I was wrapping up my work at the 2011 Asian-American Journalists Association conference (AAJA) when a young lady, completely new to recruiting, came to me expressing some frustration. As a leader for the social media where she works, she talked her company into paying for her to attend the conference and was genuinely looking forward to finding people for the TEN openings they have now.  Yes, they have ten full-time positions they are looking to fill.

We talked about recruitment strategies and one I had suggested was to not sit at the career fair booth, or at least not for very long.  

"What you should do is meet people, talk and do it away from some sort of top-down set up with you at a display table and them on the other side of it. There needs to be a large degree of strategic randomness to your recruiting," I said. 

She did just that and found a candidate for a position as a staff blogger with her company.  Note, this is a full-time, paid position.

My colleague made an early coffee appointment with this future candidate, arrived on time and waited.  She assumed this potential applicant was just as eager, as they had e-mailed twice to confirm the appointment time and location.  She got there and waited.  And waited and waited.

No call, text, e-mail of apology. Nothing.  The applicant never showed.

Unfortunately this happens too.  One day someone is hugely excited.  The next, they leave you hanging.  People do change their minds and that's ok.  But being rude is no excuse. And guess what?  My colleague told me about it, I know the name of the job-seeker and am now writing about it.  Not good is it?  You know I'm always talking about the "degrees of seperation" right?

Do yourself a huge favor when you make an appointment with someone and change your mind: Be a grown-up about doing so; that way no one wastes their time.  

Your reputation (not mine) depends on it.

doug@knowledgwebb.net

*Chantal de la Rionda edits this blog