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Original poster

Been told I'm not suitable for a job I really wanted.

28 replies

cleocorsa · 29/04/2021 17:23

I had a trial day this week for a job I really wanted. I thought it went really well and was looking forward to starting. They've just emailed the agency saying they don't think I'm suitable for the job, no reason given. I'm gutted and can't stop wondering what I did wrong, everyone seemed really nice.

To make matters worse I've already paid for childcare as I had struggled to find another job and I don't know if universal credit will cover it. The agency can only offer me 15 hours a week of hours for now, they are looking for more hours ASAP but it's really knocked my confidence Sad.

OP posts:
VettiyaIruken · 29/04/2021 17:26

Sorry, that was very disappointing.
It's really shit of them to not give you any information. You need to go back to your agency and say that you really need to know why they felt you weren't suitable otherwise how can you improve?

MabelPines · 29/04/2021 17:26

That is really hard to hear OP, and you have every right to feel sad about it.

If you want to pursue that type of role could you contact the employer directly and ask for feedback? Are you in a position to volunteer with them for a few hours a week to give you more experience/confidence with the role ?

JackieTheFart · 29/04/2021 17:30

I also think it’s worth you contacting them directly.

Lay it on - you really enjoyed the trial and thought it went well, were disappointed to not get the job as you were getting excited to work for them, can they give you any pointers for future applications?

It really can make a difference.

Original poster
cleocorsa · 29/04/2021 17:39

I did say to the agency I can't think of why they would say that as in my mind it went really well and she was confused too. Is a day really enough time to know someone isn't suited to a job?! I certainly wasn't terrible. She is going to go back for more information, good point about contacting them directly I think I will if she doesn't hear anything further.

OP posts:
lljkk · 29/04/2021 17:42

I'd be gutted, too.
Definitely insist on some specific feedback.

JuicyMcJuiceFace · 29/04/2021 17:47

Did they pay you for this trial day? I do hope so.

Oly4 · 29/04/2021 17:49

I’d be gutted too but I’d just move on and find another job. If they don’t want you, they don’t want you. Their loss

HenryHooverIII · 29/04/2021 17:53

@JuicyMcJuiceFace

Did they pay you for this trial day? I do hope so.
This.

You may find that this employer brings lots of people in for one day trials that they don't pay for and then tells everyone they're not suitable.

Unfortunately, most employers use agencies so they can just hire and fire people at the drop of a hat. I know DHs employers definitely does. The way they treat agency staff is shocking.

Onesnowynight · 29/04/2021 17:56

Can you say what industry it’s in?

Cuntryhouse · 29/04/2021 17:58

Yes I was going to say, you may have been used for free labour.

Original poster
cleocorsa · 29/04/2021 18:49

I hope they paid me! I didn't think it was legal not to pay people for a days work, that's awful. I'll double check with the agency.

It's a special needs school. The staff mentioned being understaffed a couple of times, maybe they found someone else? I don't know. Seems very odd not to give feedback as if they do need someone else from the agency how are they to know what kind of person would be suitable for the role?

OP posts:
JobHunting10 · 29/04/2021 19:22

Honestly don’t worry, as disappointing as it is, it may have nothing to do with you. They may have found another candidate they preferred and worded it in a not very good way.

GoldenLabbie · 29/04/2021 19:34

Sounds like you do the same kind of thing that I do OP. I don’t see how they can know after one day if you were suitable in all honesty, as it can take a few days, maybe longer, to really get a feel for the school, gel with the kids etc. I’d be interested to know their reasons as well, and wonder how trust worthy the agency are,

SnowdaySewday · 29/04/2021 19:58

Was it definitely a trial for a potential job or just a way for the company to get a day's free labour when they were busy?

Zalto · 29/04/2021 20:12

@lljkk

I'd be gutted, too. Definitely insist on some specific feedback.
And how would you propose she insists?
Sweak · 29/04/2021 20:25

Are you a teacher or teaching assistant? If either of these sign up to multiple agencies to increase your chances of more hours.

