Pet peeve - does this happen to anyone else?

[Susan Slusser]

I often get emails from young journalists looking for advice and also asking me to look at their resumes and clips. I always do so and try to take 20-30 minutes to look at the information and respond, even if I can't always give a lengthy critique during the baseball season.
More than half the time, I never get a followup response. No "thanks for your time,'' nothing. The first time it happened, I was appalled. Now, I'm starting to expect it. I'd hate to stop replying altogether, because some do recognize that they're asking for a favor and some time and are appropriately appreciative, but it's disheartening that there are so many prospective young journalists lacking in basic manners.
Is this a common occurrence for the rest of you? How do you handle it? I'm considering keeping a list of offenders in case their names ever come up as potential hires, because rudeness is a red flag as far as I'm concerned. Most of the job description is dealing with people.

 

[playthrough]

I've had people ask me for advice here via PM and I've responded with a lengthy note. Then, nothing. Yes, it's extremely rude.

 

[Joe Williams]

You type a few words onto your screen, hit the [ENTER] key and then sift through the answer(s) that you get back.

Do you ever send a thank-you to Google or Yahoo! or Ask Jeeves?

That's how these kids have been trained, thanks to this Interweb.

Jeeves was pissed off about it long before we were.

 

[SF_Express]

Is this a common occurrence for the rest of you? How do you handle it? I'm considering keeping a list of offenders in case their names ever come up as potential hires, because rudeness is a red flag as far as I'm concerned. Most of the job description is dealing with people.

Susan: I have these kinds of issues a lot, although to be fair, I get a lot of nice responses, too.

The one thing I have never agreed with is "red-flaggin" a young professional because of a mistake of this kind. Yeah, it's dumb on their part, but if every dumb thing I did when I was first in the business, or trying to get into it, disqualified me from a news career, I certainly wouldn't be sitting here typing this to you.

So I hate lists like that, and rules. Somebody who might not think to send a "thank you" might still be a good writer or a dogged reporter. How many somewhat antisocial people have you known in this business over the years who were great in their jobs?

There's also a generational thing going on. I'm not saying it's a blanket problem, I'm just saying that there is sometimes difficult understanding the importance of the amenities -- even among my kids.

But that can be taught -- and we shouldn't be discouraging/counting out young people who want to do what we do over one thing. There's a need for people who aspire to work in this business -- print, web, or whatever -- and we need to give them some leeway.

At least I do.

 

[SF_Express]

I've had people ask me for advice here via PM and I've responded with a lengthy note. Then, nothing. Yes, it's extremely rude.

For some reason, given the collegial, supportive and often friendly nature of life within this board, I actually find this more rude than what Susan was talking about.

 

[Susan Slusser]

Good point, SF. It's just so frustrating to take time out of a busy day and then to get.....nothing. But you're right, one mistake - well, we've all made zillions at this point ourselves. Tough to hold it against a kid, and that has always been my feeling in the past.

However, the most recent request I had from a recent grad looking to break into the business also asked me to forward his information around to any place I thought might have openings - and that's sure not going to happen after having sent a well-considered response about his resume and never hearing back a peep.

 

[Frank_Ridgeway]

also asked me to forward his information around to any place I thought might have openings

Good grief.

 

[JR]

We've reached a point in our present day mores where rudeness has become almost acceptable. I'm surprised why anyone would find this shocking.

These are the same kind of people who can't be bothered to RSVP to a wedding invitation and then show up with a date.

What I would do is instill a little shame in them.

Send them an e-mail asking if they received your response--because you didn't hear anything back from them. Or is that a little too passive/aggressive?

 

[JR]

also asked me to forward his information around to any place I thought might have openings

Good grief.

My thoughts exactly. Maybe they thought Susan was their mommy

 

[TheSportsPredictor]

I don't know, Susan. Maybe you gave them ****ty advice. Ever think of that?? HMMMMM??

 

[Dickens Cider]

I sent my clips to someone I respect and hope to work for one day, and he gave me a two-part critique that must have taken him at least two hours. I think I said thank you three or four times in my response.

Common courtesy is a lost art these days.

 

[JR]

Maybe (and I'm only semi-facetious) you should CHARGE a fee for this service,

Tell them that in addition to being a beat writer, you also run a career consulting business for upcoming journalists. Your rates are, say, $50.00 an hour with a minimum two hours. They'll receive back a detailed crique of their clips and resume.

No such thing as a free lunch.

 

[SF_Express]

Good point, SF. It's just so frustrating to take time out of a busy day and then to get.....nothing. But you're right, one mistake - well, we've all made zillions at this point ourselves. Tough to hold it against a kid, and that has always been my feeling in the past.

However, the most recent request I had from a recent grad looking to break into the business also asked me to forward his information around to any place I thought might have openings - and that's sure not going to happen after having sent a well-considered response about his resume and never hearing back a peep.

Ya got me there, Susan; no excuse.

 

[SF_Express]

Send them an e-mail asking if they received your response--because you didn't hear anything back from them. Or is that a little too passive/aggressive?

I have no problem with that at all.

 

[mike311gd]

However, the most recent request I had from a recent grad looking to break into the business also asked me to forward his information around to any place I thought might have openings.

I don't think I'd ever have the stones to even ask that question. Good for them, I guess, but that's not my style.

 

[Susan Slusser]

I've just realized I've asked you all to take time to give ME advice and I've failed to thank you.....the hypocrisy!

I love the idea of charging a fee. I'll get my consultant business cards printed up right away. I'll double it for the college kids that want to come out and shadow me at a game.

SportsPredictor, that's entirely possible, since I am neither an editor nor an HR person. I did tell him to make sure he has a backup plan - hard to argue that's bad advice these days.

Thanks to all of you!

 

[Captain_Kirk]

I'll offer a view from the other end of the court.....

I'm really not that interested in folks clogging up my email in-box with a reply to sender 'thanks'. I've got more than enough legitimate business traffic, that I'd rather prefer not to have a bunch of fluff coming through.

Besides, just how genuine is a reply to sender thank anyway? Doesn't take more than a few seconds effort. (Even an old fogey like me could probably even text a thx from my phone in under 5 seconds.) If someone wants to really show their appreciation, (and it would be a nice touch in the 2 hour example listed above), then a handwritten, mailed note or a phone call would be the right approach.

I hope what I did was of of some help, and if I need some assistance in return someday and I can call on that person, that's thanks enough for me.

 

[Susan Slusser]

Captain, good perspective, but that's kind of my point - it's so easy to send a quick reply to thank someone, and yet it doesn't happen. It's not like you have find an address and a stamp and paper.....you type a few words and hit send. I'd rather have the full in box and know that A) my response was received and B) that people still have some manners. I can't imagine asking for help from someone and not saying "Thank you'' afterward.

 

[Frank_Ridgeway]

I'll bet when these people send their resumes to newspapers and don't even get a form letter in return, they will be very pissed at the editors' rudeness. I'm not saying it validates what they are doing now, I'm just saying they will get a taste of it soon enough because the absence of manners is not confined to their generation.

 

[93Devil]

I'm just curious to see if the school system where you live teaches anything about job interviewing skills or etiquette.

Many things are cut out of a school's curriculum thanks to No Child Left Behind, and I am thinking these might be some of the things left out.

NCLB hit the streets in 2000-2001 so a college grad would have been 15-16ish when our fearless leader came up with the plan.

To be honest, though, my mom taught me, and I am 38.