How to respond to desperate job applicant?

[Anonymous]

Man I hate this ‘dating’ like job hunting aspect.

This person is qualified and wants the job. Don’t be a jerk of a company and leave them on read because the flirt/roast ratio is off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have an open admin position. This applicant has all of the experience we need, references were solid, but they are hounding us for the position.

They have followed up every day since our initial phone screen. The first was a general thank you for your time I am very interested in pursuing this position further. Then we did the in person interview Thursday and I said we would be reaching out to references. They sent follow up emails Friday, Saturday, and Sunday asking about references progress and saying they really need a job. I updated them yesterday and said we had connected with one reference, are waiting for at least one more to respond, and I will keep them updated. Then this morning I have an email "Good morning, any further progress on my references? I really need this job and to start working as I have no money. If not this job, I am open to any job you have available that I can start as soon as possible. Thank you".

To say the least, this is awkward and uncomfortable. How do I professionally respond to this and would you still consider them for the job?

OP, I would thank her again for her interest and let her know what the next step in the process is. I think candidates seeking jobs often feel like they are in the dark which can produce anxiety. I think the candidate is feeling anxious and would like to know what is going on. She seems qualified for the position so I would not eliminate her based on her continued interest in the job. When we are on the hiring end, it is easy for us to be dismissive of the feelings of job candidates. Put yourself in their shoes. And, I think most of us want jobs because we need the money. The candidate was simply stating a fact. My advice to you, OP, is to be kind. DCUM people can be very insensitive and live in an artificial world.

Yes. I'd also explicitly state something like, "We will be in touch as soon as we have information about the next steps. Please wait to hear from us before contacting us again" or "do not check in again before X date." If they disregard that instruction, I'd be wary, but so far it sounds like they are just trying to show how eager they are, which is in general a good sign.

4

This, coupled with the post they quote, is a good answer.

At this point, the question of whether the applicant can observe professional norms (even if they must be spelled out clearly) has been raised. It just has been. Raised, but not settled. Spell it out for them and see how they handle it.

You do NOT want to hire someone who takes this approach with clients, or supervisory evaluators, or others. If you spell it out, do they understand and modify the behavior? That's still a good candidate. If they don't, then they are likely in line to be a liability.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have an open admin position. This applicant has all of the experience we need, references were solid, but they are hounding us for the position.

They have followed up every day since our initial phone screen. The first was a general thank you for your time I am very interested in pursuing this position further. Then we did the in person interview Thursday and I said we would be reaching out to references. They sent follow up emails Friday, Saturday, and Sunday asking about references progress and saying they really need a job. I updated them yesterday and said we had connected with one reference, are waiting for at least one more to respond, and I will keep them updated. Then this morning I have an email "Good morning, any further progress on my references? I really need this job and to start working as I have no money. If not this job, I am open to any job you have available that I can start as soon as possible. Thank you".

To say the least, this is awkward and uncomfortable. How do I professionally respond to this and would you still consider them for the job?

OP, I would thank her again for her interest and let her know what the next step in the process is. I think candidates seeking jobs often feel like they are in the dark which can produce anxiety. I think the candidate is feeling anxious and would like to know what is going on. She seems qualified for the position so I would not eliminate her based on her continued interest in the job. When we are on the hiring end, it is easy for us to be dismissive of the feelings of job candidates. Put yourself in their shoes. And, I think most of us want jobs because we need the money. The candidate was simply stating a fact. My advice to you, OP, is to be kind. DCUM people can be very insensitive and live in an artificial world.

Yes. I'd also explicitly state something like, "We will be in touch as soon as we have information about the next steps. Please wait to hear from us before contacting us again" or "do not check in again before X date." If they disregard that instruction, I'd be wary, but so far it sounds like they are just trying to show how eager they are, which is in general a good sign.

4

This, coupled with the post they quote, is a good answer.

At this point, the question of whether the applicant can observe professional norms (even if they must be spelled out clearly) has been raised. It just has been. Raised, but not settled. Spell it out for them and see how they handle it.

You do NOT want to hire someone who takes this approach with clients, or supervisory evaluators, or others. If you spell it out, do they understand and modify the behavior? That's still a good candidate. If they don't, then they are likely in line to be a liability.

