The Art & Science of the Rejection Letter:

The “My client want’s to thank you for applying, but has decided to go another direction” letter/email/text/phone call.. is an art form. And it’s not easy. I’ll admit, I’m not always perfect at this. I try to close every loop I create.. but, sometimes I miss the mark. 

But today. I sent two such emails: 

One ended up in an AWESOME phone call with an incredibly talented individual who cared to build a real connection and say thanks for all my effort on his behalf. We talked about his goals, where else he might want to land.. and I committed to send his info out to my internal and external network of pro’s to see what's available for him.

The other… well.. it ended with a message from the candidate telling me what a piece of crap I am, and how the job (for which he applied, but was short about all 10 of the 10 years experience required for this VP level position, as well as 11 of the other 12 requirements) must be a scam, and I the trickster.  

I had written a “thanks for applying for this position but we need someone with a few more years experience” email, and told him I’d watch for something that was a better match.  

He followed up with a question requesting specifics about why his exact experience didn’t qualify him.

I sent a follow-up message and took the time to explain the hard and soft skills I need for this spot, and some of the more technical aspects of the gig in question… and again thanked him for his interest and told him I’d watch out for him. 

To which he replied something pretty insulting and divisive.. and informed me that he was no longer interested in the position in question (for which he had only yesterday been rejected). 

Thanks for the heads up. You saved me some time.

BOTTOM LINE / LESSON LEARNED:  

Hiring managers, recruiters, talent peeps: Send the “We thank you for your interest but we are going to pass” emails anyway. It’s hard. But it’s real. Your candidates are your customers. Act like it. 

Candidates: (99.9% of my friends/candidates can ignore this because you’d never do it anyway) Don’t. Burn. Bridges. And... don’t kill the messenger. Please! If you are applying for a gig that you are under-qualified for, send me something compelling to explain why. Sell me. I get paid when you go to work. We are on the same team. I’m not your enemy :)  Help me help you.  If you think my client missed it.. push back with something substantial. Sell me!!!

But, call me a "dick", and we're done here. For real.

I can’t honestly say I remember everyone I’ve worked with over the years. But I’ll remember this guy. And he’s not the kind of human I want to work with, or can pitch to my clients in good faith.  

Just be cool. Be kind. Be gentle. It will all work out. Relationships matter. Do the right thing!