Are manners disappearing from our day to day interactions, or is it that we are losing the ability to show gratitude? Either way, I was surprised to find myself being won over by a candidate who simply thanked me for my time……

Surely, it’s universally agreed upon that everyone appreciates good manners? It appears we are lucky to receive a cursory “thumbs up” or smiley emoji nowadays. Is our fast-paced, technology-driven environment making us so used to communicating in shortcuts that we no longer see the impact of our communication; either positive or negative?

Many of my friends’ children are starting to apply for part-time jobs and some are entering the workforce for the first time. With my experience in HR and recruitment, I am often asked for the “golden” piece of advice. So here it is…..manners and courtesies will take you further than you think.

Maybe we could all benefit from this reminder. With advances in social media and technology, we have become accustomed to new modes of communication; often short, frequently incomplete and most commonly accompanied with the replacement of words with emojis. Of course, these advances are wonderful in a sense, because they allow us to connect in new ways. However, it begs the question: Are we losing the art of true communication? Communication where the intention and emotion behind a thought or dialogue can only be truly understood in person, without technology.

While it may sound a little fickle to be swept away by common courtesy, what better proof that something supposedly “common” isn’t as common as it once was. We’ve grown so accustomed to our digital communication shortcuts, that if you want to stand out, a simple ‘please’ or ‘thank you’ is all it takes! So, I wonder why we are so reluctant to express our gratitude?

Recently, I delivered a talk to a group of University students, about the job seeking process and how they can set themselves apart. One significant part of this talk was the importance of gratitude, common courtesies and my other favourite topic: Entitlement. Who would have thought these softer skills would be so crucial in the job seeking process? I’m here to tell you they are.

I’m not trying to say that job seekers should blurt out false pleasantries to make hiring managers feel ‘special’, nor am I suggesting that the average candidate is inconsiderate. It’s simply that I think we are sadly losing the “habit” of using our manners. Or maybe we truly don’t know how to share gratitude and emotions like we once did. Whether it’s standing up when your interviewer enters the room, a firm handshake with consistent eye contact, sending a follow-up email or even a verbal thank you. I’m here to remind you that manners really can and will take you a long way!