Christmas Eve was the 28th anniversary of getting fired from my last job. Nice guys, right?
My boss admitted I’d grown qualified sales leads by 400% over 18 months without additional budget and that he never could have done what I’d accomplished.
His plan: implement my system himself, saving my salary.
The average marketing director stays at their job under two years, meaning they leave just as they’re hitting their stride. Given the importance of marketing to any company’s growth, letting this happen is both shortsighted and foolish.
After getting canned by someone with no business acumen, I stopped job-hunting and hung out my own shingle. He’s since gone bankrupt, while today I run two successful businesses.
But the madness continues, per this excellent job-hunting blog by “Christmas” Carol Tiernan.
She applied for a leadership role that felt like the perfect fit. “It was the work I’ve been doing (and excelling at) for over a decade. I passed the HR screening, aced a panel interview, and left feeling confident about my chances. Then…silence.”
Weeks later she received a generic rejection email. Disappointed, she asked for feedback to help her grow professionally…and got crickets.
So owners treat good candidates poorly, see current employees as disposable and can’t figure out why profit goals aren’t met.
Look in the mirror, guys, and actually review that resume, rather than letting a computer say no for you.
But there’s more. “Candidates are expected to show up as their best selves — polished, prepared, vulnerable, and invested. But hiring teams can ghost, mislead, and reject you with sweeping decisions that feel arbitrary.”
Employers, regardless of your industry you must do better. Transparency, respect and honesty should be the baseline, not the exception. I guarantee you’re not doing yourself any favors by ignoring or slighting those who will arguably become your most valued team members.
Finally, remember that candidates are also interviewing you, searching for a good fit. Glassdoor and other review sites where potential employees communicate virtually guarantee word will spread if you’re treating prospective employees poorly.
Because treating candidates with disregard erodes trust, undermines confidence and sends a clear message that employees are considered disposable.
Improve your company’s reputation and chances of hiring the best people. Treat people with the dignity they deserve.
With that said, I wish you a week of profitable marketing.
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