Businesses behaving badly — to job seekers (Calling All FR HR Types)

The Boston Globe ^ | 29 March 2011 | Katie Johnston Chase

[buccaneer81]

The software company definitely seemed interested in hiring Tom Fleming. It set up breakfast and lunch meetings, then flew the Concord salesman to its headquarters in Virginia for interviews with a half-dozen executives, including the founder and chief executive. But after promising to get back to him in a week, the company never contacted him again.

[buccaneer81]

It's one thing to never hear back, but when they won't reimburse for travel per previous agreement, that's just sleazy.

[sten]

i grew up in Acton MA and worked in the northern VA area for about 10 years.

yes, people are that sleazy... at a minimum.

i’ve had headhunters try to get me fired from the job i was in so they could put me on a contract they had.

[proxy_user]

They could also try to fill the opening you left behind!

[blackdog]

Pendulum swings. Such firms can survive doing this during this economy and job market, but they will die when the situation normalizes.

I have experienced the worst treatment when looking for a job I have ever experienced at any level of doing the most menial work as a kid. My wife got relocated and I had to quit and leave my job of many years.

The degree of apathetic indifference which mid level managers base their decisions on when it comes to managing the company's assets, lines of business, and staff is creating a future nightmare for firms. The key for these managers is to operate under the radar. When these firms need strong leadership to regrow lines of business and services, they are doomed.

[I am Richard Brandon]

This is a BS article. The HR types don’t say “No” (1) in case a candidate they chose does not turn out well and they need a back-up, and (2) in case they are challenged or worse still, sued over a ‘refusal’. And yes, overwork/laziness may be in there as well when you may get 1,000 applicants for a position.

[9YearLurker]

I don’t think of your average HR person as being the FR type.

[Caipirabob]

We once had a candidate who concluded and interview with "Please, I need this job". We didn't think he was up to snuff by that point. We felt horrible and it took a very long time to respond to him with a rejection.

I still feel bad. Sad thing is, it almost immediately eliminated him as a candidate.

We REALLY felt uncomfortable after that and who wants someone who has no problem putting you in an extremely difficult situation even before you hire them?

[buccaneer81]

I really think a lot of this (based on the HR dept in my company) is that they are “compensating” (some would say retaliating) for the relatively easy time job seekers had from 1995-2005.

[Vendome]

Sorry that people get their feelings hurt but the only thing that should be important is landing a job.

[buccaneer81]

I would feel bad for a guy like that too, but no way would I ever hire him. His judgment was faulty, and that is a big red flag.

[tioga]

I don’t think of your average HR person as being the FR type.

Huh!

[buccaneer81]

I don’t think of your average HR person as being the FR type.

Back about ten years or so, a very enterprising FReeper put together a list, based on a thread asking about education and occupation of FReepers. It was very interesting. There actually were some HR types listed. I have it bookmarked, I'll send it to you.

There was also a FR photo album. I was in that, too.

[CommieCutter]

I really think a lot of this (based on the HR dept in my company) is that they are “compensating” (some would say retaliating) for the relatively easy time job seekers had from 1995-2005.

That's absolute BS for them to act this way. I agree though. I see my company acting this way because I got lot's of over time when times were good.

I understand times are bad. But don't act like my past earnings were on LOAN.

[Sioux-san]

there’s a big difference between dealing with 1000 apps for one job and actually bringing in a far smaller number of people for interviews. The latter group deserves a close-out email and/or phone call. A hospital I worked for wouldn’t contact anyone unless the job was actually filled. So, if they didn’t like anybody, then the ones who interviewed never heard back. Not very professional unless the applicants were told what the drill will be.

[buccaneer81]

As promised:

FReeper Profiles, December 11, 2001

[blackdog]

Fair enough description, but in what way is that beneficial to the future operations of a company?

It's like saying it's ok to be rude and unprofessional because you invited less than ideal guests to your home for last year's party?

[buccaneer81]

From the FReeper profiles in 2001:

HUMAN RESOURCES

* Executive IT staffing industry - Raleigh

* Headhunter - Curmudgeon

* Masters Degree in Human Resources - Kim C

* Account Executive with Recruiting Firm specializing in Information Technology positions - Kim C

* Former headhunter - mlmr

* Human Resources. - RoseD

* Human Resources - benefits administration for major supplier to big 3. - Zcat

* Retired benefits director. - tnwalker

* Senior Human Resource Professional, Airline Employee - Central Scrutiniser

* Currently (for the past thirteen years) Human Resources consultant - eloy

* Production Coach (kind of an HR position) - Texas2Step

* Spent 7 years in Personnel - Sueann

* Part owner and chief financial officer of a personnel services company - angelo

[buccaneer81]

Fair enough description, but in what way is that beneficial to the future operations of a company?

We've all heard that US companies plan for a year, while Japanese and Chinese companies plan for 20 years.

I think we in the West invest emotions into business situations where logic should rule.

[blackdog]

And as badly as the guy was treated he learned something from it to use going forward. If it's a trend, use it to your advantage. If it's a sign of unhealthy philosophical norms in a company, consider being indifferent and dismissive to their future relations with you within the industry. Unwarranted treatment comes back on you ten fold.

This era of tough times will produce a future group of leaders and workers who will be far better than their previous selves would have become.

It's a Dickins world out there folks.

[buccaneer81]

I see my company acting this way because I got lot's of over time when times were good.

I've seen mid-level suits making $80k furious because guys in greasy coveralls made $90k with overtime.