Happy Holidays, I got you spam
While it is the thought that counts, spamming me with your resume is not going to get you a job.
Not now.
Not tomorrow.
Not ever.
I hate spam. I hate the mentality behind spam (repeat it over and over until you get a response because spam is virtually cost free).
I also hate e-mail in general but that is for another post altogether.
Back in the “good old days,” it took a lot more time and effort to apply for jobs so spamming was less of an issue. Now since fax machines and then electronic applications have taken over…well, it has become more of an issue.
Here’s a clue: you aren’t going to annoy yourself into a job. I am not going to relent because you’re a pain in the ass.
I’ve had a rec up for two weeks and will often see multiple apps. I have had people that applied every single day for the same job.
How much will do they think I have? I am in the business of telling people “no” all day. What makes them think I am actually going to not say “no” to a person that gives me a good reason to do so?
All of this ties back to the holidays because consumerism is all the rage and spending truck loads of money is cool instead of figuring out what I “really” want, you’re just going to throw whatever at me. I am flattered. You should go for quality, not quantity though. It only take one right resume to get a job but a hundred bad ones won’t get it done. Ever.
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Your HR Guy is a Human Resources Generalist practicing in the field. But don't let that fool you, this isn't a boring blog. I seek relevance and humor in a place we will spend much of our lives. Everything from workplace issues, job seeking and terrible bosses. Read more...
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I am a Director of H/R for a small company, about 300 associates. I often e-mail request for interviews, in response to an e-mailed resume. I then follow up with a call to confirm the appointment. I received the following e-mail in response to a request to meet for an interview.
[ Thanks for the message, I have filled out so many applications either on-line or in person that I have kind a lost track of who is who. Can you refresh my memory on what exactly I would be doing as a ________?
I hope you do not consider that a stupid question, I just want a definition of what that is to your company.
As you can see by some of my past experience, I am very versatile in an office setting. Please let me know at your earliest convenience.
Thanks again,
Michael ]
This guy was going through an online service just e-mailing every posting. I laughed at first because most people at least go back and find thejob before responding to my e-mail. However it is my experience that not only do people just post resumes to whatever is on-line or where ever they can find an e-mail they don’t even have the decency to keep a list of potential job leads.
I also interviewed a person last week that told me he needed more information about the position because, “the on-line job posting was not very descriptive”. A quick hint to job seekers make sure this is a true statement prior to telling the Director of H/R their postings are not descriptive. I printed the posting which contained 90% of the job description. He obviously did not read it before coming in. I handed it to him and he struggled to come up with a question about the “missing” data.
I love resumes via e-mail. However most people need to stop and think before sending. Also do not send a CEO level resume in response to an entry level opening. I get this alot and it’s annoying.
Ok, my two cents and sorry to stray from the primary topic.
Kel in KC
You’re going to say No? Excellent! The reason why people apply every single day is NOT that you keep telling them No. It’s that you (I don’t mean you, I mean the bad, evil HR people out there and we all know they exist) DON’T TELL THEM ANYTHING! So if I’m applying for a job and I submitted on it and I hear nothing am I supposed to read your mind? Or do I assume that with the thousands of other apps you never saw it so here it comes again?
Steve, good point, I hate that too. The fact is, I shouldn’t get duplicate applications after I’ve confirmed I’ve received it. Especially not after two weeks. But I’ve found that many places are irresponsible in getting back to people. That sucks. But I don’t know if spamming has ever worked in that situation. I think it is too much of a risk.
“..spamming me with your resume is not going to get you a job.” I’m sure the people “spamming” you with resumes don’t think of it as spamming. They probably just think of it as a quick way of introducing themselves and being “persistent” which a lot of people advised. Maybe you should set up an auto responder saying “I got your resume and will take a look”
Tommy, as I said above, there is an auto-responder that responds every time we receive a resume. This is to make both our lives a bit easier as you don’t have to worry about whether I have received it and I don’t have to receive calls asking if I received it.