To apply for a job the day before the closing date

DD did this last year. Was concerned she would t stand a chance for promotion so delayed applying, then finally the day before pulled out all the stops on a complex application. Sent it literally at five to midnight. And got the job ta dah!

@Scrimblescromble It is actually true and written in NHS employment policy.

Yes NHS jobs often close earlier as they can set to close at 40 applications or whatever number they choose in the NHS jobs system.

My husband applied a job with 3 minutes to spare once, got an interview, and got the job. Unless they've already got a strong enough field and arranged interviews, you're totally in with a shot. I'd even apply after the deadline to be honest, if I found out about the job too late. You never know!

Yes, some jobs close early but as long as you accept that is a risk, fair enough (and clearly if the job is still open, it's all fine).
Nobody realistically uses submission date of application as a screening criteria (and if they did, you probably would not want to work for them)

I also wouldn't worry about not having had a chat over the phone in advance.

The phone call advice is bananas so be cautious about everything else he tells you.
The quickest applicants are those who send identical CVs and cover letters to every job and they aren’t the best.
I have seen jobs in my field close early so I don’t waste time if I see one I’m really interested in, but I do always take the time I need to make a good, tailored application.
I once wrote (politely and not being pushy at all) to HR because I saw the advert after the deadline and got the job, but probably some places couldn’t be this flexible.

I tend to agree with this - unless it is a question related to disability or reasonable adjustments or other genuine question - the people who do this often use it to force a mini phone interview and then metaphorically shot themselves in the foot.

I had one call for a junior position and the only thing they asked was about what could they do other than the advertised job itself. They mostly spent 10mins talking about their very senior level but largely irrelevant experience in a different sector. No interest in the actual job itself or what it entailed, and, at the end, a strange implication that we should be grateful that they're going to apply.

Just to add where I work the roles can’t be short listed until after the deadline so even if there were enough applicants we couldn’t shortlist yet anyway! We can see the applications that are in but can’t do anything with them.

Your DH is talking shit

That doesn’t ring true for the public sector, or at least not in the local authority I work in. Wouldn’t be allowed to close early as it would not be giving equal opportunity to all applicants. What if a really skilled person was working hard on honing their application before they sent it in on the deadline day? Generally if there is an internal candidate who has a good chance they put a short closing date on but never known them to allow closing early and I’ve been involved a lot in recruiting new staff. I didn’t realise the ‘ring for an informal chat’ was considered the done thing until being involved in recruiting staff. It was noted when applicants hadn’t but I’ve never done it before and moved between various positions in the same council. I’m ND and didn’t see the point if I knew I wanted to apply. I assumed it was just for people who needed more info.

Totally different type of recruitment - they will resource most their staff internally / from other hospitals etc.

I’ve worked in HR for years and currently head of resourcing for a large bank. Couldn’t give a flying fuck when you applied, don’t even check. Also DO NOT ring the company to ask about the job - do your own research. You’d get a black mark from me if you rang to discuss the job. If you are suitable skill / experience wise you will be invited for interview where it’s a more appropriate time to ask more about the role if necessary.

No problem, I once applied for a job 2 hours before applications closed & I got the interview and then the job!

An employer wants all the applicants they can get so they have a good choice.

Good luck.

Sorry meant to add, I wouldn’t phone a recruiting organisation before applying, save your questions for your interview.

If it’s open, it’s open. The last job I applied for (internal one) I had to ask the recruiter to reopen because I thought the deadline was Friday but apparently that meant they closed it at midnight on Thursday 🤷‍♀️ Just had my interview and waiting see if I get a 2nd. Glad you’re going for it. Good luck!

Ignore him, he seems like he’s trying to dissuade you which doesn’t feel very supportive or encouraging. I’ve never called the company I’m applying to with questions, and I’ve submitted applications up to the deadline and had interviews/offere.
At the place I’m at now the applications are sorted through after the closing date and they apply a points based system to them (and again at interview), none of the points come from prior phone calls or time and date of submission!
That said I have heard that deadlines may be brought forwards if sufficient applications have already been received.

I’ve had candidates call me whilst making a job application before and I’ve nearly always discounted them thinking they’re pushy and likely a nightmare to work with. Very rarely do they have a genuine question, usually it’s a tactic to get on the hiring managers radar… and for me it isn’t in a good way.

i’m a recruiter. I don’t care at all if you apply first or close to the deadline. Just be careful they don’t pull it ahead of the deadline though, it isn’t uncommon

Both are absolutely fine. I missed the deadline and still got an interview. I didn’t get the job I applied for but I’m starting with them shortly doing something else! Ignore your DH and ask why he is undermining your confidence!

Ignore him..

I pay no attention to the date submitted as long as it’s on before the vacancy closes!

I do occasional interviews at my work place, the date the application was submitted holds no relevance to your application as long as it was in before the deadline (we don't even look at it, in fact I don't think we can). The only thing I would say is we hold the right to close applications early if there has been a lot of interest (which we've never had to do). Also we don't favour this who have ring about the job, it's purely on application.

I've called twice ever before applying for a job, because I had very specific questions that weren't detailed in the advert. One related to a job working for a faith based organisation - I belonged to a different faith, and declined to submit my application after talking to the hiring manager. The other had a very minor mention in the advert about carrying things around, and I called to ask what sort of weights and frequency that would be due to minor disability - I applied for that (temp) job after asking and got it.

I've also regretted not calling before applying for a job that mentioned being able to drive, as part way through the interview it turned out that it required driving the organisation's own small manual van, whereas though my license covers manual my disability means I often can't use a clutch so only drive automatics. Plus I need to be careful about the seat due to a back injury, and most vans have seats that aren't suitable. So everyone's time was wasted for an hour when a call beforehand could have saved that.

I am a hiring manager. For a larger company with a closing date, the closing date is the point which they then start sorting the cvs, there will be a window of time for each phase and it wont make a difference, HR will be dealing with it anyway.
For a small company, they might be sorting cvs as they come in, so early applicants will get a better chance at being considered as they will be first in the pile, usually these roles dont actually have a closing date though. However a good cv coming in later will still be considered.
I would still apply.

Well he sounds supportive(not) 🤔 best of luck go for it !