The impersonal job search

I'm in the midst of a job search right now. And at this point in my career, I'm as much evaluating the companies as they are me.

Perhaps I'm overly sensitive to issues of customer experience since as an experience designer, that's what I focus on. But communiques such as these do not leave a positive impression on me.

Thank you for your interest in our recently advertised position of User Experience Designer and employment with Initech. Your resume will be reviewed over the next 5 days to determine how your skills and experience might best match our current opening.

If a match is determined, we will be contacting you shortly to arrange for an interview. However, if a match does not currently exist, we will maintain your application on file for future consideration for a period of one year.

Thank you again for your interest in Initech.

and

However, as we continued our interviews, we have found a candidate  who is a better fit for the requirements of the position. We will keep your resume on file, and let you know if we have any other openings in the near future. Thank you for your interest in our organization, and I wish you success in your job search.

This corporate impersonal tone was the standard for a long time, but it just doesn't seem appropriate in the 21st century.

Now in all likelihood, I probably won't end up with a job offer from either company. But what if I did? Or what about my perceptions of these companies as I talk to my friends and colleagues? Or write in this blog?

It's really surprising that people don't take more time and care on all of their company's communications. PR isn't just what the marketing department says it is. It's every interaction the customer has with the company.