Employers Show Their True Colours In A Downturn

I found the Toronto Star article too compelling NOT to write about it. http://www.parentcentral.ca/parent/article/623726.

The article speaks of newly-minted mothers among others who are “let go” despite clear Ontario laws stating that maternity leave is a right, not a revocable priviledge.  Many of these employers use the recession as an excuse to condone unethical behaviour, for the purpose of maintaining profit margins and mitigating losses.

This of course brings up a much larger issue.  I’ve seen great companies fall, and with it the moral and ethical standards they tout so brazenly during the good times.  In effect, we begin to see the true colours of a company emerge in a downturn.

The reason we see once high-flying companies stoop to the lowest ethical common denominator is simple.  Companies don’t have the cash to employ the right people who maintain the legal, moral and ethical checks & balances.  In some cases it is actually cheaper to let someone go and wait for a legal claim to be made and be handled by lawyers.

Yes, it’s about money.  Everything in business lives and dies with cash flow, including wellness campaigns and ethical high grounds.  When dollars are tight, companies cut corners and guess what…you see the real “brains” behind the operations hard at work.  In some cases there isn’t much of a surprise but in other cases it is a complete shock – the lack of humanity and common sense can be absurdly staggering.

I unfortunately cannot predict every single scenario with respects to unethical treatment by Employers but I though it important to highlight that in a downturn, people and companies can get pretty ugly. 

The potential upside is, if you are on the market and looking around that you will find great companies who are not only managing the recession well, but they are growing in a difficult period of time – that says alot about the company fundamentals which comes from the top down.

This article was written by Jay Zaidi – jzaidi1@hotmail.com

Thank You – Readership hits 1500 a week!

Friends,

I want to thank you for your continued support. Canadian Recruitment Insider is being read by 1500 professionals like you every single week.

I hope to provide some more information in the weeks and months to come regarding the recruitment industry including Q&As with high level executives, a detailed analysis on the best and worst recruitment companies in Canada and continued articles relating to employment.

Please keep on reading and passing on anything useful to people you know who are having challenges in this tepid job market.

Jay Zaidi – jzaidi1@hotmail.com

What To Do When An Employer Says “NO”

Chances are, those who are currently unemployed and seeking employment are either no receiving responses to applications or ARE getting to the interview stage but not moving forward.

Why?

It’s simple.  You don’t fit the quote-un-quote role.  The reality is there is someone out there who has more experience, education and determination asking for the same role.

We often here the word NO but it’s never that direct.  It comes in the form of a non-response (the employer stops communicating all together) or “we are not going to move forward with you at this time”.  The reason for the friendly turn-away is simple.  Anything beyond the standard response could be seen as litigious. 

Imagine what would happen if someone actually gave you honest feedback.  You’d either be extremely gracious or crushed.  Chances are you’d be crushed.  Think about it, if an HR person you interviewed with told you that the reason why he/she are not moving forward is because your breath was bad, or your suit was too small OR you are too fat it could possibly pose some legal issues.

So if you do not receive a response or you hear word that you are not moving forward then it is incumbent upon YOU to find out why and improve/correct yourself.  Below is an outline of what to do.  This is only a partial list but should cover the basics:

• Never speak poorly or respond emotionally to negative news.  It will just reinforce the notion that the employer made the right decision to end your journey.  Every communication must be professional and polished.  I’ve seen too many candidates blow up when they receive bad news.
• Ask questions.  You may not get a response but you’ve invested time in the interview process.  Ask what you can do in order to improve yourself in the future.  Ask to remain a candidate for similar roles with them.  Ask if the employer knows peers in other industries looking for similar people.  Check with them to see if it is ok to email them once in a while (once a month/once a quarter).
• Add the employer to your professional network.  LinkedIN is a brilliant way to remain in contact.  It doesn’t hurt to send an invite.  Just be careful that you don’t project the wrong image.
• Refer your aptly skilled peers to the employer from time to time.  They may not have chosen you, but they might pick your buddy for a similar role.  You would win favours with the hiring manager and your friend on the “inside”.
• Remain positive.  Keep in mind that every “NO” gets you closer to a YES – you have to constantly improve yourself though – aggregate all the feedback and use that as a jump point for improvement.

Understand, It’s a tough market for virtually everyone right now.  A NO should never be taken personally despite the market conditions.  Companies still need to hire people, and in the coming years the prospects will only look brighter.

**This article was written by Jay Zaidi – jzaidi1@hotmail.com

“Take Aways” From A Bad Interview

Everyone is bound to have a bad interview at least once in their life.  I define “bad” as a meeting to which no one benefits from.  Yes, even recruitment professionals looking for a new gig are prone to the same challenges as everyone else.

I recently met a VP at a national recruiting firm.  It took over 4 weeks, a personality profile and a re-scheduled meeting before I met with this person.  I could tell the minute I sat down that I had more knowledge and experience in the recruitment business than this person did.  Not to say this VP wasn’t a good person (seemed really nice actually), but lack of this person’s industry knowledge made it hard to make a connection to someone who has never been in the recruitment trenches (it’s an all out WAR at times). 

At first I was thinking that there must be a better use of my time.   My gut was telling me to ”end it quick” but logic prevailed and I was able to sit through it all.  I’m so glad I stuck around too.  It was not a waste fo my time after all – in fact I gained more perspective and insight than I would have researching the company on the net or talking to ex-employees.

So what did I gain?

The first thing you need to understand is that every interaction and transaction has value, regardless of how minute it is.  By meeting with this VP I knew that working along side this person would not serve in my best interest or theirs.  I saved myself some grief and perhaps a career damaging move.  Secondly, I met another player in the recruitment industry that I might be able to contact in the future – business cards are GOLD!

If you walk away from a bad interview please keep the following in mind.  It’ll help build perspective and ultimately enhances your experience.

• NO is a “good” word.  If you meet with a company and they say they are not going to hire you then walk away with a smile.  The more NO’s you get, the greater the chances of you hitting a YES.  In this market it has almost become a game of numbers – and the odds are stacked against you.  Keep rolling the dice.
• Use the inside information you have gained and talk to your peers.  They may be interviewing at the same company and you just may help them move along in the process.  This is good because you have less competition for other roles AND that person will no doubt feel a great deal of gratitude.  Favours are often returned down the line.
• Refer a friend.  If you know you are not going to get the job then offer to refer a friend who is like yourself or a closer fit.   You’ll be doing the interviewer and your friend a favour AND you gain credibility for future employment.  It’s a Win-Win situation for the employer and eventually yourself.
• Solicit feedback.  If you know you are not going to move forward then kindly ask the interviewer what you can do in order to enhance yourself the next time around.  Every meeting is a growth experience but it only works if your intention is to constantly improve yourself.
• Personality – Be consistent and be yourself.  If you feel the meeting hasn’t gone your way then don’t fret.  As long as you know you put forth your very best effort and remain even-keeled about the results (i.e not overly emotional) that is all anyone can ask.
• Always send a thank you note.  Regardless of how good or bad the interview may have seemed, always send a thank you email or card.  WHY?  Simple, it’s polite and that interviewer may know of other openings in the industry that you may be better suited for.

This article was written by Jay Zaidi – jzaidi1@hotmail.com.