A Gentle Decline

Today I received a rejection letter from a hiring company, and surprisingly, I'm thrilled about it.  It's not because I don't want the job.  Quite the opposite, actually.  But I'm pleased that management took the time to thank me for my interest in the position with a polite and friendly email -- an increasingly rare practice these days.  But as impressed as I am, it makes me wonder why good manners are no longer in vogue in the business world.  Could it be that Corporate America has forgotten what really should be amongst the best business practices?

As it happens, big business actually can't be faulted for its seemingly faulty memory.  The lack of rejection letters from hiring organizations is simply a sign of the times borne out of the current unemployment crisis.  Theoretically, larger organizations should have the manpower and the budget to expedite rejection responses, but conscious of costs, even corporate giants are cutting back.  The majority of small to midsized firms cannot even consider the expense, so job-seekers are often left hanging due to these new normal economic restraints. 

A plethora of issues exists behind the lack of rejection letters, ranging from understaffed organizations and overwhelmed talent acquisition departments besieged with legions of resumes to the costs associated with sending these often meaningless missives.  These days, the reality is that corporate staffers simply cannot keep up with the volume of responses to job listings, resulting in the rejection letter becoming a casualty of the unemployment crisis.  Making matters worse, staff cuts and hiring freezes have resulted in a lack of manpower necessary to accomplish the task of expediting rejection responses, so again, the rejection letter falls victim to the many wrinkles in the job market.  And then there's the economic angle to consider.  Most organizations are not budgeted to expedite mass rejections letters.  Putting it into perspective, if a hiring company receives 300 resumes in response to a single help wanted listing, realistically speaking, the hiring company is not going to spend approximately $130 (at the first-class rate) on the cost of postage alone to send out scores of rejection letters -- never mind the expense of envelopes, paper, et cetera.  It just isn't economically feasible, so many organizations have done away with this practice, and probably wisely so, considering current economic conditions.

Fortunately, electronic mail has proven itself to be a cost-effective method of getting the rejection message across.  However, the major knock on email is the manpower which must be utilized to expedite rejection messages.  With so many personnel cutbacks in the workplace, most firms simply cannot assign workers to this task, which is time-consuming and admittedly benign.  Perhaps an intern could be pressed into service, but most talent acquisition departments are unlikely to entrust this more or less confidential duty to a college student who, technically, isn't an employee.  

So, for all the resumes I've sent out -- and this number is probably nearing the 150 mark by now -- this is actually the first rejection response I've received.  Granted, it's via email but I think we all agree that electronic media is a perfectly acceptable mode of communication.  Snail mail, of course, is a thing of the past, and I certainly don't fault firms for slashing their postage stamp budgets during this time of economic uncertainty.  Regardless of the method of expedition, I appreciate the outreach, as well as knowing where my application stands, even though an interview isn't the end result. 

When in Doubt, Send a Hallmark

Hallmark recently unveiled a new line of greeting cards targeted at soothing the unemployment woes of recently displaced workers.  Yes, that's right.  When your dad, neighbor or best buddy loses his/her job, you can send some much-needed cheer, courtesy of the cardmakers who supposedly care.  Categorized under the company's "Loss of Job" section, as found at your local stationery store, sympathetic shoppers can choose from up to eight different selections of recession- and layoff-themed cards (http://www.hallmark.com/occasion/encouragement/loss-of-job).

 

Creative soul I am, even I could not make this stuff up.  Giving Hallmark the extreme benefit of the doubt for a very brief moment, I'm tempted to say that this new card line is possibly well-intentioned and probably harmless.  After all, isn't sending a greeting card with a kindly note a genuine show of support for the unfortunate?  Hallmark does have a card for every occasion -- or so it seems -- so why draw the line at job loss?  Maybe it's me, but somehow a handwritten letter with one's own sentiments seems more sincere. 

