I don’t know when it became acceptable to not return phone calls or emails, but it seems to be a complaint we hear often from hiring officials and human resource managers. As recruiters in our firm, we have also experienced this.
There seems to be a serious breakdown in professional courtesies and business communication etiquette today. Maybe social media has taken over and has potentially made people less socially conscious and less professional. I am not sure of the reason or the cause of the breakdown, but I find the lack of responsiveness to phone calls and emails inexcusable and unacceptable behavior especially in today’s world of technological advances that have made communication so easy.
I understand that this inadequate or inexcusable communication behavior is experienced by candidates and hiring officials. It goes both ways. The sad thing is that so many people have been left with a very “bad taste” about the person involved and whether it is the company or the prospective employee, the reputation of unprofessionalism soon gets around about that particular person or company, regardless of the situation. The reality is that health care in general and specifically the medical device industry is a very small niche. Lack of professional courtesy can negatively influence an individual’s career success very quickly or give a company’s hiring official a bad reputation quickly.
On occasion, we see a lack of professional courtesy when it comes to communication during a candidate’s job search. There are times that the reason a candidate doesn’t go further in the hiring process is simply because of their poor communication skills. When a candidate becomes complacent in their responsiveness, they are quickly perceived as not interested, unmotivated, and very unprofessional. This is a detriment to their job search success.
Just as important is the response time of prospective employers. As a recruiting organization, we see the results of complacent or nonresponsive managers who do not respond in a timely manner to candidates. Great candidates do not wait to hear from employers as they are being courted by several employers simultaneously. Those employers that keep a dialog going and show an interest in the candidate will prevail. Those who don’t will be continuing to conduct a candidate search and will significantly delay the hiring process. They will soon find the candidate has moved on and has lost interest in the opportunity. The other result is that the candidate loses respect for the employer or company.
The rules of common courtesy have not changed, though, and we, in the healthcare technology management career field, need to be reminded how important it is to respond promptly to calls, emails and other forms of communication. Being busy is never a valid excuse for not responding or communicating in a timely manner. Using proper communication etiquette makes a lasting business impression and politeness never goes out of fashion, no matter what age you are nor how busy you think you are. Don’t ever believe this doesn’t matter.
Effective communication is critical in business and how you communicate with others greatly affects the way they perceive you. Whether you are responding to a phone call, voicemail message, or email message, professionalism is very important. Equally significant is how soon you respond to messages and calls. If you do not respond promptly, you may be perceived as a person lacking in professional courtesy.
Remember, always maintain your professional courtesies and use effective and timely communications skills daily.
- Return phone calls and email messages immediately. Respond promptly or within 24 hours of a phone call or email message. If an excessive amount of time goes by, explain why it took you so long to get back to them. There is nothing that says “I’m really not interested” more than a delay in either of these areas. Don’t waste time during your business day on email messages that are not business related or important to your job and career.
- Remember, it is never acceptable to not return phone calls. If you are pressed for time, return the call to determine the urgency and the topic of discussion. Let the caller know whether you can help them or not, or tell them you will have to call them later when you are not so pressed for time. People who return phone calls are trusted and respected. You do not need to make the calls long. In fact, scheduling time to return calls several times a day will help manage your time more appropriately and a prospective employer will be impressed that you are managing your time effectively.
Your ability to effectively and quickly return phone calls or messages may be a factor that generates the perfect job offer or a promotion. Be sure to use excellent communication skills and professional courtesies to ensure success.
Maintaining high standards in business communication etiquette and using common courtesies continues to be very important today. If you want to be remembered, trusted and respected, you will practice or convey these courtesies with every business contact daily. Treat others as you would like to be treated.
