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To apply for a job the day before the closing date

122 replies

WildPineapple · 04/05/2025 09:27

I’m applying for a job and the closing date is tomorrow. Chatting to DH and he thinks that applying the day before the closing date shows a lack of enthusiasm for the job and that in a lot of cases they close the post early due to having enough applicants. I’m freaking out now!

I also applied recently for another position and DH said I made zero effort with the application as I didn’t phone the company to discuss the position? He said it looks bad if you don’t check in before sending in your application and it might look like you are not that bothered? I made a huge effort with that application but didn’t phone the company to ask questions?

OP posts:
BunnyLake · 04/05/2025 11:21

HollidaySunshine · 04/05/2025 09:53

He’s a pillock

Well I’ve never heard of phoning beforehand to get more of a lowdown on a job advertised online (Indeed, etc). I’d imagine that would be very irritating after HR have received their two hundredth call.

babbi · 04/05/2025 11:20

Your husband is very unsupportive 😢

I have had late candidates added to a shortlist for interview and hired them .
One in particular was a godsend because the calibre of the rest wasn’t too great !

Good luck 🤞

NowYouSee · 04/05/2025 11:14

Also on this “call to show interest”, personally no thank you for junior roles. I got a few people who contacted me via LinkedIn for my last role who were pushy about wanting to speak and it really put me off. Remember, hundreds of applicants - so I can speak to you if you make the cut when you come in for interview, quite bluntly I simply cannot make the time to speak to entry level applicants unless they are outstanding.

Senior specialist roles that is different, yes I would be willing to speak informally.

I appreciate that other industries and sectors may vary.

Foodoverload · 04/05/2025 11:10

I work in nhs and recruit lots. I don’t notice when people apply as the date it the date. But calling before is an nhs thing.

as for contacting about the position. I always find it a good way to understand the role. I do have a few niche roles in my team and I find those that do best have contacted me first to understand the roles. But I wouldn’t hold that against them. I appoint from the interview, just find it helps with prep.

I remember when I had to apply for a role I was seconded into for 3 years to be made permanent. I applied and the day of the interview my boss called me to say she’d was worried about my interview as I hadn’t contacted her to discuss the role. It was a role I was doing for 3 years and knew and was now wondering if I hadn’t done it well. She admitted afterwards that she had never interviewed someone who hadn’t contacted her. Totally odd

NowYouSee · 04/05/2025 11:09

OP there is nothing to lose by applying.

However from my personal experience experience of being a hiring manager in various corporate roles for many years some of the stuff people are talking about (interview panels, reviewing all applications after a close date) don’t carry over. My experience was that I would start reviewing CVs once we had a suitable bunch in and start interviewing the best candidates. We typically didn’t put a close date but would keep over until we had a candidate who has accepted an offer. On a practical basis it is easier to get selected for interview if you were in the early waves as we would typically push forward candidates we liked to second rounds and then only interview more if really outstanding or those candidates weren’t working out in the process. This is particularly the case for junior roles, more flex when you need senior specialists of whom there aren’t many

Why, you might ask, do we not wait for a few weeks and review everyone? Well we are hiring because we have more work than people so the sooner we hire the sooner the pressure eases on us. Plus in tough economic climates mandates to hire can be pulled by management on no notice so it is in my interest to hire at speed before my window slams shut - it is happened to me more than I once before.

I recently hired for a junior and we got over 100 applicants in the first 3 days, I think over 300 in total.

BingoBling · 04/05/2025 11:03

SpanThatWorld · 04/05/2025 10:56

Even in education it's by no means a universal requirement to make contact first. Yes if it's highly specialist (eg a special school with a specific ethos) or it's a senior leadership role. Not at all for most bog-standard teaching jobs. Frankly, recruitment is so dire that you can get an interview as long as you've got QTS and can breathe whilst standing upright.

This was back in the late 90s and it was only one deputy head pgce mentor who was insistent on this.

I wasn't in teaching for long.

Yellowcakestand · 04/05/2025 11:03

They won't care how soon before the deadline it is submitted. Make sure you write about what's in the person spec. Also as a recruiting manager I always think it's good to call ahead and have a discussion with them as it shows more interest. So that may go in your favour, even if you call on Tuesday with a few questions. It's bank holiday so likely they won't start shortlisting til then anyway

Kbroughton · 04/05/2025 11:00

If he works in the NHS that makes sense. I'm an HR Director in the NHS and for some roles we do close early where there are a lot of applicants. (although less and less these days :( ) he's wrong about it showing less interest. In the NHS applications usually go straight to the manager rather than HR like some people have said, however the manager won't care when it was recieved. For senior level jobs in the NHS if you don't contact the namesd person in the advert it WILL go against you, but not for entry level roles. I have always rang if there is a person names in the advert, for all roles even when I was in my early twenties. Getting shortlisted is hard and anything that can set you apart from others is good. Also they can tell you what the main drivers and issues are, so you can tailor your application. You know your industry, but if they is a named person. Then I would ring, to express your enthusias and make your application personal to them.

