Chemistry's Spotlight On…
January 2012 - Remembering the "Human" in Human Resources
Remembering the “Human” in Human Resources
By Marcia Hammonds, CHRP
Having worked in human resources and recruitment for longer than I would like to admit, I remain constantly taken aback by how pleasantly surprised and grateful prospective candidates are when you get back to them regarding their application to a position. It is both amazing and concerning that something as basic as an acknowledgement of interest and time should be so uncommon in the world of human resources – but indeed this does oftentimes seems to be the case.
While I appreciate that we are all extremely busy, at the same time, I also sincerely believe that we cannot forget about the “simple things” that make human resources “human”. Time taken to acknowledge someone’s interest in your organization is never wasted and goes a long way in not only promoting a positive image of your human resources function, but of your entire organization – showing that you think of people as not just a number or a résumé, but as unique individuals, whose lives are actually impacted by your hiring decision.
I am sure that most of us can recall a time when we were on the “other side” of the fence as the job applicant. I can certainly recall companies that I would think twice about joining simply based on how they handled my application and/or interview process - specifically as it related to communication and follow-up. While they might be the greatest company to work for once you “get in the door”, their external communications tell a different tale. To these organizations, I would respectfully reiterate that it is not only how an organization treats its current employees that matters, but also how prospective employees are treated that counts as well. Oftentimes we seem to forget the significant role that human resources plays in the positive sales and marketing of an organization in terms of making it an Employer of Choice and one that is spoken about positively on social networking sites.
We all have to determine where to best focus our efforts and time, as there are only so many hours in a day to do everything that is required of us. However, if I had to chose something to “lose” out of my day it would not be the connection with potential employees and applicants – as they are the life-blood of any organization in terms of remaining relevant and competitive. I want to ensure a positive first and ongoing impression and if it takes a little bit more of my time then in my opinion this is time well-spent.
Marcia Hammonds is the Senior Manager of Human Resources Consulting for Chemistry Consulting Group, Inc. She can be reached at m.hammonds@chemistryconsulting.ca
