Alison Green offers actionable advice on handling vengeful job applicants, clients who constantly cancel, and stepping down from management.
EXPERT OPINION BY ALISON GREEN, INC.COM COLUMNIST @ASKAMANAGER
Inc.com columnist Alison Green answers questions about workplace and management issues—everything fromhow to deal with a micromanaging bossto how to talk to someone on your teamabout body odor.
Here’s a roundup of answers to three questions from readers.
1. A candidate I rejected is threatening to “expose” me
I run a nonprofit in the urban core of the city where I live. I posted a job opening for a position that requires listening to our clients, making connections with them, and offering help by referring them to the re
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One candidate didn’t have experience doing this type
One candidate didn’t have experience doing this type of work but had volunteered with a similar population to those we serve. I invited him to a phone interview but, while he was enthusiastic about our work, he was very salesman-like and I felt that he might not be the best fit working with people who need a patient listener. I told him I would get back to him within two weeks as I had other candidates to speak with.
After one week, he sent me the following in an email: “I surmise that my degree, experience, and enthusiasm are no longer needed.” I waited an hour or so before responding to him, saying that I apologized for not meeting his timeline expectations and that his application would not be moving forward at this time. (Because who needs that kind of passive-aggressive drama in the workplace?!) Later that night, I received another email from him saying that he would make sure to tell my nonprofit’s affiliated organizations how disappointed he was with my handling of this.
Needless to say, I dodged a bullet. That resume went straight from the “maybe” folder to the garbage can after this interaction. Now I’m left wondering if this is something I need to act on before rumors get to my board and possibly a supporting organization of ours. Do I even respond to this pushy candidate? Do I notify my board that there’s an unhappy candidate who might be badmouthing our org to other supporters?
Source: www.inc.com
