Dear Coach, Do employers know how unprofessional their recruiters are? If I miss their call, I immediately return it when I get home. But I never get a human voice or a response, no matter what time I call or how often I call. Isn’t this poor customer relations? And the bosses condone it?
Carol Kleiman: Unfortunately, this behavior often is encouraged. Employers are flooded with applications and often turn them over to outside agencies to process. If the first person doesn’t answer, they quickly go on to the next and never get back to the first–as you well know by now. I think it’s inhumane.
Dear Coach, We work in a small department of a large corporation. We are all very close. And that’s why we’ve been so upset recently that one of our team is gone, desk cleaned out, no farewells. We know she complained of harassment but the supervisor she complained about still is here. We’d like to keep in touch but she doesn’t return our call. Can we ask what happened to her?
CK: You can ask, but you probably won’t get an answer. If she did leave under a legal agreement, she might not be permitted to communicate with you–and management might not be able to, either.
Dear Coach, I recently switched departments and was given a clear job description. I had some downtime so I volunteered to help others. My boss said it would be good experience but I could stop whenever I want. It turns out I really hate helping out because the group is so disorganized and no one told its manager I would be helping out. I want out, but my boss wants me to continue. It’s another of his many promises that have fallen through.
CK: You have to acknowledge that you work for a boss who does not keep his promises. Continue to be the professional you are but you might want to think about leaving before these circumstances get you down.
COACH CAROL’S 15-SECOND DRILL
Don’t get involved in office personality clashes–even if one of the parties is your best friend. ———-
Carol Kleiman’s columns also appear in Tuesday’s and Thursday’s Business sections. Watch her “Career Coach” segments on CLTV.