Bad recruitment experiences cost VM dearly.

[RichardCoulter]

Poor recruitment experiences from VM by existing and potential customers have cost them millions:

https://www.marketingweek.com/2016/1...ost-customers/

I can totally believe this as, some years ago, I remember calling them on a customer helpline and was shocked to hear a recorded message inviting customers to apply for full & part time call centre positions in Manchester. I couldn't believe that they would be so unprofessional and stupid as to do this!

Anyway, we had a young lad working for us who was shortly moving to Manchester to go to university. He had found a house share and was looking for some part time work in the Manchester area, so I took down the number quoted and passed it onto him.

Some months later, he popped in to see me to let me know how he was getting in. I asked what had happened Re: VM and he said that upon ringing the number, it was an automated recorded interview where he was asked questions which he was required to reply to.

After this, he heard absolutely nothing. He felt offended that they hadn't even had the courtesy to say thanks, but no thanks (he was a good worker too).

As a result of this when him & his housemates were deciding which company to use, VM were purposely excluded.

The moral of the story is that if you're going to be rude to potential employees, make sure that they aren't also existing or potential customers!!!

[v0id]

Less than 1% of employers say "thanks but no thanks" to rejected applicants, and with someone as big as Virgimedia and the amount of applicants they would have got it wouldn't be very cost effective

[ccarmock]

It is common courtesy to respond whatever the outcome. These days they could take an email address and at least email those candidates that they don't wish to employ.

Companies the size of VM would be using a recruitment system, which will be able to do this quickly and easily.

[RichardCoulter]

Exactly.

An email costs nothing, an automatic "thanks, but no thanks" email doesn't even require any thought or time.

It's probably not what the applicant wants to receive, but at least they know where they stand.

Hopefully, these findings will teach VM recruitment bods some manners.

[spiderplant]

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

Hopefully, these findings will teach VM recruitment bods some manners.

Ahem...

The brand has since brought its recruitment function in-house, which allows it to “take a lot more control and engage with individuals on a one-to-one level”

Originally Posted by v0id

Less than 1% of employers say "thanks but no thanks" to rejected applicants, and with someone as big as Virgimedia and the amount of applicants they would have got it wouldn't be very cost effective

Funnily enough in the "old days" companies would send you a rejection letter, IE the days before all the technology allegedly made it easier then ever before to Ahem! communicate.

An email from the applicant database would surely be quite cost effective as it does not require a envelope, paper or indeed franking.

[Kushan]

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

Exactly.

An email costs nothing, an automatic "thanks, but no thanks" email doesn't even require any thought or time.

It's probably not what the applicant wants to receive, but at least they know where they stand.

Hopefully, these findings will teach VM recruitment bods some manners.

Except it's not like they run some automated recruitment system that lets you reject applications at the click of a button. Those emails are going to go to an inbox somewhere, shared or otherwise. Replying does cost, as it literally requires someone to hit the reply button, paste in some crappy response and click send.

It sucks, but ultimately that's the problem.

[RichardCoulter]

Originally Posted by Kushan

Except it's not like they run some automated recruitment system that lets you reject applications at the click of a button. Those emails are going to go to an inbox somewhere, shared or otherwise. Replying does cost, as it literally requires someone to hit the reply button, paste in some crappy response and click send.

It sucks, but ultimately that's the problem.

Well, they thought that it was acceptable to treat people like this in order to save a relatively tiny amount. In the end it's estimated to have cost them 4.4 million in one year alone.

Serves them right and i'm glad that they've taken steps to improve matters.

[Arthurgray50@blu]

Many years ago, in the Telewest days. I was offered a job working from Slough Base. An my job was to go an collect the Boxes, after accounts were cancelled. Or customers who wouldn't pay the bill.

I went out for a couple of hours in Brentford. And at the end of the interview/ trial run. Was told l would hear in the morning.

I called the number the following morning and was told that the General Manager has been moved and the job was no longer able due to re structuring. Not even a thank you.

[MrIca]

Originally Posted by Kushan

Except it's not like they run some automated recruitment system that lets you reject applications at the click of a button. Those emails are going to go to an inbox somewhere, shared or otherwise. Replying does cost, as it literally requires someone to hit the reply button, paste in some crappy response and click send.

It sucks, but ultimately that's the problem.

BT has an automated recruitment system that automatically generates emails and the like. So yes, it absolutely can be the case that our can reject an applicant at the click of a button and the system takes care of the rest.

[Glesga]

I was offered an interview for BT a while back, I would still not consider taking any of BTs products.

[pip08456]

Originally Posted by richard1960

Funnily enough in the "old days" companies would send you a rejection letter, IE the days before all the technology allegedly made it easier then ever before to Ahem! communicate.

An email from the applicant database would surely be quite cost effective as it does not require a envelope, paper or indeed franking.

In the "Old Days" employers wouldn't get thousands of applicants for 1 job.