and the answer is....no.

no they don't.

candidates can choose to stink, and so can companies.

i've written plenty before on how candidates might not be as perfect as they think they are.  i've also written about all the things i was trying to get done in a typical day, and why i couldn't possibly reply to you in the manner in which you think you deserve.  (okay.  here's the thing.  you do deserve personal replies.  the thing is, in HR, there's a lot to do and that has to be balanced with getting everything else done and attending to all those who already work for you.  especially if you're working in an organization where it's just you, or you and one other HR person.....there are just so many hours in a day.  and there are way too many people who over-estimate their qualifications and get down-right ticked off when they aren't treated in the way they feel entitled to be treated.  and as i saw it, that wasn't really my problem.  i was just doing the best i could.  even almost got it's suggestion of a mail merge made me shiver, because that would mean i'd have had to enter every single candidates address into a computer.....and then print letters....and then stuff them into envelopes....and then post them....and then....well....seriously?  when i was in HR, there were way better things to do with my time.  do you know how many resumes i got for a job listing?  do you know how many of those people had absolutely no qualifications and didn't match the job at all?  and you want me to go through all that effort just because you hit "apply to this job" online somewhere?  argh.  i don't think so.  but maybe it's a good thing i'm not in HR anymore.)

;-)

but i digress, we're talking about how fabulous a company needs to be, right?

and a company doesn't have to be fabulous at all.  if they're asking for too much info up front, like a salary history or references, don't respond.  they'll miss out on great candidates, but it sounds like the kind of company that is so impressed with themselves that they won't mind.

pay attention to a company's hiring process and how they treat you along the way.  it'll tell you a lot about what it's going to be like to work there.  at the same time, don't be too quick to judge just because they didn't respond in the manner you'd like in the timeframe you'd like using the words you'd like.  after all, they're human too.  and you'd hate to miss out on a great opportunity just because of something that might just be an over-sight on the part of a stressed out HR person on a very very busy day.

if a company wants great talent, they'll do it right.

if they don't, they won't.

if a company wants to be great, they'll be paying attention to their hiring process and making tweaks and changes and improvements as they go.  (the information is out there.  there are consultants willing to work with companies who realize they need help in this area.  people within industries do write and talk about these things.)

if they don't, they won't.

and that's just fine.  that's their stuff and it probably goes deeper than just the HR department.  it is probably the result of many many years of antiquated processes and a management team that doesn't get it.  which means you don't want to work there anyway.

don't fight it.

just let it go.

after all, a company that operates like that?

they probably aren't going to suddenly hear from a disgruntled candidate, say "oh!  i get it now" and make any significant changes.  they're happy working the way they are. 

so just laugh to yourself and move on to the next possible gig.

all the best!

deb