected." In this case, I was told it was years of experience that screened me out, but how many others get no answer at all and continue on their way ignorant of what may be holding them back. I think the HR profession can do better than that.

Then there is the mystery position I referred to earlier. Considering I routinely network in the same circles as the individual responsible for sourcing candidates for the position, you'd think the business leader in charge of this small start up would have at least stopped short of telling me I was the only candidate and that if the budget dollars were found, I'd get the first phone call. I'm neither shy nor so egotistical that I couldn't handle the conversation that they were moving a different direction. Others might become angered with this situation and perhaps that's why I'm hearing second hand that the position is now open again. I simply don't have the time or energy to spare on anger. I find it sad and very educational. Sad that a professional relationship I cultivated for over 6 months turned out to be the "same stuff, different day" scenario. Educational in that if I value a degree of transparency and courage in business, perhaps I've misjudged that this organization was deserving of my talents.

I won't tell you I've never sold the "alignment with business objectives" line before. I used to have postcards with that same verbiage emblazoned on them to send out to candidates who were not selected for consideration. In those days I was working high volume recruiting for technical tradespeople and simply couldn't touch base with every candidate that send in a resume. What I can tell you is that if I interviewed them, I wasn't scared to speak to them directly to provide the bad news if they ultimately were not selected for the position, especially if it were down to 2 or 3 candidates. You do more for your company's reputation and your personal reputation by having tough conversations than you do by having the easy ones.

Go forth and be courageous! Don't hide and always follow the easy path. What do candidates say about you and your organization when they are out networking? I can tell you they are recounting their good and bad experiences and creating a reputation for you whether you know it or not. Everyone wants to be the "Employer of Choice", but very few show the courage to claim such a lofty title.

In honor of President's Day.........go lead.

ZW
http://azmobilehr.com