Friedrice91 · 04/05/2025 11:00

WildPineapple · 04/05/2025 09:42

So he works for the NHS and has interviewed/selected candidates and apparently some job adverts can close early he said when they have enough applicants? What I’m applying for is completely different though as it’s in the creative sector.

I do think this is a thing with some NHS posts so maybe that’s where he’s got it from. I’ve seen some adverts mention that they may close early if a certain amount of applications are received but I don’t think it’s common across sectors. Good luck!

SpanThatWorld · 04/05/2025 10:56

BingoBling · 04/05/2025 09:34

As a pp said the closing date is the closing date. You won't know unless you try.

As for asking questions- I have been told in the past that it doesn't look good not to make contact before applying- but that was for teaching posts and their recruitment system was always a bit archaic. It probably won't apply to every job.

Even in education it's by no means a universal requirement to make contact first. Yes if it's highly specialist (eg a special school with a specific ethos) or it's a senior leadership role. Not at all for most bog-standard teaching jobs. Frankly, recruitment is so dire that you can get an interview as long as you've got QTS and can breathe whilst standing upright.

Titasaducksarse · 04/05/2025 10:46

I've just got an interview for a job I sent in application at 2pm with a 4pm close on that day.
I'd started it a few weeks before but then went away and had other stuff going on that meant I just couldn't get it in until then. I did join an applicant forum they had about it too.

CurbsideProphet · 04/05/2025 10:42

Your DH sounds very keen to show his superior knowledge... Hopefully he has some good points... Best of luck with the application!

MonsteraDelicious · 04/05/2025 10:41

WildPineapple · 04/05/2025 09:40

No, this is an entry level position in the creative sector but a company I really want to work for and the hours/development opportunities would be ideal as I would like to progress in this sector.

Ignore him! Apply! If you don't get it you don't get it, but not even trying makes no sense.

WhatMe123 · 04/05/2025 10:39

I'm getting the vibes your dh just doesn't want you to apply......

WhatMe123 · 04/05/2025 10:39

Of course it won't put them off. Do it op do they even look at when it was submitted? You could have the earliest application out in by the worst candidate 🙄

Hamandpineapplepizza · 04/05/2025 10:36

I don't pay any attention to when people apply when recruiting. They could have been on holiday,.or busy, or unwell, or only just spotted the advert. An application is an application! It's the content that matters.

One of my favourite jobs and the one I stayed in the longest was the one I spotted -and applied for- two hours before it closed.

PotatoBreadForTheWin · 04/05/2025 10:32

sunshine244 · 04/05/2025 09:33

My experience in doing recruitment is that the best candidates tend to apply nearer the deadline.

100% this. I usually get over 100 applications when I advertise a job. The shortlist will usually be heavily weighted towards the last 20% to submit

B1indEye · 04/05/2025 10:32

Is this an MN first?

Unless I've missed a post the verdict is unanimous, ignore the husband ( and maybe tell his he knows nothing);😂

PenelopeSkye · 04/05/2025 10:32

I’ve done this- I came back from travelling and didn’t see the job advert until a couple of days before it closed- and I wanted to write a good application so only got it in just in time. (I got the job). Also phoning the company seems performative- unless there is genuinely something you need to know. People want an easy life- they don’t need hundreds of applicants phoning them to ask questions just to try and make themselves stand out.

ForZanyAquaViewer · 04/05/2025 10:31

I have literally never applied for a job until the closing day. And I’ve never not got an interview. For my current (very senior, third sector) job, my application was technically an hour late. 😆

For every role I have ever recruited for, we’ve received 90% of the applications (and generally all the best ones) on the final day.

And the ringing to discuss thing is just weird. Your DH is giving you extremely poor advice, imo.

Tulipsontoast · 04/05/2025 10:31

Unless he works in recruitment and has any valuable advice I would be curious about why he’s not supporting you in your job search?

Roselilly36 · 04/05/2025 10:29

What nonsense, good luck with your application OP.

cardibach · 04/05/2025 10:28

BingoBling · 04/05/2025 09:34

As a pp said the closing date is the closing date. You won't know unless you try.

As for asking questions- I have been told in the past that it doesn't look good not to make contact before applying- but that was for teaching posts and their recruitment system was always a bit archaic. It probably won't apply to every job.

I was a teacher for 35 years in a range of jobs. Interestingly the (only) one I phoned in advance about was one of the few I didn’t get…

JustMeHello · 04/05/2025 10:27

What's the worst that could happen if he's right? You apply and don't get it, that's it. If you don't apply then you definitely won't get it, so you have nothing to lose by applying.

ConcernedOfClapham · 04/05/2025 10:25

Does your husband often try to undermine your decisions in life?