Etiquette question

[bex77]

Question of the day - when I email someone to offer them a job, shouldn't I expect to get an answer?

I've been hiring student helpers for beaucoup years, and always gotten an answer to a job offer, usually very quickly, always in the affirmative. Not this time...

I sent offers to three students on Monday afternoon. One of them wrote back right away. The other two...nothing. I finally wrote back on Wednesday afternoon to ask if they got my email, and asking them to let me know if they accept? I got an answer from one today, turning me down without an explanation. Which has never happened before. Who'd have thought I'd get my first rejection from a candidate in this economy?!

And I still haven't heard from the other student. WTF? Even if it's "I'm weighing several offers and will get back to you Tuesday" I'd be happier. At this point I have to assume he doesn't want to work here, and frankly if he can't answer an email in 3 days, I don't want him here. But why can't he tell me?

So I get to go back to the drawing board, when I was so ready to be done with the wretched hiring thing.

Arrrgh!

Comments

[jicama]

It does seem odd that these days both employers and interviewees don't seem to feel much need to say "no thanks", letting silence speak for them instead.

[spwebdesign.livejournal.com]

I assume you have a phone number? I would follow up before you make assumptions. He may very well not be receiving the e-mails. Some internet providers have taken it upon themselves to begin screening e-mails aggressively. I know several people on my mailing list are not receiving my e-mails, and I only get bounce messages for some of them.