Call people out on lack of courtesy?

Lunni

I'm having a tough time lately, as I'm looking for jobs and have been doing some freelance writing and translation work. I'm getting really down about the number of people who request massive amounts of information, work samples and test work and then just don't bother replying. I was doing samples (work at a lower rate of pay which needs to be proofread) for one woman for almost a month. She was giving me good feedback all along and giving me the impression she'd take me on as a contributor, then nothing. I gave her over a week and then checked her website and saw she'd hired two other people to work with her. She didn't bother telling me a thing. I'm not angry that I didn't get hired (they have more appropriate qualifications and more experience, according to the bios), but after all that work, I would have at least expected an e-mail.

I'm really tempted to let her know that she's incredibly rude and unprofessional, but that would just make me look bad, wouldn't it? What do other people do when faced with this? Just try to ignore it? Every time it happens, another bit of my self-esteem and motivation gets chipped away.

Chara1001

You're right, an email like that would look extremely bad, and you would never get hired for a future position.

You could email her asking for some more feedback maybe? This way she might get the chance to offer an explanation.

If this is the standard course of getting work experience in your field, doing samples which then lead onto contract or permanent positions, i have no other advice except try not to lose heart and keep plugging away!

Wanderer2010

I know how you feel, OP, there is nothing I hate more than people who are rude, the kind who think the world revolves around them and their vacous lives filled with the next Facebook status and cocktail combination, they never ask about others, slam past you in the queue, never leave doors open, reply to emails or even see rudeness in others. The worst kind of rudeness is a person who doesnt even see whats wrong with their behavior as if its the norm. I think you should try and put this behind you and chalk it up as an experience into how odd/unreliable/rude people can be and resolve to not rely on people 100%. This person is obviously very unprofessional so leave her be and concentrate on moving forward and getting your work out there.

Thats not to say you should always forgive and forget, its wise at times to take people aside and explain that "I found you very rude and unhelpful and unprofessional, please dont behave to me like that again". You may or may not get a positive reaction to this but either way you will feel better having got it off your chest. Good luck and remember OP there are lots of people who despise the rudeness you describe.

movingsucks

I don't have any advice for you but I went through similar when I was looking for work.
"Trial runs", bespoke sample work all that and then never a word again.
Yes it hurt, it sucked and I felt like writing to them too but then I figured if they won't give me the time of day I won't waste another ounce of energy on them.
I know it's easier said than done but you will getover it and the right person will employ you and this will be a distant memory.
In some ways I think it made me a bit stronger I can read clients/employers better and can spot the timewasters.... i think...

woodchuck

Lunni wrote: »

I'm really tempted to let her know that she's incredibly rude and unprofessional, but that would just make me look bad, wouldn't it?

Yes, it would. And it could have a detrimental effect on your career. Ireland is very very small and word gets around easily. Would it really be worth it just to make yourself momentarily feel better?

Of course it's rude, but unfortunately there's nothing you can do about that. As another poster suggested asking for feedback is really the only way to go if you want to contact them... at least if you're nice and polite about it and have built up more skills/experience down the line they might consider hiring you in the future. If you send them a nasty email it's never going to happen...

Est28

Lunni wrote: »

I'm having a tough time lately, as I'm looking for jobs and have been doing some freelance writing and translation work. I'm getting really down about the number of people who request massive amounts of information, work samples and test work and then just don't bother replying. I was doing samples (work at a lower rate of pay which needs to be proofread) for one woman for almost a month. She was giving me good feedback all along and giving me the impression she'd take me on as a contributor, then nothing. I gave her over a week and then checked her website and saw she'd hired two other people to work with her. She didn't bother telling me a thing. I'm not angry that I didn't get hired (they have more appropriate qualifications and more experience, according to the bios), but after all that work, I would have at least expected an e-mail.

I'm really tempted to let her know that she's incredibly rude and unprofessional, but that would just make me look bad, wouldn't it? What do other people do when faced with this? Just try to ignore it? Every time it happens, another bit of my self-esteem and motivation gets chipped away.

It's very very tempting but don't do it.

This is just the world now. There's so many people looking for work it's the employers market and they are more and more demanding, but they won't reply and thank or give you much comeback on what you did... they have the upper hand.

The thing is though... if you burn bridges it'll eventually bite you in the ass. Maybe if you didnt get a certain job, she might know someone else and say "Oh, I worked with this person a while back....".
Us Irish aren't good at "networking" but business is very much about that, even if it's indirect... you need to keep maming good impressions... burning bridges means she might well know someone and tells them about you and hurts you getting other jobs... we've all seen those crazy letters that go viral on the net these days... be very careful.

I see your frustration but please don't do it, no good will come of it.

Lunni

Thanks for the advice. I know that calling them out would be counter-productive in the long-run, so I'm making sure that I give myself time to cool down before replying to any e-mails. I sent this

"Dear X,

I've just checked the website and noticed that you haven't selected me as a contributor. I did appreciate the writing experience I gained from working with you and would welcome any feedback or advice you may have for me.

Kind regards,
Lunni"

Is this sort of thing OK? I hate feeling like I'm kissing ass, but I think that if I'm pleasant and polite, it's never going to do me any harm. I need to get good at mentally punching these people in the face before writing a polite response.

Est28

I think that's just fine.

Like I said, it's all about leaving a decent impression. Nothing might come of it but you never know. But a negative impression can go a lot further so you don't want that.

Business and networking is a pain. I HATE it but it's a big part of my job. I shyed away at first since I used say "They're all so full of themselves, full of ****-talk" but unfortunately to get places you have to do it. It's like a big game.

Overheal

Lunni that's the advice I planned to give. Just a passive letter asking for constructive feedback.

It doesn't directly acknowledge that theres a cultural lack of courtesy to most job applicants - which is fine, and it shouldn't. Thats more a thing for the ranting and raving forum. Having a go at one employer for a widespread slight isn't going to fix the issue, it's just going to damage the extent of your network.

Lunni

Overheal wrote: »

Lunni that's the advice I planned to give. Just a passive letter asking for constructive feedback.

It doesn't directly acknowledge that theres a cultural lack of courtesy to most job applicants - which is fine, and it shouldn't. Thats more a thing for the ranting and raving forum. Having a go at one employer for a widespread slight isn't going to fix the issue, it's just going to damage the extent of your network.

Well, ignoring an e-mailed CV is one thing, but IMO it's quite another to have someone giving you samples on a regular basis for a month (this was work that needed to be done to deadline) with the understanding that this would lead to being taken on as a contributor, or at least told why you weren't taken on and thanked for your time. She didn't even give me any feedback on the last piece and feedback was part of the deal.

It's sort of the same as doing a trial week somewhere on trainee pay, being trained etc, on the understanding that if it went well, you'd be hired, and then never hearing back from the place again.

Ignoring job applications is the norm, but this, IMO, is really rude.

Stavro Mueller

Yes, I agree it is very rude and I'd be raging too. Unfortunately as everyone has pointed out, you have little choice but to bite your lip and just send the email you did. There's a saying which goes "Be careful whose toes you step on today, they might be attached to the ass you have to kiss tomorrow." How true this is - I've seen it happen with my own eyes. It never ceases to amaze me how small the world is and where people you thought you'd never see again recycle and come back in another guise.