The After Interview Call Screen

Ever notice how HR offices are very quick to call an applicant, answer their phone and respond to emails when they are interested in a candidate? They are excited and eager to answer your questions, set up your interview(s), see if you have any concerns, etc. And after the interview you usually always get their business card (Tip: if you don't, you should make it a habit of asking). This is so you can stay in contact with them later on. Afterall, look at how excited they were to meet with you.

The thing is, I have found that for the most part, the contact ends with the interview. Typically, I have experienced it working like this: After an interview you write a thank you letter to the HR department/recruiter for their time and ask to be notified of the next steps. After no response you may call them a week later to check in or send them an email. You will most likely get their voicemail and you rarely get a response to your email.

A friend of mine works in a company where several HR employees have been screening their calls for several months, avoiding applicants that are not getting hired. So instead, the applicant calls once a week or once every other week looking for an answer, wasting his/her time unknowingly.

• Why can't the recruiter just let the applicant know they are going in a different direction?
• Why does the same thing happen with resumes (I enjoy getting automated emails saying the company is not interested in me. Granted, I would prefer the company was interested in me, but at least I know to focus my energies elsewhere instead of wondering if they will call or if they got my information)?
• Has this ever happened to you or do you have an opinion on the matter? Feel free to comment below.