Are you Team Polite Reply, Team Non-Response, or somewhere in between?

Are you Team Polite Reply, Team Non-Response, or somewhere in between? 

This morning, I stumbled upon a post from a HR manager who had clearly reached her tipping point with agency recruiters, because in her opinion if she doesn’t reply, then that is her reply. Fair enough. But she also says that it is inconvenient that recruiters will then keep following up with her. This really struck a chord with me. Working in sales myself, I get it, I really do. The relentless follow-ups, the never-ending pursuit of a response, the occasional 'you’re barking up the wrong tree' moment.

So, it got me thinking: Is this really a question of industry practice, or is it simply a matter of common courtesy?

To Reply or Not to Reply: 

Let’s put ourselves in the HR manager’s shoes for a moment. She’s busy—juggling emails, meetings, candidate interviews, and goodness knows what else. The last thing she needs is another email to deal with when she’s already made up her mind. A non-reply, in her view, is a clear signal: I’m not interested right now. But here’s the catch—salespeople don’t always interpret silence as a 'no.' They hear, maybe if I try harder, I’ll get through.

From the salesperson’s perspective though, a polite 'no, thank you' feels like a lifeline. It’s closure. It’s a way to move on and refocus their efforts elsewhere. Personally, I find that when I send a polite reply to unsolicited pitches—be it a cold email or a recruiter reaching out—it often works. They stop messaging, and everyone moves on with their day.

So, why the disconnect?

Persistence vs. Annoyance:

There’s a fine line between being persistent and being annoying. On one end, persistence is admirable—it shows dedication and a willingness to go the extra mile. On the other end, it can feel like someone’s camping out in your inbox with a sleeping bag and a packed lunch! For sales professionals, finding that balance is key. Knowing when to push and when to back off is an art form in itself.

But here’s where it gets tricky: Sales and recruitment are ultimately human-to-human interactions. People have different thresholds for what they consider courteous or intrusive. Some might appreciate the extra effort, while others see it as a nuisance.

What Do You Do?

This whole debate got me wondering: How do others handle this? Are you a 'reply to every email' kind of person, or do you let non-responses do the talking?

I get why some people choose silence. Time is precious, and there’s a certain efficiency in simply ignoring an email that doesn’t serve you. But I also think about the salesperson on the other side (especially as this is often me!) waiting for a response that might never come. In an industry that’s already tough as nails, a little kindness can go a long way.

Can’t We All Just Get Along?

Maybe, just maybe, a little mutual understanding could help smooth things over. If you’re a HR manager, consider firing off a quick 'no, thank you' when you’re not interested. And if you’re a salesperson, respect the boundaries of a non-reply—two follow-ups max, and then let it go and move on!!

At the end of the day, we’re all just trying to do our jobs.

What about you? Are you Team Polite Reply, Team Non-Response, or somewhere in between? Let me know—I’d love to hear your thoughts! 

Gecko Travel Recruitment specialise in providing recruitment solutions for both permanent and fixed term vacancies in the travel, leisure & tourism industries. 

Head to our website https://www.geckotravelrecruitment.co.uk/ to find out more.