Basic decency and respect are disappearing in this world

I believe the world is changing. I am asking myself quite often why basic decency and respect are disappearing in this world. To be honest, it is everyone’s fault to allow people to be condescending, to be disrespectful. Why can’t we have good values, leading by example, treating people kindly, a true leader can be very demanding, can be tough but honest, decent and respectful. At least it is how I see myself.

As everyone should be, I am not actively looking but I am open to new opportunities, if it is the right one. I believe that it is a good thing to test the market and know where you are and more importantly what you have and what you are worth.?

One very important thing to always remember:?"Treat people as you want to be treated."?Anyone that worked with me for a short or long period of time knows that I stand by this motto.

These are some of the experiences I had lately....?

First experience, with a young and dynamic fashion brand that tries to develop, they are looking for a Retail Director to start immediately.

I was contacted by a head-hunting firm beginning of April. We set up an interview and on April 8th, I met with the 2 owners of the company. I believe it went well as they gave good feedback to the head-hunting firm. They told the firm they would contact me directly the following week to meet again for a call to action. The following week not a call or message. The week after the head-hunting firm reached out to me and asked me if I heard from them. I told them I did not. They told me that they have not heard from them either despite trying to call them every 2 days.?

On April 20th, 12 days after my interview, I took upon myself to contact the owners, and they answered me that they had a crazy week and they would contact me to see me again. Since nothing....

You cannot ghost a candidate and think he will be happy to work with you after that. This proves to me that we don t share the same values, and they don t respect me as a person and a professional. It does not take this much time to send an email.?

This is a company that does not appeal to me anymore and even if they contact me in the future, I will pass on this opportunity.

Second experience, with a fast growing and popular fashion US company. They are looking for a VP retail for an immediate start. The Director of Global Recruitment and Talent reached out to me.

04/18 - 9:50PM?HR: Hi Arnaud I am reaching out to you re the above opportunity. Your profile is very interesting to me and I wanted to set up a time to discuss this further. I am attaching my calendar for your convenience. Many Thanks XXXX (Name of the Director) View my availability: XXX (Active link to the calendar)

04/18 - 10:11PM?Me: Thank you in advance for your time. Looking forward to speak with you. Have a good evening. Sincerely, Arnaud?Meeting time: April 19, 2022 12:15:00 PM?PDT My phone number: +1 XXXXXXXXX

04/19 - 12:42PM?Me: Hi XXX, It seems that you are busy and were unable to call me at 12:15PM. Call me at any time before 3PM today if you want to speak, or let me know what time would best fit your schedule. I wish you a good afternoon and I look forward to speak with you. Sincerely, Arnaud

04/19 - 7:21PM?HR: im so sorry something happened to my calendar ??? linked in has a bug apparently - here is my new link

04/19 - 8:28PM?Me: Hi XXX, Unfortunately, there is no link in your message. Please call me at your convenience on my cell phone at XXXXXXXXX, anytime between 9AM and 3PM it will be much easier. Have a good evening. Arnaud

Four days later, without any news from the person, I sent another message.

04/23 - 3:28PM?Me: Hi XXX, I never heard back from you since my last message on Tuesday. I am sincerely interested by the position and very motivated. Please give me a call or email me a link to your schedule for us to schedule a call. My email address is: [email protected]. Thank you, and have a great weekend. Sincerely, Arnaud

04/25 - 10:15AM?HR: hey Arnaud - I have a call re this at 11am today, I will get back to you :)

04/25 - 11:10AM?Me: Ok thank you so much. Arnaud

Since my last message no news, not a call, not a LinkedIn message, an email, nothing.... Then again not a problem, I am not eager to work for a company like this. Is it the new normal that a candidate has to pursue a HR Director to have an update?

Third experience, it started more or less a month ago with a very large company, part of one of the biggest luxury groups, they reached out to me for a regional position to be filled immediately.

I went through the interview process and it went well. They told me as a last step I would have to meet on Zoom with the global HR director based in Europe.

