Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Basic Professional Courtesy

I am always surprised when my emails go unanswered. I am not talking about emails I send to prospective clients or candidates, but rather those sent to people I have actually met and spoke with on more than one occasion.
I have one contact in particular, to whom I reached out three different times to follow up. I never received a response, not even a one liner acknowledging receipt of my courtesy emails. Imagine my surprise when the same individual sent me her resume asking that I assist her in her job search as she had just lost her employment.

Unacceptable to say the least! How interested would you think we are in representing someone who does not demonstrate basic professionalism?

Here is my suggestion. If you have any contacts that you feel might be valuable to you in the future, nurture these relationships and at the very least respond to the emails you receive. It is important to have a long-term vision and not only think of how useful one is to you at a given moment. If you choose to ignore your contacts when they reach out to you, don’t be surprised when no one rushes in your direction when it is you who needs something.

2 comments:

  1. hmmm...interesting, I remember exchanging a few e-mails with Marina from Pronexia (then at Quantum), only for her to "unprofessionally" disappear without ever responding even though we met face-to-face...

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  2. @Vincent Perreault-Smith:

    I am so surprised and so sorry to receive your comment. We must have met shortly before I had my little girl and had no access to my office emails. I really wish someone else had responded to your requests for follow up in my absense (during my maternity leave). It must have been really discouraging to receive no response to your inquiries.

    It is always my absolute commitment to provide top service to my candidates and I do not allow my emails to go unanswered.

    I really hope this clarifies the situation and am available to chat at your convenience to discuss it further.

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