Personally, I suspect that this marketing ploy has less to do with compassion for the currently unemployed and more to do with attempting to boost sales.  Call me a cynic, but I can't believe big business has a big heart.  It's may be a good thing for Hallmark employees as this latest line may very well keep some copywriters, graphic designers, printers, et cetera, off the unemployment line, as card sales have declined of late.  And it's probably a good thing for Hallmark as this latest card line will surely generate some revenue.  All indications point toward the line's success, so perhaps Hallmark does have a winner here.

While I'm not at all certain that I'd welcome an influx of job loss-related greeting cards in my mailbox, others may be thrilled to receive them.  According to an online article published by a Colorado-based NBC affiliate, Lost Your Job, There's a Card for That (http://www.9news.com/money/221309/344/Lost-your-job-Theres-a-card-for-that), job loss greetings may actually cheer and inspire recipients.  Just ask jobless outreach worker, Michelle Crowthers of Work One, who believes that receiving such a card in the mailbox may actually motivate a displaced worker.  "Getting a card like that and somebody caring is fabulous," said Crowthers.  "At least someone's caring enough to, you know, get a card and say 'I'm thinking of you.'"

Rest in Peace, Andy Rooney

Less than a month ago, I posted here on The Pensive Proofreader what essentially became a tribute to veteran broadcaster, Andy Rooney, formerly of CBS's 60 Minutes.  My reasons for posting on this topic had less to do with Mr. Rooney's professional accomplishments and more to do with the current crop of broadcasters, many of whom lack the academic background and journalistic zeal which Mr. Rooney certainly possessed.  Generally speaking, I disdain pretty on-air faces which have failed to pay their dues, and felt that Mr. Rooney, an old school journalist, was considerably more deserving of any accolades I could give.  But while I have the utmost respect for Mr. Rooney's storied career in broadcasting, I was far from a fan.  Occasionally, I caught his segments on 60 Minutes, but never made it a particular point to sit down and watch.

Perhaps I should have sat down and tuned in more often.  Quite possibly, I might have learned something from Mr. Rooney, whose career was occasionally checkered with comments which he may or may not have regretted.  For these remarks, he was properly taken to task and was seemingly contrite.  Of course, no one knows exactly what was in Mr. Rooney's heart or in his head, but I'd like to think he knew to do the right thing.  So if I'd paid more attention to his work on 60 Minutes, perhaps I would've taken away how to gracefully emerge from a hailstorm of controversy, as he did.  I might have discovered the sheer joy of straightforwardness.  Or maybe I would've gained greater insight into the mindset of a man who'd lived through the Great Depression, had seen combat in World War II, and who helped shaped broadcast journalism into what it is today.  Love him or hate him, Andy Rooney was a man of myriad musings, a gifted writer, and a proud American.  And for this, I salute him.

Rest in peace, Andy Rooney (1919-2011).

Humanity, Humility, and a Helping Hand

For varied and personal reasons, I made a personal vow nearly two years ago to help the homeless as well as children with cleft palate.  It's a vow I've recently renewed, despite being unemployed at present time.  Regardless of my personal and/or financial circumstances, the bottom line is that the need for action still remains on behalf of those who need assistance the most.  So I'm back on board with my vow, hoping to extend a helping hand in whatever way I can.

                                   

But how?  Since I'm living on a limited budget these days, I cannot contribute as much financially as I normally would.  This is not to say that I won't make the occasional modest cash donation.  In any event, my thoughts have turned to creative ways in which I can help without reaching too far into my wallet.  So for starters, I've decided to utilize this blog as a springboard, along with other social media outlets (Facebook, Twitter, et cetera.).  The purpose of today's entry is simply to raise awareness of my personal mission.  For readers who'd like to contribute to these causes, obviously I'd be forever grateful, and I've included a few links to the right of this blog under the banner of Homeless Outreach / Cleft Palate Relief Effort -- but that's as far as I'll go with any financial appeals.  There's nothing I despise more than constant hit-ups for cash-for-causes, so I refuse to be that annoying person.