I received an email from this person asking me to call her in Europe to set up a meeting. I called her and she gave me only one option for March 29 at 8:30AM. I could make myself available and I accepted. She told me that I would have a 45 minutes window maximum for the interview.

Interview day arrived, she joined the Zoom meeting 15 minutes late, cutting my allotted time from 45 to 30 minutes.

Then to continue, in the middle of the interview, she muted her side without explanation or notice and took a phone call letting me hanging on the other side, wasting my allotted interview time.

And lastly, at the end of the interview, she asked me:" Do you have a question? It needs to be quick as I have 2 people waiting at my door" I was speechless then I asked her: "Why did you schedule me at this time if you are unable to focus on me for 30 minutes? I don t think it is too much to ask."

She could have picked any other day or time, or make an effort to make me feel considered by the company. She could have said: “I am sorry Arnaud, I got this emergency call and I had to take it.” I understand that a situation can arises at any given moment and I would understand, but the condescendence and entitlement of this person was baffling.

As you can imagine, her unprofessional and disrespectful behavior was a very bad reflection of the company. I am sure that she gave the local President terrible feedback on me but it is part of the game, and I knew it when I spoke up for myself.

I did not hear from them for 15 days, and I took upon myself on April 13th to ask for an update. I did not receive any answer. Then 7 days later, on April 22nd I sent another email to ask again for an update. On April 23rd with no surprise, they answered me to let me know that they picked another candidate. On one side I was disappointed by myself but on the other side I was and still am happy with their decision because everything happens for a reason and I don t want to be part of a company treating you like this.

And this brings me to my?fourth and last experience, the cherry on the cake of the waste of time.

Mid-January, a head hunter contacts me and share with me a great opportunity for me. The company is a billion dollar Mexican company that wants to take on the US market, they are looking for a Retail Development Director, position to be filled immediately. Totally different industry, but one that I see myself working for, and I started to dream about it. Building a network from scratch, this is what I like to do, this what I am good at, and this what I did for IWC, and Pole Luxe in the past.

I had interviews in English, in Spanish, in French. The head-hunting firm told me that I was the top candidate, it was almost done, I should get the job, they loved me. They were keeping me as a benchmark, as the company wanted to meet other candidates. Later the head-hunting firm told me that no one with the same diplomas and experience that I have wanted to make the switch to this industry as it is not appealing to most people. I didn’t care as it is what I wanted to do. For weeks I had to chase them to have an update.?

Anyway after 3 months of back and forth, keeping me hoping, the head hunter told me that the CEO wanted only a person coming from their biggest competitor and that my candidacy was out as obviously I was from the luxury industry and not the hard discount one. He wanted nobody else, he was locked on his idea, not to do something different but cloning the competitor. I respected his decision but asked her why this sudden change. What happened? I thought I was the only candidate, they loved me. I had the right diplomas, I spoke the right languages, I had the experience needed, I ticked all boxes. I thought that a head-hunting firm was here to avoid this kind of situation. If you have the right candidate, why wait. For me it is such a waste of time, resources, and money after all. As of today, the company has not hired a candidate yet, has not started the first project yet. They were fixed on opening their first location in July and this will not happen. They continue to pay to the head-hunting agency their exclusive search retainer. Again, I am happy not to work for these people, but I lost a lot of time speaking with them hoping I would get the job, just receiving in exchange a big disappointment.

There is absolutely no problem at all not to get a position, there is always a better candidate, a cheaper one, one that has friendly relationship with the executive team.... and it is fine, but not being treated with decency is not right, this is what it is very frustrating.

I can insure you that lengthy and bad recruitment costs a lot of money to a company, directly and indirectly. People wants to work for people that treat and pay them well. It all starts during the recruitment process.

It all goes back to being well educated, being polite and respectful. Show RESPECT.

After all, you reap what you sow.?

Despite all these experiences, no one will steal my smile ;)