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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to expect a reply re job application

35 replies

SpanglesAreYum · 03/04/2012 12:28

Been seven years since I last did one, but just wondering if etiquette is different now, as have always had a reply either way whether I was getting interviewed. I've emailed them politely and still no reply.

OP posts:

IAmBooyhoo · 03/04/2012 12:30

YABU

so many people apply for the same job that it isn't cost effective to reply to all applicants. just the one sthey want to see again.

Goawaybob · 03/04/2012 12:35

Yes, sadly YABU, but good luck with the search - im in the same position and could paper my toilet walls with rejection letters if i received them, its very :( making

SparkyMcSparrow · 03/04/2012 12:54

You won't believe how many jobs dh applied for when he was made redundant and had no reply's. just plain rude if you ask me.

Good luck with the job hunt!

thefurryone · 03/04/2012 13:08

YANBU, personally I think the unreasonable ones are the companies who don't even bother to email to say thanks but no thanks, I honestly can't see how that would incur unmanageable costs for any firm in the position to add to their headcount even if there are lots of applicants.

Facebookhurtsmybrain · 03/04/2012 13:08

I started a job on the same day I got a letter telling me I didn't get that job. I went to hr and this poor guy showed me a pile of cv's on the floor that reached higher than the top of his desk and said that my original cv (I emailed a copy to a friend who gave it to the person interviewing) must of been in this and that he had just gone through them and had to type every name into a "sorry you didn't get the job" database.

YABU I really wouldn't want his job. YANBU it horrible when you don't know if people even got you application, let alone read it.

ChaoticAngel · 03/04/2012 13:11

I agree with Sparky, it is rude.

I'm job hunting and have had the occasional reply but most haven't bothered.

SarahDoctorIndyHouse · 03/04/2012 13:12

Yes regrettably it just doesn't seem to be done now. In my previous job when we were advertising vacancies there was rider in the advert that said if you haven't heard within x weeks of the closing date you can assume you have not been successful yada yada. At least you know where you are with that I guess, but still a bit soulless iyam.

I now run a small family business and last time we advertised we were overwhelmed with applications, many of whom were very suitable, others weren't, but honestly it took about an hour of my time to write to ALL of the applicants (using a fairly standard template but tailoring it to the individual). I thought it was time very well spent not just in terms of being nice to people who had clearly taken time and trouble to contact us, but also in term sof being good for business! After all these candidates were/are our potential customers.

Very best of luck in your job search

carocaro · 03/04/2012 13:19

I think it's just par for the course, as others have said, they get so many at the moment, when SIL company was looking for two people to employ, they got 780 odd applications, and there was no way they (3 of them) had the time to spend looking through them all and replying, as she was running a business 14 hours a day trying to survive and grow, she felt upset about it, so she put on their website a thank you for applying and how and why they could not reply to everyone.

So it's best not to take offence, hard to I know, but think of those running those companies some who are working all hours to get businesses moving and growing, clinging on by their fingernails etc etc, yes in an ideal world a reply to all 780 odd would have been nice but it real life not a chance.

theinets · 03/04/2012 13:25

I've been through several interviews with companies and then never heard either way. It's rude but surpriaingly common.

EvenBetter · 03/04/2012 13:27

In my work we get hundreds of application forms & CVs in for 1 job, we get paid the minimum wage, none of us are going to sit and write out letters/emails to every one 'sorry, your writing is illegible, sorry you left the form blank apart from your name' etc! The people who get interviews and are unsuccessful get a letter.
Job hunting is disheartening enough, it'd be good to know they received your application at least and why you haven't got an interview but companies are selfish, impersonal hellholes mostly! (unlike the nice lady above who owns her own business and replied to her applicants :o )
Good luck! :)

Paiviaso · 03/04/2012 13:31

I would expect a reply if I had gotten to interview, but not if I had just submitted an application.

It certainly would be nice to hear either way, so that you know where you stand, but don't count on it happening.