Of course, cash will carry only so far, so I also want to be physically proactive with my mission.  The obvious outlet is to volunteer at the local thrift shop where my mother hangs her hat three days a week for several hours at a clip.  The thrift shop serves the under-served in my community as well as those experiencing financial difficulties who are in need of clothing or small household items at discounted rates.  I've been toying with the idea of volunteering for the past couple of months now, so I may very well make it a reality. 

The reason why I decided to revive this mission was because it recently occurred to me that I've been writing a lot lately about the unemployment situation, job search tips, and other assorted miscellaneous subject matter.  While these topics are interesting and relevant to many, the fact still remains that it's Pensive Proofreader-centered and all about me, my job search, and the occasional random observation -- which may not necessarily be a good thing.  I'd like to think my ego is a healthy one, but there are times when it's necessary for a quick status/reality check and this is one of those times.  Yes, I need a job, but then again, so do millions of unemployed  people.  I am not unique.  Quite the opposite, actually.  I have the same need(s) as many others.  What I am is actually quite fortunate -- a fact which I tend to forget at times.  I live in a home which is heated in the winter and cool in the summer.  There's food on the table.  There's clean water in which to bathe and wash dishes.  So far, I've been able to meet my financial obligations despite being out of work.  So I really am blessed.  But the fact remains that others are not as fortunate.  So if I can help them, I will.  This is not just a blog entry.  It's a vow.

Before drawing the curtain on today's entry, I wanted to include the Facebook status that a friend posted this morning as it's timely and relevant.  It's also a good reminder, not just to the unemployed masses, but to all people that it's crucial to stay motivated even when it seems as if circumstances are conspiring against you.  I hope this passage speaks to you as it did me, and as you read it, please remember the less fortunate, many of whom have completely lost hope.  Even though you may feel discouraged for whatever reason, please keep moving in their honor. 

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road you're trudging seems all uphill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit-
Rest if you must, but don't you quit.

Success is failure turned inside out -
The silver tint in the clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell how close you are,
It might be near when it seems afar;
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit -
It's when things seem worst that you must not quit. 

                                             -- Author Unknown

A Possible Plan B

During this unfortunate lapse of employment, I've thought about volunteering in my local community. I've also considered joining the Peace Corps, and I'd rather far rather be a freelancer than a freeloader.  But what about pursuing an internship?

It's not as if I haven't interned in the past.  As a college graduate, my first foray into the professional world was as an intern in the news department of a local adult contemporary radio station.  It was your standard issue internship: early morning, unpaid, and not particularly glamorous.  I assisted my supervisor/mentor by phoning local police and fire departments at precisely 5 a.m. to determine if any newsworthy stories had occurred during the wee hours of the morning.  I also arranged for election result returns with local school districts. I clipped news of the odd from local papers for potential on-air usage, monitored the Associated Press wire with a vengeance, and performed with a smile any other clerical chores that the rest of the regular, full-time staff refused to touch.

While I'm not altogether certain I'd be willing to intern again as I really need health benefits and a decent enough paycheck to foot the bills, the notion of displaced workers tackling internships at what usually is the mid-level trajectory of their careers isn't too far-fetched.  According to Maggie Galehouse's 2009 article in the Houston Chronicle, Here's a Plan B for the Unemployed: Try Internship First (http://www.chron.com/life/article/Here-s-a-Plan-B-for-unemployed-try-internship-1747123.php), an internship may actually be an ideal scenario for laid-off employees who want to explore new career options while keeping their skills fresh and relevant.  It's a professional trend which is continuing to grow and is reaching a range of personnel, from the recent college graduate to the seasoned worker.  Internships aren't just for displaced employees either.  They're also a sensible idea for homemakers or caregivers who've been away from the workplace for awhile or for those who want to test the realistic waters of a supposed dream career.