Schools are all about the feedback to kids so I certainly think you should contact them directly if you don't get specifics from the agency.

willstarttomorrow · 29/04/2021 20:36

OP, absolutely insist on feedback. Sorry to sound harsh, whether you felt it went okay or not is irrelevant. What matters is whether you were employable or not. Working in special needs requires a really specific set of skills and there are lots of people out there looking for agency work who can meet them. You did not tell us in your post what your experience is? However it will be about how you fit the role but the needs of the children and how it fits with you, if that makes sense?

willstarttomorrow · 29/04/2021 20:40

Sorry, not how you fit into the role bit meet the needs of the children. So in these roles it is about demonstrating you are child focused. A reflection of 'I thought I did good really is not a lot to go on

SwanShaped · 29/04/2021 20:40

Really shit. But you never know what’s going on behind the scenes. Possibly nothing to do with you at all.

LucilleBluth · 29/04/2021 20:42

Ok I’m going to be very straight with you OP. I work in a special school. Not everyone is cut out for it, it’s a very niche profession, especially if there’s physical management involved.

I can tell within the hour if someone can do it or not.

Now I’m not saying you aren’t cut out for it or that the school isn’t wrong but I do know it takes a very specific kind of person.

DenisetheMenace · 29/04/2021 20:45

I’m so sick of this (presumably unpaid?) trial day crap. I’ve heard of several unscrupulous employers locally working their way through dozens of potential staff (usually young or desperate for work), at no cost to themselves who are not then taken on with no reason whatsoever given.
Sharp practice, ought to be outlawed. It won’t be though and Imagine it will only increase as employers try to recoup losses after the past year.

Very sorry, OP. I think it stinks to high heaven.

Piccalily19 · 29/04/2021 20:48

My advice from limited experience from both ends...
Agencies can be bloody terrible and recruitment staff are very driven and may not have the time/don’t care about what they deem as unnecessary feedback. The company may have said to them you were lovely but sadly no due to x, y, z but the recruiter simply passed on the no part.
If it was me I’d send a really nice email to the companies general enquires email saying something along the lines of “thank you so much for trialling me, I’m so sad to hear I wasn’t suitable for the position in this instance. I had a lovely day so if any other positions become available please feel free to contact me directly. Or if you have any feedback for me on how I could improve please do let me know” basically do a polite email, leave it short and leave it so they don’t feel obliged to reply. Hiring an agency for recruitment may indicate they don’t generally want to deal with this kind of stuff, which is fair enough.
I sent a similar email for a job I was rejected for and a month later they rang to offer me something else. Turns out they loved me and said I would have been perfect for the job but 2 other candidates had more experience that they were after. Been there 5 years now!

We had a rejected candidate for another job we had send us an email demanding to know why we we’d said no as she felt she was perfect for the job, it came across very entitled so there’s a fine line.

toocold54 · 29/04/2021 20:53

If you physically worked there the whole day then it could be that they do this often and don’t hire people at the end. I remember being on job seekers allowance and doing a trial job for a week and then being told I’m not suitable and then I found out 3 other people had the same experience.

If it was more of an interview then often they’ll give trials to the best people and then choose one from those.

toocold54 · 29/04/2021 20:58

Really shit. But you never know what’s going on behind the scenes. Possibly nothing to do with you at all.

There was 6 interviewees attend a day long interview at the school I work at but it had already been decided that a different person was going to be hired. Apparently they had to invite these to an interview as if the other person dropped out at the last minute they’d have back up options ready.

It felt to me like a complete waste of their time but I guess if a job came up in the future they’d be in a good position.

Empressofthemundane · 29/04/2021 21:24

This happens a lot and it is shit. Please don’t let it knock your confidence. Keep trying! All kinds of things could be going on behind the scenes. You may have been great. It’s all subjective to some extent as well. This wasn’t meant for you, but something terrific is. Don’t give up, you need to find it!

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