It isn’t that black and white. This person may not interact with anyone externally and rarely with leadership internally. Financial ruin is one hell of a motivating factor and can cause people to act irrationally, there’s nothing here that indicates this person wouldn’t follow workplace norms and trying to insinuate that is BS.

[Anonymous]

I'm sort of in the same position. Not broke yet but really need to find work soon otherwise we'll definitely be broke. I'm a single parent of one, sole provider, have a mortgage, no credit card debt but everything that comes with parenting and being an adult falls on me.

I've been applying to administrative jobs, too, and yes the process is excruciating. The wait, the rounds of interviews, the wait, wait, sometimes you hear back on a final decision, sometimes you don't. It is draining.

Believe me, it takes a lot of restraint not to follow up everyday. I feel for this person. I really do. I would give them a chance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s one thing to be eager. But it’s another thing to blatantly say “I need the money”. Yikes. Sounds like they care more about getting paid than the role.

It's an admin job. Everyone working those jobs cares more for the money than the role

Fixed it for you: It's a job. Everyone working jobs cares more for the money than the role

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm sort of in the same position. Not broke yet but really need to find work soon otherwise we'll definitely be broke. I'm a single parent of one, sole provider, have a mortgage, no credit card debt but everything that comes with parenting and being an adult falls on me.

I've been applying to administrative jobs, too, and yes the process is excruciating. The wait, the rounds of interviews, the wait, wait, sometimes you hear back on a final decision, sometimes you don't. It is draining.

Believe me, it takes a lot of restraint not to follow up everyday. I feel for this person. I really do. I would give them a chance.

Finally a reasonable take. A bunch of elitist jerks in here painting someone who is in bad shape money wise to be a demon.

[Anonymous]

Do you want her to play hard to get? It’s not a date. She is expressing that she is eager for the job and wants to start ASAP, and that she is willing to do any job you have. And she is qualified. I mean I wouldn’t follow up every day , but I would probably be tempted to when I was younger and hungrier. I don’t get why eagerness to work would be a detriment.

[Anonymous]

Its an applicants market. I would hire them on provisionally unless the references come back dirty.

I mean even the IRS is competing with $24/hr Target. There are many more admin assistant positions than there are candidates. The applicant should have applied to a 100 and taken whichever gave the earliest start date.

The IRS is scrambling to staff up — and it's competing with Target and McDonald's for workers

https://www.businessinsider.com/irs-hiring-competes-target-mcdonalds-workers-labor-shortage-tax-delays-2022-4

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s one thing to be eager. But it’s another thing to blatantly say “I need the money”. Yikes. Sounds like they care more about getting paid than the role.

I mean she might not be qualified for other reasons but come on, of course everybody cares more about getting paid in an admin role!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have an open admin position. This applicant has all of the experience we need, references were solid, but they are hounding us for the position.

They have followed up every day since our initial phone screen. The first was a general thank you for your time I am very interested in pursuing this position further. Then we did the in person interview Thursday and I said we would be reaching out to references. They sent follow up emails Friday, Saturday, and Sunday asking about references progress and saying they really need a job. I updated them yesterday and said we had connected with one reference, are waiting for at least one more to respond, and I will keep them updated. Then this morning I have an email "Good morning, any further progress on my references? I really need this job and to start working as I have no money. If not this job, I am open to any job you have available that I can start as soon as possible. Thank you".

To say the least, this is awkward and uncomfortable. How do I professionally respond to this and would you still consider them for the job?

OP, I would thank her again for her interest and let her know what the next step in the process is. I think candidates seeking jobs often feel like they are in the dark which can produce anxiety. I think the candidate is feeling anxious and would like to know what is going on. She seems qualified for the position so I would not eliminate her based on her continued interest in the job. When we are on the hiring end, it is easy for us to be dismissive of the feelings of job candidates. Put yourself in their shoes. And, I think most of us want jobs because we need the money. The candidate was simply stating a fact. My advice to you, OP, is to be kind. DCUM people can be very insensitive and live in an artificial world.