Laura Casey, scribe for the Chicago Tribune, concurs that mid-career internships can come in handy, especially for displaced workers desperately in need of a new professional direction.  In her October 2011 article, Mid-Career Job-Seekers Turn to Internships, Volunteer Positions (http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2011-10-24/business/ct-biz-1024-midcareer-interns-20111024_1_internships-career-change-midcareer-professionals), Casey cites the case of Jagpal Mandaher, an experienced commercial aviator who found himself out of a job when the travel industry slumped shortly after the 9/11 terrorist attacks.  Mandaher kept his cool, remained practical, and tackled a ten-month paid internship at Sensitel Inc. with a vengeance, eventually landing a full-time position with the firm in their finance department.  In the end, the internship proved to be an invaluable experience for Mandaher, who interned in several departments at the Sensitel organization before finding the right professional fit.  "I actually learned a lot," he said.  "The internship helped me realize I felt more comfortable in a financial analyst role than I would've felt in accounting."

While Mandaher's internship experience proved to be a positive one, there is a downside to interning.  While an internship can consist of invaluable, practical experience which may very well give a displaced worker a much-needed inside track to a regular, full-time position, there are no guarantees of permanent employment once the internship concludes.  Regrettably, interns are expendable, and for the displaced worker who overextends himself/herself with effort during an internship, it's a gamble which may or may not pay off.  No health benefits are offered -- an absolute necessity for some.  And in some cases, interning can even jeopardize unemployment benefits.  As the Laura Casey article points out, displaced workers receiving unemployment insurance must always be ready, willing, and able to accept traditional employment, so if the internship impedes that availability, it could be an issue.  For-profit organizations could also find themselves in hot water for not extending a training wage, an act which could result in having to pay interns minimum wage in compliance with the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938.

But for those who are willing to take the risk and ready to roll up their sleeves at an internship, it could very well be an ideal short-term solution to their unemployment woes.  And it could possibly result in a job offer.  It's a risk, but could be a worthwhile one, so it only seems appropriate to quote our friends at the New York State Lottery here by saying, "Hey, you never know."

Text Message Madness

I don't speak Spanish.  But if I did, I probably wouldn't be going through this latest saga, which all started with a series of Spanish-language text messages on my cell phone. 

In the past six months or so, I have been receiving Spanish-language texts.  It's not a constant stream, but nor is it a trickle.  As I have unlimited text message capability as part of my cell phone plan, it really hasn't been much of an issue.  It's admittedly annoying, but since it isn't costing me anything extra, it's really not a big deal.  I usually text a polite response to the sender, informing him/her that their message has been missent, hit the delete button on my phone, and let it go at that.  However, the last few times I've responded, my missent message spiel has failed to make an impression on my audience.  From what I can gather from my limited high school-level Spanish, my responses are not always taken seriously and I usually receive a laughter-laden reply.  It seems "LOL!" really is a universal turn of phrase.  The end result is that I usually have to pick up the phone and directly set the Doubting Thomases straight.  This is not at all difficult as once my not-so-dulcet tones are heard on the other end of the line, it's very obvious that I'm an English-language speaker through and through. 

I have two prevailing theories on the reason why I'm receiving these text messages.  I'm under the impression that the intended recipient is a young Latina woman who either has horrific handwriting which is difficult for contacts to decipher or she's deliberately giving out the wrong number to would-be suitors.  I draw these conclusions due to the seemingly romantic nature of most of these text messages and based on the fact that whenever I've had to touch base with text-senders, the majority of people I've spoken with (or attempted to speak with) are male.  (So perhaps my Spanish isn't quite as bad as I'd originally thought.)  In any event, I've concluded it's most likely a case of poor penmanship as the odds of the same wrong number being given out on multiple occasions are probably pretty slim.  But you never know.

So, today I received yet another Spanish-language text message.  I have no clue concerning the content, nor do I care to check it out on Google Translate.  As per my standard practice, I gave the sender a heads-up and considered the matter settled until I began playing around with the account option on my trusty pay-as-you-go cell phone.  I noticed that a fifteen-cent deduction had been taken off my tab which immediately set off a red flag as I pay a monthly flat rate for telephone service with unlimited texting.  I immediately emailed my cellular provider to dispute the charge as I should not be forced to pay for the missent text message of a total stranger -- no less a total stranger who speaks a language foreign to me.  I am still waiting to hear back from my provider, but in the interim, I did a little a detective work and determined that the number the text message was sent from originated from -- of all places -- China.  So, in addition to receiving Spanish-language text messages at my location somewhere in the New York Tri-State area, I am now receiving Spanish-language text messages originating from China -- or at least from a telephone number of a cell phone originally purchased in China.  Go figure.

