Why are potential employers so rude and don't return phone calls?

Question

I have a bachelors degree in criminology that I just received. I participated in an internship and gained great experience. To get my feet in the door, I just applied for a job as an office clerk on July 31. I called the next day to make sure the correct person got my application and resume which she did. I then waited a week to call back and follow up on Aug 8. The person I needed to talk to was not in on the two times I called so I finally left a message as professional as possible just stating that I was following up on my application and resume. She has not returned my call as of yet. I'm going to go ahead an assume that she has found someone else for the job, but why is it so hard to return my phone call? Why do employers do this? Why wont they return a simple phone call? Employers want courteous people working for them, but they wont even be courteous enough to return a phone call. Why?

Answer 1

We receive tons of calls like yours on a daily basis.  We return calls to those who we are interested in.  We get annoyed when someone keeps calling and "checking the status of their application."  I always assume common sense would dictate to applicants why I didn't call them back.  I guess I was wrong.

Good luck in your job search, and remember that for some employers the squeeky wheel gets the oil.  

Answer 2

Probably haven't been called back because the hiring process for HR can be rather hectic and there is no time for any process which isn't absolutely necessary.  I feel that your resume is not in the running because you are over-qualified.  Many companies would feel that hiring someone with a degree and a completed internship who was applying for an office clerk would be a bad risk - since the feeling would most likely be that you will leave as soon as you land a job in the profession for which you received your degree.  Being overqualified can often make it more difficult to nail a job than under qualification, believe it or not!

Answer 3

Because they are busy and they get a zillion calls like yours.  If they want to talk to you, they will call you.  Don't forget, they do not owe you anything - even a phone call.