dear employee-seeking employers,

I think we can all agree that the job market is a little bit of a mess right now. All of us new graduates are eager to start their adult lives, and you're trying to find the best of the best for your company. You get dozens (if not hundreds) of responses to your job listings and all of a sudden you're overwhelmed by all of this potential. People are desperate to work for you, and before you know it, you're a new kind of commodity.

I get it.

But I'm writing from the other side of the spectrum. While you get your pick of the litter, I'm fighting for your attention. I promised myself I'd never be one of those people who writes generic cover letters and sends as many out as possible. I take my time to write to you. I only apply to jobs that I think would suit me. I really think we'd be a good team. We both have a lot to offer to one another.

But lately all of this attention has been going to your head.

I understand that if you get hundreds of applicants, it's going to be difficult to write back to everyone. But what happens when you actually call someone in for an interview?

Well, in a recent experience, I was invited to come in for not just one-- but three visits. A writing test, a preliminary interview, and a final interview. Each of these appointments was given at the last minute--in fact, for the final interview, I received an email at 8:30am asking me to come in at 2pm the same day.

If dropping everything I have planned is what it takes-- I'll do it. In fact, I did do it.

But now it's more than 3 weeks later and I haven't even been given the courtesy of an email with any notice. How can you expect such professionalism from your candidates when you can't even return the favor? How difficult is it to email or call to say, "Thank you for coming in but we've hired another candidate."

I know that not all employers are like this, but the fact that any exist is disheartening. Especially after asking me to come in so many times and at such short notice.

Employee-seeking employers, please clean up your act.
*coughcatherinehallstudioscough*

love,
Celeste