Riddle me this
 

Ok so like a good little BEer I read the job hunting pages, and contacted some people.

One of the resumes I sent was onward referred to another person (ccing me). So I have been tryng to contact the second person, called, emailed, followed up again, no response at all.

I am starting to feel like a stalker or just a jerk, but in my world, responding (especially as it seemed to be a referral I could follow up) is just plain professionalism no?

After reading around here I now 'get' that some Canadians are like this but really?!

I guess I will still thank the original manager, but some things here are giving me weird vibes.

If it was me, I can tell someone straight what a situation is!

Re: Riddle me this
 

You should definitely thank the person. a) You can't complain about others' lack of manners if you don't have them yourself, and b) they are much more likely to help you in the future if the opportunity arises.

It is not some, it is the way it is.

When you see ads in the paper there is often small wording at the bottom: we thank all applicants for their interest but will only contact those selected for interview. If it is not written it is implied.

Many Brits think this is rude or unprofessional. It is neither. It is just the way things are done here. It is in accordance with accepted standards of behaviour. In the UK you might get a "thanks but no thanks" form letter printed by some spotty work experience oik. How are you any better off? Here, if someone is interested in you they will respond. If they are not they won't. If you don't hear back within a few days you just assume there is nothing doing and move on.

In your circumstances I think it acceptable to follow up once. Maybe to say something along the lines of, "I understand that you are not hiring at present but if you can spare me a few minutes I would certainly appreciate your insight on the current market." Something informal so there is no pressure on either of you and no loss of face if nothing comes of it.

More than one follow up will make you seem like a nuisance.

Re: Riddle me this
 

Bolded & sized up cos I agree and I think (since this comes a LOT) immigrants need to bear this in mind.

Don't take it personally - it's not. As JBE said, it's how things are done here. If you can take the emotion out of it it will make job hunting easier.

Re: Riddle me this
 

We have been applying for things as well, and in a few instances have had resumes forwarded by recruiters, friends, etc. Where we have the name we have given it a week, followed up usually by email, sometimes with a phone call (depending on the relationship), given it another week, tried again, and then after a last third attempt, just left it alone.

For some, we've then left it a few weeks, and then gotten back in touch to see if anything new has come up... but you have to take it all with a grain of salt. I'm Canadian and used to it, but my British husband is struggling with how forward he has to be and how many times he has to email the same people. It's just an adjustment!

Re: Riddle me this
 

I love all the justification for unprofessionalism and bad manners. "Its just the way its done here." :rofl:

Its not btw. For each of the positions my partner applied and didn't get, the head of either the organization or HR called personally, and on two occasions offered to take her for lunch to discuss why they didn't hire her and what she could to do improve her application. Point is, not all Canadians are dickheads and they do know how to behave well, its just many of them choose not to.

Re: Riddle me this
 

One day I flew from Tokyo to Hong Kong. At a coffee shop in Narita Airport I was handed my change on a small plate by a young woman who blowed demurely and looked her feet until I had taken it. In Hong Kong I went to buy a ticket for the hydrofoil. A similarly aged young woman threw my change at me as she barked the equivalent of, "yes, what do you want?" to the person behind me.

Should I have been offended by one, or the other, or should I have accepted that I was being treated appropriately according to the regular custom of both people?

Re: Riddle me this
 

but she's a senior exec, no? I think the rules change at that level.

Re: Riddle me this
 

wow, font size 4 is big, as it turns out.

Re: Riddle me this
 

I hope you pinched some biscuits while she was staring at her feet.

Re: Riddle me this
 

Freudian slip? :rofl:

Re: Riddle me this
 

Good advice, esp about taking the emotion out of it ...thanks.. admittedly though the reason I had thought this odd is because it was not a job application with the inherent caveat. It was a senior manager referring it to another. For job applications I have taken it as a natural rejection. I thought more personal intros were different.

Anyway, cheers.

Re: Riddle me this
 

That's why I wasn't paying attention to the biscuits.

Re: Riddle me this
 

Canadian business protocol as with social protocol is generally much more casual. No matter how friendly or genuine someone appears to be, it's better to take it with a grain of salt until (and if) you really know that person.

Re: Riddle me this
 

:rofl::rofl:

Re: Riddle me this
 

Point is they can behave when its important to them. :)