I use password software connected to my identity theft protection service. It’s handy because it provides the correct password right when I’m ready to log-in to a particular site.

Life was good until a couple of weeks ago when this software vendor decided to put bright red exclamation points next to more than 50% of my passwords.

When I moved my mouse over the exclamation points, a judgy message told me my passwords were unacceptable, weak and should be changed.

When I clicked the “more info” icon, I was given a terse description of how to create a more acceptable password (that no human could not possibly remember).

I’m sure the software developer who made this change was well-intentioned, but the side effect of it has been negative.

Every time I use the software, I feel like I’m being told: You’re terrible at creating passwords, and I’m not going to let you forget it!

As a recruiter or hiring manager, it’s important your messages don’t create the same feelings in your recruiting prospects.

If you’re frequently reminding prospects of how great your company is and implying they’ve made a poor choice in their career, they may experience your messages as criticism or judgment.

As we discussed yesterday, this is why being positive is often a precursor to change.

Most of my passwords are pretty good and appropriate for the sites I use.

If my software vendor would have told me this first, I would have been much more open to changing the few that needed updating.