Your email will hopefully express that you are very interested in the position, good luck :)

sairygamp · 03/04/2012 13:31

I've just appointed a new member of staff. We weren't sure how many applicants we'd get but we knew it would be a lot, so put 'if you haven't heard by...' etc. In the end we had so many applicants, that it really wouldn't have been possible to contact all the unsuccessful ones. That didn't stop loads from e mailing asking what was going on. That is also a bit frustrating as it was very clear on the application form that we would contact those for interview by such and such date. I felt ever so rude not being able to reply but time wise, it really would have taken forever.

enthusiasmcurbed · 03/04/2012 13:37

I'm in the same boat op. Worse one for me was getting a telephone interview, passing that and then going for face to face one and not hearing anything back, that was nearly five weeks ago. It makes me

CremeEggThief · 03/04/2012 13:46

Sadly, YABU. Most companies say in the interests of economy, they will only acknowledged successful applications, or words to that effect. It is very frustrating, when you put all your time and effort into it and you don't even get a "thanks, but no thanks".
Better luck with your next application.

pussweasel · 03/04/2012 13:54

My DD recently applied for over 200 hundred advertised part time jobs and only got a reply from one of them (to go to a huge group interview). It is standard nowadays apparently only to reply to successful candidates.

degroote78 · 03/04/2012 15:48

YABU. When I advertised for a new Assistant last year I got 1300 applicants. Only the sucessful candidates got a reply. I don't have the time in my day to reply to 1300 people!

squoosh · 03/04/2012 15:54

YANBU I make sure that all applicants get a thanks but no thanks response. I understand smaller companies not wanting to waste the money on potentially hundreds of stamps but an email reply costs nothing and shows respect to the applicant. As long as you keep an excel sheet with details of all applicants a blanket 'no' will take 2 mins max.

PinkPepper · 03/04/2012 15:58

DP has got used to no replies now but the ones he has interviews for, or is told he's looking good to get it. Then communication ceases and on chasing them up they've decided to cancel the job or promote within. Just let him know fgs. Waiting to hear back from one today/tomorrow. And he's got a phone interview tonight so thatll be all week not knowing again.

sairygamp · 03/04/2012 15:59

It's not stamps or cost so much squoosh, it's that we have a tiny staff team, all of whom are very part time, ever so busy and really don't have time to send so many emails . Those who did e mail asking, I sent back a nice response explaining we had a huge number of applications and were really sorry that we coiuld not get back to everyone, but had stated on the form that we could only contact those short listed. I know it's horrible and have been in that position,. but at least if you make it clear that if a date has gone by and you haven't heard then it is a bit easier. If anyone wanted feedback I would have been happy to offer it.

squoosh · 03/04/2012 16:07

sairygamp Well as you stated on the advert that you'd only respond to successful applicants, that is fair enough, also if staff are only part time. Bigger companies though I always think should make the effort.

Degroots78 1300 applicants for an assistant's position, yikesorama. Are you Posh Spice?

thefurryone · 03/04/2012 16:10

All of you making excuses for why it isn't done don't seem to realise that there are very quick and easy ways to do this. It doesn't have to be a letter and you can use a quick email template in the reply.

To not even reply to people who get in touch to find out how their application is progressing or to get back to people who have taken the time to come to interview is beyond rude.

How long does it take to type, thanks but sorry we have now filled the position? It just took me less than 10 seconds.

Honestly, I can't quite believe how little consideration people have for others. Put yourself in the applicants shoes and find yourselves some manners. Or as sarahdrindy puts it remember it's a small world you never know when that applicant you just didn't have the time to get back to now holds the purse strings for that very large order you'd like to get your hands on.

SnapSnafu · 03/04/2012 16:11

A lot don't reply.
However, I always phone and ask after a reasonable length of time.

thefurryone · 03/04/2012 16:11

Sorry that was quite grumpy but having been both in a recruiting position where I know how easy it is to respond, and an applicant position where I haven't even heard after an interview, I can honestly say that I don't think there is really any excuse.

Degroots78 you could have got your new assistant to do it for you

Bohica · 03/04/2012 16:15

I make a point of sending thanks but no thanks letters, it does take ages, last vacancy I received 180 replies but I eventually managed to send a letter out.

We use our own website as well as an in house agency, the agency website gives me the option to email a standard letter but our own website is a personal letter.

We then have 3 stage interviews and aplicants get sent yes or no letters through out these stages.

I couldn't not send a reply, that would make me feel bad!

I have loaded lots of new vacant positions onto the website last week so no doubt after easter I will have more letters to type!

squoosh · 03/04/2012 16:17

You all know how mail merge works don't you?

It removes all thehideous labour. Or just whoosh all the email addresses into the bcc (underneath cc) and send out one email. It is that easy :)

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