Hiring Manager Tweets A "Simple Rule" For Getting Hired And It Backfires Completely On Her

Jessica Liebman thought she had a simple hiring rule, and she put it out there for everyone to see. As Business Insider’s Global Managing Editor, she said that after more than 10 years of hiring people, she would not hire someone who failed to send a thank-you email.

That idea did not land the way she expected. Instead of praise, Twitter pushed back hard, and the reaction quickly turned into a bigger conversation about what that kind of rule really says about hiring.

Here’s how one tweet sparked a full-blown backlash.

"If someone doesn't send a thank-you email, don't hire them."

jessicaliebman

Liebman, who has hired hundreds of people throughout her career, elaborated in her article:

Liebman, who has hired hundreds of people throughout her career, elaborated in her article:

“How someone presents in interviews might not translate to effectiveness in the role. While sending a thank-you note doesn’t necessarily guarantee that the person will be a good hire, it provides you with a tiny bit more data: The candidate is eager, organized, and well-mannered enough to send the note. [...]It shows resourcefulness, too, because the candidate often has to hunt down an email address that the interviewer never provided. At Insider Inc., we look to hire “good eggs.” The thank-you email is a mark in the good-egg column.”“Seven years later, I stand by it.”business insider

Immediately, Twitter users said, "Oh, no."

Has Liebman never heard of cultural bias? Apparently not.

Muqing M. Zhang

That explanation only made the criticism louder.

A "litmus test" is a test in which a single factor (such as an attitude, event, or fact) is decisive.

Steadman

Other experienced professionals even chimed in, explaining that this test proposed by Liebman offered absolutely nothing constructive.

Anil Dash

The backlash made the rule look a lot bigger than a simple etiquette check.

This is similar to the landlord rejecting a tenant over a pet, even with stellar references.

Your advice is bad, and you should feel bad.

Ben Baldwin

This test says more about Liebman than it does about potential job candidates.

Terri White

Then one job seeker shared a rough experience of their own.

One manager's treasure is another manager's trash.

DirigibleBiblio

Someone who applied for a job that would have been screened by Liebman even shared their terrible experience.

Peter Hess

And that was the part people could not ignore.

Before you judge her “thank-you email” rule, see how a fired worker put a friend recommendation at risk.