Internship Manners Lacking

applicantmum77 · 05-20-2008, 12:01 AM

D has applied to countless internships, interviewed at a few, and these companies do not have the manners to at least send her an email to let her know she wasn't selected. All these cover letters require time and effort and are often not acknowledged. What is the business world coming to????

Dawgie · 05-20-2008, 11:22 AM

It's a dawg eat dawg world, what can I say?

SpecialAgentPunk · 05-21-2008, 11:18 PM

Should an applicant contact an internship to check the status or decision? Like after a week of no response?

Dawgie · 05-22-2008, 11:27 AM

If you want, but honestly if you get an offer they'll contact you.

BedHead · 05-22-2008, 11:43 AM

I would ABSOLUTELY check back after a bit. this shows interest. the reason why companies don't respond to all applicants now is often, through the internet , they get many, many more than they would have in another time; they get deluged. the internet has actually made looking for a job harder, in many cases, not easier because people send in resumes even when they don't meet posted requirements. as a result, offerors who are often understaffed are flooded with applicants and a) can't review all resumes and b) can't respond to all resumes. I recently posted a job for an assistant and got resumes within a few hours from over 100 people (including grads of Princeton, Berkeley, Stanford, etc.) and people with graduate degrees. I interviewed more than 20. I tried to respond to all and missed some. After awhile I stopped looking at new applicants.

mrego · 05-22-2008, 12:37 PM

Unfortunately, there has been a serious decline of business manners at all levels. Even when they unambiguously say they will let you know either way... they don't. They don't care if you are left in limbo. sic transit gloria mondi

Dawgie · 05-22-2008, 01:25 PM

BedHead: It doesn't matter if it shows interest, if the recruiter didn't call you back then chances are the positions for the job have already been filled. Only potential benefit is maybe the next time around, maybe a year later you re-apply. I honestly don't think it's a big deal if they don't call you back.

theoneo · 05-22-2008, 01:26 PM

My favorite story is of my friend who got an internship but the company didn't think to tell her immediately. She waited for an extra week before calling them back and they said "oh, you didn't know? You got the internship. You'll get your contract in the mail next week" or something of that sort.

BedHead · 05-22-2008, 03:57 PM

Quote:

BedHead: It doesn't matter if it shows interest, if the recruiter didn't call you back then chances are the positions for the job have already been filled. Only potential benefit is maybe the next time around, maybe a year later you re-apply. I honestly don't think it's a big deal if they don't call you back.

In some cases, I'll warrant you are correct. In other cases, the person has been too busy to focus on it and by calling them you are both reminding them and getting noticed. And still in other cases, they have indicated they don't want calls and if you call them you may be seriously irritating them or making them think you can't understand instructions. Etc. etc. etc.

My point is each situation is different. Don't assume it's always going to be one thing or another thing. On balance, unless you've been told otherwise, calling to follow up is more likely to do good or be neutral than it is to do bad. I would recommend to call -- or at least email.

CollectivSynergy · 05-27-2008, 10:08 AM

Has nothing to do with lack of manners (most of the time). It's pragmaticism. If the first person they offer the internship to declines, they'll have a list of back-ups to call. By not turning you down explicitly, the company can still grab you without turning you off them or stigmatizing you with being the second or third choice.

Dawgie · 05-27-2008, 02:51 PM

Nice point CollectivSynergy, that's why some people get called a week or two later.