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Original poster

Job application rejection - email or phone?

30 replies

pastaandpesto · 27/02/2023 13:27

Quick question.

I've been recruiting for a role at our company. We're very small, so no HR department or anything like that.

Had loads of applicants. Drew up a long list and did a telephone interview. Then did an in-person interview and ended up with two really amazing candidates. But we can only hire one, and so we went with the one that just had the edge. Would have happily hired the other person though, if the first person hadn't been in the picture.

My question - if you were the unsuccessful candidate, would you rather be told by email or by phone? In either case I will make it clear that we were really impressed with them. But I know it is still shit to hear that when you're the one that has missed out.

I hate this stuff.

OP posts:
IkBenDeMol · 27/02/2023 13:28

Email. Safer to put these things in writing. Cover your arse. Recollections may vary....

poopyface · 27/02/2023 13:29

Personally prefer an email with offer of a call for feedback so have time to gather myself up rather than being hit with the bad news! If they’re good you could make that clear : offer reserve list? Keep Cv on file etc …

EVHead · 27/02/2023 13:29

Email, and offer to phone if they would like feedback.

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PortiasBiscuit · 27/02/2023 13:30

In this case email is fine, something along the lines of “you were unsuccessful on this occasion should do it”
If they want feedback then you can give it.

HeresANewNameForToday · 27/02/2023 13:31

Email; with feedback if you can.

Telephone call usually means offer; so you might give them false hope.

I've only ever once been offered a call for feedback; and it felt really odd. It's a horrible feeling to be joining a call and not know what you're going to be told. It puts you on the spot, and it's uncomfortable. If you're happy to share something useful; I'd give the option of having feedback in the email and let them choose if they want it. If it's really just that the other person just edged them, there probably isn't masses of useful feedback (beyond "Don't apply for jobs that person has", what could you say?!) so you can probably avoid this entirely.

HoleyShit · 27/02/2023 13:33

I had a phone call for a job I didnt get a year ago. It was a nice gesture and they were keen to point out that they had been torn, it was a difficult decision etc. something that is more difficult to convey in an email.

Although more difficult and awkward for you!

ThreeRingCircus · 27/02/2023 13:34

EVHead · 27/02/2023 13:29

Email, and offer to phone if they would like feedback.

I work in HR and this is what we always do. Putting it in writing via email gives them time to process the bad news without getting their hopes up receiving a phone call but I always offer to have a follow up telephone conversation to give more feedback if they would like to. Half do, half don't.

It also keeps a record so you have proof you've contacted the candidate if anything were to ever crop up in the future.

MuggleMe · 27/02/2023 13:36

Yes I'd expect to have got it if I got a call from you and being a close second is bitter sweet. Email with option for verbal feedback.

mindutopia · 27/02/2023 13:37

Definitely email and if you have capacity, you could always offer to have a conversation by phone to debrief if they have any questions (this may depend on how much information you are actually able to give them).

In my industry, you only ever receive a phone call if you are the successful candidate, so a call would immediately make we assume I got it, so then would be even worse to be told that I hadn't.

LovedFedAndNoonesDead · 27/02/2023 13:38

I would email - in my experience job offers are made by phone with email follow up including details about documents to produce, requirements for DBS etc.

It would get my expectations up if I received a phone call only to find it wasn’t good news. Definitely offer a phone call for feedback if candidate would like it in the email.

doadeer · 27/02/2023 13:41

Email.

I would hate to have to do a call where you are rejecting me. So awkward.

Email let's you compose yourself and be thoughtful in your reply

Phos · 27/02/2023 13:49

Email and offer a call if they want to discuss. If you’re going to offer feedback and you’re willing to do that in an email I’d throw that offer out there too. I hate getting feedback on my interview fails over the phone, I’d rather have something to
read over and consider. Depends on the person but it can come across as a character assassination.

Potterbore · 27/02/2023 14:20

Phone call - I lost out on a job in a school and the Headteacher called me to explain. It was a really positive call, led to me volunteering and gained a job with them 6 months later.

Original poster
pastaandpesto · 27/02/2023 15:13

Thank you everyone - I'm so glad I asked - I was planning on sending an email for the reasons everyone says but then I googled it and all the advice seemed to be that if they've got as far as a final interview you should call them. Perhaps it might be more of a US thing.

I'll definitely offer the option of a call, but to be honest there wouldn't be much to say because they were a great candidate, I'm sure they will be hired quickly.

OP posts:
Nootherwayout · 27/02/2023 15:19

DH was in this exact position last week. They emailed him and it felt even shitter that they hadn’t bothered to call. Like he no longer mattered since he hadn’t got the job.

Original poster
pastaandpesto · 27/02/2023 15:25

Nootherwayout · 27/02/2023 15:19

DH was in this exact position last week. They emailed him and it felt even shitter that they hadn’t bothered to call. Like he no longer mattered since he hadn’t got the job.

Sorry to hear about your DH, it's crap.

Hmm so it sounds like he felt differently about it. I guess the reality is that it depends on the individual - some people would prefer the chance to process in their own time whereas others appreciate the courtesy of a call. Its tricky.

OP posts:
Lcb123 · 27/02/2023 15:30

I think email is better so they can process it. But offer / suggest a scheduled phone to discuss and give feedback. I’ve had a lot of interviews and never had a rejection phone call (always email). If I got a phone call I’d assume it was an offer…

Catapultaway · 27/02/2023 15:34

Oh... make sure to negotiate and agree with the person you are offering the role to first... They might turn it down and then you have a back up in place without having offended them.

Swisspolkadot · 27/02/2023 15:37

I'm looking for a job at the moment and if someone phoned me to tell me I was unsuccessful I'd panic about sounding "disappointed" and "sad" in my voice and theyd just hear false bubbly / positive mumbo-jumbo instead of actual words.

Please just email 😊

Original poster
pastaandpesto · 27/02/2023 15:40

Catapultaway · 27/02/2023 15:34

Oh... make sure to negotiate and agree with the person you are offering the role to first... They might turn it down and then you have a back up in place without having offended them.

Yes this is what we have done, thank you, it is good advice.

OP posts:
Original poster
pastaandpesto · 27/02/2023 15:40

That made me laugh. Yes that's exactly what I'd do I think. Good luck with the job search!

OP posts:
Original poster
pastaandpesto · 27/02/2023 15:41

Sorry that last post was to swisspolkadot

OP posts:
thymee · 27/02/2023 15:47

I'm a bit surprised at these responses. Every job I've gone for has always emailed if you don't get shortlisted from application, but once you get to interview stage, it's a phone call.

It just seems more courteous to call if you have actually met them and gone through the whole interview process.

Of course, the best thing to do is to ask the candidate at interview what they would prefer, then there is no need to worry.

Original poster
pastaandpesto · 27/02/2023 15:50

Of course, the best thing to do is to ask the candidate at interview what they would prefer, then there is no need to worry.

That's a good idea, I'll remember that for the next time we recruit. Because it's clearly quite a personal thing.

OP posts:
Sarahcoggles · 27/02/2023 15:52

I was recently given the task of telling a candidate she'd been unsuccessful by phone. I'd been on the interview panel and I personally preferred her to the other one, but was outvoted.

It was an awful call. I tried hard to be considerate, complimentary, offered feedback etc but it was clear she was really upset and angry, and couldn't get me off the phone fast enough. She was a very strong confident character and it sounded like she hated being caught on the back foot. It it happened again I'd always choose to email.

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