Interview story: Scorched-earth policy of Russians during WW2

Interview story: Scorched-earth policy of Russians during WW2

During the 1941 German offensive, Operation Barbarossa, the retreating Soviet Union employed scorched-earth tactics against the advancing German forces. The Russians destroyed bridges, railways, factories, and burned crops to prevent the Germans from using them.

However, in 1942, when the Soviet Union went on the offensive and pushed back the Germans, they found themselves without bridges, railways, factories, or houses for shelter—they had burned all the bridges!

Similarly, many job-seekers burn bridges with HR as well as hiring managers when they retreat from a job offer. Personally, I have encountered two candidates who aggressively pursued and interacted with me on Linkedin until they received an offer. However, they later burned all their bridges (scorched-earth) and stopped all communication, including with me, when they decided not to join the company just a day or two before their start date.

The issue is not that they are not joining the company. The issue is that they are not taking the small step of sending a message on LinkedIn or WhatsApp to inform me that they are not joining. They forget that the bridges they burn now to run away might be needed in the future to reconnect!

God, please grant me the courage like these candidate. 😉