Candidates sending text messages to interviewers?
August 6, 2008 by Sam NarisiPosted in: In this week's e-newsletter, Latest News & Views, Online recruiting
Used to be job candidates would send thank-you letters to interviewers. Now they’re going high-tech — and employers might not be happy.
According to a recent Wall Street Journal article, some younger job seekers have taken to sending thank-you text messages — sometimes just minutes after leaving the interview.
Also, recruiters say candidates are using “text-speak” (i.e., “Thnx 4 the interview : )”), both in actual text messages and in e-mails. And some have been “friended” by candidates on social networking sites.
Not surprisingly, such antics usually mean the person won’t get the job.
What has your experience been? Has technology changed the way younger job seekers are communicating with you? Does it affect how your company hires? Let us know in the comments section.
Tags: e-mail, social networking, text messages, thank-you note
August 12th, 2008 at 2:28 pm
This is ridiculous. I use text messaging with my friends and family, but I would never think that it is acceptable to send a thank you to an interviewer that way. I would also not even think of using text abbreviations in a thank you email. I think that high schools should offer some type of class for “real world” skills like filling out an application, writing a resume and interviewing skills.
August 12th, 2008 at 2:50 pm
Laura,
Great comments…I totally agree! “Real World” classes would be much appreciated when I get resumes and cover letters that look like my nine year old wrote them!
August 12th, 2008 at 4:51 pm
The wave of the future is with these kids. They are more savvy with the technology than we were in school. In order to learn to adjust to this new generation of perspective employees, we have to learn to communicate with them. If we fail to embrace their way of communication, we may end up passing up a really bright candidate. I know the schools do teach these kids how to fill out an application and write a resume. The texting is a comfortable form of communication for them. Interviews are a nerve racking thing for a job seeker. Getting a thank you at all for an interview is something that always puts a candidate out in front with me.
August 13th, 2008 at 10:31 am
I would not personally send a text message to thank an interviewer for the time they spent with me, but I wouldn’t be offended if I received one. I think we get way too bent out of shape about things that really aren’t that important. The key is, did they fit. Do they have what you’re looking for…experience, skill and knowledge. I’ve had applicants with green or blue hair. They were applying for production position, so it really didn’t matter. And, in my opinion, these types of things should only be considered if it has something to do with their ability to do the job.
Before you label me as one of the “younger” generation, I’m an HR professional with 20+ years of experience and am over 50 (gasp!), though I’m relatively techno-savvy. Technology is a tool. There was a day when people frowned at sending a thank you via e-mail too, but now that’s standard. I don’t mind people using any tool in a positive way and to me, saying thank you is positive.
That said, I do think if they “friended” me on a social networking site, I would be a little off-put. That’s slightly over the top to me and would make me uncomfortable.
October 7th, 2008 at 2:59 pm
While I agree that it is important to keep up with the technology and be open-minded about the vast variety of communication options available, I do not think that “text-speak” is appropriate. Sending a text message is fine, provided that the message is clearly readable to anyone, and there are simply too many short-cuts used in text messaging.
To be quite honest, I do not provide my cell number to interview candidates, so text-messaging me a thank you is not an option. I am glad to receive thank yous by email or snail mail, but I hold both to the standard rules of grammar and punctuation. If a person is applying for a job, particularly in a capacity that would require written communications in any form, I expect they would display their ability to write a formal letter, regardless of whether it is in an electronic format or an “old-fashioned” letter.
November 5th, 2008 at 3:54 pm
I agree with Angie’s remark that “the wave of the future is with these kids.” If the candidate is best qualified for the position, NOT hiring because of a text message is a bit short-sited.
I supervise the IT department for a luxury cabin rental company in the Smoky Mountains. Even though our clientele tends to be of an older generation, we actively employ social media in our marketing. My 82 year old mother uses email and the web, so new technology is no longer the exclusive province of the young.
To ignore newer methods of communication, like texting, is to cling to the past and cut oneself off from the future.