Happy Hour?

I recently applied for a position at a marketing communications firm, not quite five-years-old, which specializes in vehicular marketing.  I'm sure you've seen this type of drive-by advertising by now -- trucks with side panels which continuously shift to reveal changing ads.  According to the company's website, they operate on an eight-second principle, meaning that their ads transition every eight seconds as they believe it's plenty of time for the message to sink in, and it's also as much time as they believe people want to spend looking at an advertisement.

 

Since this firm has been in business for a few years now, I'll assume they know their business and I won't question their advertising wisdom.  Far be it from me to assess the advertising interest or the attention span of the average American consumer.  However, what I do question is the reply I recently received from this firm via email in response to my resume.  It goes a little something like this:

Applicant,

Thank you very much for responding to Company X's ad.  I apologize for our delayed response but we’re currently sifting through hundreds of resumes due to the enthusiastic response.  In the meantime, we'll be hosting a meet-and-greet event.  We’re hoping that you and any of your friends, family, co-workers or anyone else that is interested in learning more about our organization will be able to make it.  For more details on the event, please click on the link below.  Thanks again for submitting your application.  We hope to meet you soon.

Best regards,

Company X

Now don't get me wrong.  I appreciate the response and I appreciate the attempt at candidate outreach, even though it is en masse and apparently we're allowed to bring our moms, the neighbors, and the cashier at the bank.  The more the merrier, I suppose.  As it happens, I've probably applied to at least fifty jobs -- or more -- by now, and have heard back from a grand total of four.  So I applaud their efforts with the wildest of enthusiasm.  I really do.  But what I'm a bit concerned about isn't the meet-and-greet approach.  It's the location.  You see, the the meet-and-greet is being held in a bar.  That's right, a drinking establishment. 

I'm certainly not against drinking establishments.  I've found myself in a few over the years.  What I object to, however, is the context.  Holding a meet-and-greet in a bar during evening hours for management to ostensibly size up potential job candidates does not seem to be particularly fair or especially professional to my way of thinking.  Why hold what should be a serious event in an environment potentially conducive to out-of-control behavior?  I can understand a wine-and-cheese gathering in the conference room of a respectable hotel or conference center between the hours of 6pm to 8pm.  This makes for a professional and dignified atmosphere.  But a meet-and-greet at a bar on a weeknight where hard liquor will be served which concludes at 10pm is not my idea of the best business practices.  Do some of these people not have to get up and go to work the next morning?  Perhaps not.

Of course, not every person who attends such an event in such an establishment is a reckless party person.  Most will enjoy a simple glass of wine, a little conversation, and call it a night.  But for those job-seeking souls who aren't quite as genteel, it could be an issue -- not to mention a pox on them during an event which could potentially lead to an interview -- or even a job.  This seems a bit unfair on several levels.  En masse meets-and-greets of this type attract a range of people, some of whom may be alcoholics or recovering alcoholics.  Some may abstain altogether as part of their lifestyle.  There is nothing teetotalers like less than having to attend events in drinking establishments.  It's a thoroughly uncomfortable experience for them, plus it leads to an evening of multiple repeats of the same inquiry: "Why aren't you drinking?"  This is an off-limits question if ever there was one and it's a query no job-seeker should have to respond to during an allegedly career-oriented event.

Clearly, this meet-and-greet is not my cup of tea, so I'll be abstaining entirely from this event.  I realize that networking opportunities are just that -- a chance to get out and meet people with job market connections.  And since it isn't easy connecting with hiring managers, I probably should just go for it.  But the truth is, I wouldn't feel comfortable, nor professional.  So while I thank Company X for the invitation, and I certainly do, it's just not happening.