The Maddening Candidate Experience
Kent R.
“I submitted my resume last week, and I have not heard anything yet. What should I do?” Despite the fact that I get the question almost every day, I am still surprised when it pops up. While it may sound glib, the honest answer to that question is “be more realistic.”
I understand that the candidate experience is maddening. The entire process can feel arcane and arbitrary. Recognizing that, you’ve got to remain realistic or you the entire process will get the best of you. Here are two things to keep in mind as you navigate the application process.
There is no standard timeframe. Companies are inundated with resumes at the same time that HR departments are often running like skeleton crews. It is not uncommon for positions to be open for extended periods.
Don’t rush to apply. Check the requisition close date and plan accordingly. Even if the company is taking a rolling review approach, there is no benefit in rushing to submit a sub-par resume.
As an HR professional, I am pushing my business clients to adopt more transparent and candidate friendly application processes. Until things change, you’ve got to remain realistic and work with the processes that exist.