sandwichesandapples

I am still in a contract position as a front-end web developer. So I’m constantly sending out my resume and interviewing for full-time positions. Recently I filled out an online application for a position in my field. I received this:

Hello ___, Our records indicate that you have applied for the position of ___ position at ___ within the past six months, but we have yet to have the opportunity to meet with you. We would like to meet you this Monday, June 1st! We will be hosting a booth at a career fair on MONDAY, June 1st, from 6:00pm-7:00pm and 8:00pm-10:00pm. Two of our top executives will be there to briefly interview you. This is a special opportunity to meet with them in person, so please try to attend. To set up an appointment to meet with us, please contact ___ or ___ at (___) ___-____ between 8:00am & 5:00pm. We will be accepting appointments until Monday afternoon the day of the career fair. You are being invited specifically to meet, and if this meeting goes well you would be invited for a longer, formal interview at a later date. So don’t miss your opportunity on the 4th because we’re running out of time slots!
The career fair is located at ___. This career fair will host a number of companies so be sure to look for the ___ booth and bring a fresh copy of your resume to come meet us! If you are unable to attend please still contact ___ or ___ and let either of them know as we will not keep you in consideration if we do not hear from you. We hope to see you! ___ ~Please Do Not Reply To This Email~

Other than the parts I’ve redacted, that’s the email I received verbatim, including the formatting. Yes, it was one long run-on paragraph. This is actually the second invite I’ve received from this company so obviously this career fair is a regular appointment for them.

These impersonal form letters relating to a job I applied for really rubbed me the wrong way. So after a few days of thought, I decided to let the company know. Even though the email said “Please do not reply,” it had a reply-to address that appeared to be an actual person (as in firstname.lastname@companyname.com) not a listbot. So I sent this:

Hi ___,

I hesitated to write this letter but decided to go through with it in the spirit of open communication. I hope you will share it with anyone at ___ who cares about your firm’s image.

I am greatly turned off not only by a form letter response to my application but also to the invitation to meet with unnamed executives from ___ at a career fair who will “briefly” interview me.

While I have no doubt that in this economic climate ___ will have no shortage of applicants to take you up on your offer, I will not. The invitation is impersonal and cold and makes me feel like I am just another anonymous body queuing for ___’s attention at a cattle
call. I’ve received more personal attention from HR departments at faceless major corporations.

I have ten years of excellent work on the web to showcase for any firm who can be bothered to set a personal, private interview with me. Interviews are not only a chance for you to meet me, but for me to size up the company for whom I might like to work. Since you’ve already made your impression on me, I will be showing my portfolio elsewhere. Please withdraw my application from your system and do not send me any more notices like this.

Just thought I’d share. User experience counts everywhere. Even for potential employees.