The fatal consequence of the non-response
"You know that feeling when you've written a really good application or sent out a bunch of applications hoping to get an interview, but you just never get a response back??"
This quote is taken from an online debate site and is just one of many people's frustrations with the "silent rejection" that you can unfortunately encounter in many places in life.
But is it really that important that we reply to each other? Or can we just leave a resounding silence and let the recipient accept it for what it is? Isn't replying just an outdated tradition that serves to flatter the other person? In this article, we will delve into the consequences of giving without receiving - because it's relevant in love, friendship and not least in the job hunt!
Giving without getting anything in return
It was Henry Miller, a well-known author of erotic works in the 20th century, who noticed the disharmony of giving everything to receive little. According to Miller, this is an unhealthy dynamic in relationships and he recommends that we maintain some sort of balance in our relationships.
Miller believes that we can only continue to give without receiving a certain amount of time before it becomes harmful. By repeatedly experiencing nothing in return, we risk entering the 'doormat' state described by sociologist Adam Grant. This is a state where we feel used and stepped on.
Grant, the author of the book "Give and Take", applies this give-and-take problem to business. He predicts significant success for leaders who are 'givers', but who also know how to set boundaries and not be stepped on (like a doormat).
In general, giving without expecting anything in return is seen as the highest ideal. This is according to Associate Professor of Theology, Bo Kristian Holm. However, he notes that in certain situations, simply accepting another person's gift is the greatest gift you can give: A symbolic recognition that the other person has something valuable to give.
Thank you for your application
Companies provide such recognition by sending an acknowledgment after receiving a job application. Yet 29% of job seekers report that 50% or less of the time they never hear back from companies. This is according to a study from jobfisk.dk.
And the betrayal is palpable. The humiliation of the outstretched arm, the slim hope of a future relationship, is shattered.
The reality is, of course and fortunately, different, as no business leader or professional HR department wants to deliberately offend their candidates. For many, receiving without giving is just as uncomfortable as sending an application without getting a response. But all companies understand the effort that goes into a job application. Unfortunately, however, we live in a fast-paced world where time pressures can force companies to put job applications low on the priority list. This is where doormat recruitment comes in: When candidates don't receive a response to their applications and feel stepped on.
Employer branding
The consequences of a 'doormat' recruitment process can be disastrous. Feeling stepped on doesn't necessarily mean you'll be paralyzed - quite the opposite.
For example, Virgin Media discovered in a study from 2014that 18% of their rejected candidates were Virgin Media customers and 7,500 of them switched to a competing company. All because of a bad recruitment experience! Virgin calculated the loss at £4.4 million, which was roughly equivalent to Virgin's annual recruitment budget.
Since then, Virgin Media has gotten smarter. They have introduced an electronic recruitment system to ensure a reliable and automated response process. They have also focused on a number of parameters aimed at improving their employer branding. All of this was coordinated on a specially developed platform with everything from interview tips to video clips of the company's internal culture for candidates to prepare themselves before the interview.
This electronic platform became Virgin's essential tool for showing simple, human respect. A recognition that an automated response is better than no response. And an understanding that it's okay to meet many with a standard response if it's well-intentioned and created in the tone and spirit with which you want to meet new and valuable faces.
Elvium's solution to doormat recruitment
A lack of communication in the recruitment process can create a feeling of being overlooked or undervalued among job seekers. This is a challenge that we at Elvium have tackled at the root with our innovative recruitment system. The system is designed to efficiently handle applications and ensure that every candidate receives a well-intentioned response - regardless of the outcome of their application.
The recruitment system is Elvium's solution to tackling the 'doormat' problem. By automating the response process, companies can ensure that no applicant is left in the dark. In addition, the recruitment system strengthens companies' employer branding, as a timely and respectful response will give a positive impression of the company - regardless of the outcome of the application.
With Elvium's recruitment system in place, companies can efficiently handle the high volume of applications they receive - without compromising on decency and respect towards their potential employees. This means a final goodbye to 'doormat' recruitment and a warm welcome to a more empathetic and productive hiring process.
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