Yes. I'd also explicitly state something like, "We will be in touch as soon as we have information about the next steps. Please wait to hear from us before contacting us again" or "do not check in again before X date." If they disregard that instruction, I'd be wary, but so far it sounds like they are just trying to show how eager they are, which is in general a good sign.

4

This, coupled with the post they quote, is a good answer.

At this point, the question of whether the applicant can observe professional norms (even if they must be spelled out clearly) has been raised. It just has been. Raised, but not settled. Spell it out for them and see how they handle it.

You do NOT want to hire someone who takes this approach with clients, or supervisory evaluators, or others. If you spell it out, do they understand and modify the behavior? That's still a good candidate. If they don't, then they are likely in line to be a liability.

++1

[Anonymous]

It's not about needing money or being desperate for the job. Of course employment is about providing one's labor in exchange for money that can be used to purchase goods and services.

But OP's applicant had an interview on Thursday and then sent an e-mail every day since asking for an update and saying how desperate they are. That shows amazingly poor professional judgment, an astounding lack of patience, and a complete misunderstanding of professional norms. I would not want this person as an admin.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's not about needing money or being desperate for the job. Of course employment is about providing one's labor in exchange for money that can be used to purchase goods and services.

But OP's applicant had an interview on Thursday and then sent an e-mail every day since asking for an update and saying how desperate they are. That shows amazingly poor professional judgment, an astounding lack of patience, and a complete misunderstanding of professional norms. I would not want this person as an admin.

Is the person young and maybe not understanding how it is supposed to work? I would cut them some slack.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s one thing to be eager. But it’s another thing to blatantly say “I need the money”. Yikes. Sounds like they care more about getting paid than the role.

[Anonymous]

OP I hope you give us a report at some point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have an open admin position. This applicant has all of the experience we need, references were solid, but they are hounding us for the position.

They have followed up every day since our initial phone screen. The first was a general thank you for your time I am very interested in pursuing this position further. Then we did the in person interview Thursday and I said we would be reaching out to references. They sent follow up emails Friday, Saturday, and Sunday asking about references progress and saying they really need a job. I updated them yesterday and said we had connected with one reference, are waiting for at least one more to respond, and I will keep them updated. Then this morning I have an email "Good morning, any further progress on my references? I really need this job and to start working as I have no money. If not this job, I am open to any job you have available that I can start as soon as possible. Thank you".

To say the least, this is awkward and uncomfortable. How do I professionally respond to this and would you still consider them for the job?

OP, I would thank her again for her interest and let her know what the next step in the process is. I think candidates seeking jobs often feel like they are in the dark which can produce anxiety. I think the candidate is feeling anxious and would like to know what is going on. She seems qualified for the position so I would not eliminate her based on her continued interest in the job. When we are on the hiring end, it is easy for us to be dismissive of the feelings of job candidates. Put yourself in their shoes. And, I think most of us want jobs because we need the money. The candidate was simply stating a fact. My advice to you, OP, is to be kind. DCUM people can be very insensitive and live in an artificial world.

Yes. I'd also explicitly state something like, "We will be in touch as soon as we have information about the next steps. Please wait to hear from us before contacting us again" or "do not check in again before X date." If they disregard that instruction, I'd be wary, but so far it sounds like they are just trying to show how eager they are, which is in general a good sign.

4

This, coupled with the post they quote, is a good answer.

At this point, the question of whether the applicant can observe professional norms (even if they must be spelled out clearly) has been raised. It just has been. Raised, but not settled. Spell it out for them and see how they handle it.

You do NOT want to hire someone who takes this approach with clients, or supervisory evaluators, or others. If you spell it out, do they understand and modify the behavior? That's still a good candidate. If they don't, then they are likely in line to be a liability.

It isn’t that black and white. This person may not interact with anyone externally and rarely with leadership internally. Financial ruin is one hell of a motivating factor and can cause people to act irrationally, there’s nothing here that indicates this person wouldn’t follow workplace norms and trying to insinuate that is BS.

Which is why they should respond quickly and appropriately to "We will be in touch as soon as we have information about the next steps. Please wait to hear from us before contacting us again" or "do not check in again before X date," right?

No problem. Give them the chance to show they would follow workplace norms once they are explicitly clarified.