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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To think it's plain rude to not inform job candidates when they haven't been successful

38 replies

Ruffello · 21/09/2012 17:00

I had an interview for a job with a large company a couple of months ago. I then had a second interview which was via Skype with one of the managers in New York. Since then I've heard nothing. It's pretty obvious I didn't get the job, but surely it's a basic courtesy to let the unsuccessful candidates know.

OP posts:

Sirzy · 21/09/2012 17:02

I think anyone who gets to interview stage deserves at least a polite email.

LesleyPumpshaft · 21/09/2012 17:06

YANBU, it takes less than a minute to shoot a quick email.

41notTrendy · 21/09/2012 17:08

Yanbu. DH been in this situation countless times. You invest so much into applying for jobs.

gindrinker · 21/09/2012 17:10

Nope. It's rude not to let someone know.
It took 6 weeks to get a reply from a company once.(By which time I'd got another job and nearly sent them sarky an email back telling them that I was glad I hadn't been offered a job with such a disorganised company)

Pancakeflipper · 21/09/2012 17:13

YANBU - it's rude. Anyone actually interviewed should be informed.

Northernlurkerisbackatwork · 21/09/2012 17:13

I always let people know. It has taken me a week or two sometimes. This is because of delays in recruitment - can't tell people they're out of it till I know for sure somebody's in - but also because without staff in the office I am bloody busy. It is rude not to tell people at all I agree.
I don't ring them though. I do a letter offering feedback. Much less agonising all round.

iknowwho · 21/09/2012 17:15

Sign of the times I suppose but it is very rude.

It was sad to see my DS waiting and still hoping there was a chance because he hadn't had a definate no on the jobs that he went for when it was obvious to me and his dad it wasn't happening!

OutragedAtThePriceOfFreddos · 21/09/2012 17:15

It's rude by the time it's got to interview stage. But I don't thnk companies can be expected to reply to every application.

catsmother · 21/09/2012 17:16

Totally agree - have also been there. 2 interviews, plus a test, and at the 2nd I was questionned very carefully about my availability - which was all received very positively - was told I was just the sort of person they were looking for, and then told I'd definitely be contacted the following week to "finalise details". I never heard anything again. It would have been rude enough even if I hadn't received such promising remarks, but because my interviewer had more or less told me it was in the bag, it was also very hurtful and upsetting. More fool me I suppose that I didn't pin her down when she was being so effusive but I thought I was being professional by not being too pushy.

I actually wrote to say I was very surprised that a very well known company which sells its cocoa based products as "luxury" and "premium" - and this was very much a focus of the interview along with quality, professionalism, attention to detail, meticulous customer service etc - didn't bother to let me have the courtesy of a thanks, but no thanks, if for some reason they'd changed their minds. I wrote it very carefully and tactfully but never heard a thing again. It left a very nasty taste in the mouth really.

I appreciate in this day and age that most employers can't afford the time or money to reply to all applicants but by the time you've had an interview, I very much doubt that there'd be more than a handful of applicants left - even less when you get to 2nd interview.

wanttomakeadifference · 21/09/2012 17:17

YANBU we have just filled a vacancy at work. I have more work to do than I can cope with but still made letting unsuccessful candidates know a priority.

FWIW writing and sending the letters out makes me feel sad for the candidates who have all put time and effort onto their applications.

I hope you get a super job doing ion OP.

Flossiechops · 21/09/2012 17:19

Completely agree with you. My dh went on 100 mile round trip to attend an interview for a local authority. Not even a rejection letter, to be honest I think it shows that it would be a shit company to work for. Dh went on to get a much better role with a very nice car. It was mighty frustrating though when we were on tender hook waiting for contact.

squoosh · 21/09/2012 17:27

I even think it's rude not to acknowledge every application but to not inform an interviewee that they've been unsuccessful is bloody disgraceful. If it was me I'd send them a polite but disappointed but steely email as to my annoyance at their offhand treatment.

MrsHoarder · 21/09/2012 17:27

Why not ring them up and ask. You can ask for feedback whilst you're at it

iknowwho · 21/09/2012 17:30

Why not ring them up and ask. You can ask for feedback whilst you're at it
I encouraged DS to do this.
It left a few of them spluttering.
I guess they are not used to 16 year olds asking what went wrong!

I'm glad to say he now has an apprentiship and is working!!

LondonMother · 21/09/2012 17:32

I can understand not acknowledging every application as that can take a lot of time if you're not using an online system. Most companies say now that they won't let you know if you're not shortlisted, so if you don't hear within x weeks, you can assume you're not getting an interview. Fair enough. But not to tell people you've interviewed what the outcome is is just plain rude.

TheCrackFox · 21/09/2012 17:40

I've had that - had an interview which seemed to go well and then they never got back in touch. I really don't mind that I wasn't chosen for the job, it is their perogative, but it would have taken all of 2 minutes to let me know. I thought about phoning but I thought "fuck it, why should I?"

TBH I see it as a lucky escape as it shows what a slap dash, unprofessional organisation it is.

Rotter · 21/09/2012 17:41

Catsmother you were probably their second choice so they were keeping you in reserve in case their first choice didn't work out, then perhaps they left in too long and let it slide/forgot. It is rude though.

THETrills · 21/09/2012 17:42

YANBU

I wouldn't expect companies to reply to every CV that was sent in, but anyone who gets an interview (even by phone) deserves a reply.

Claifairy · 21/09/2012 17:46

As the others said it is worth ringing up to ask for feedback.

I once went for a job in a national company and never heard back and just left it as thought if you can't be bothered to even let me know either way I don't think I want to work for your company only to find out months later I had actually got the job but when they hadn't heard back from me assumed I did not want the job even though I had no letter or phonecall (pre email).

Another company wanted me to fight for the job (recruitment) to show my tenacity for the role! The manager kept saying 'call back as I haven't decided if you are right for the role yet'! I decided I wasn't the type to beg for the job and didn't take it further!

Original poster

Ruffello · 21/09/2012 20:08

Indeed, it must be a sign of the times. Still stinks though, eh?

OP posts:

CJCregGOLDandORANGE · 21/09/2012 20:15

NBU at all. I think it's rude, and sad that this is now becoming the norm.

Why can't companies reply to unsuccessful applicants? People used to, and back then it involved paper and stamps. Where is the great drain on resources that a polite, standard email would entail?

The worst, worst, worst thing, though, imo, is the 'if you haven't heard by x date, you have not been selected for interview.' So fucking lazy, but covering their arses.

GoldShip · 21/09/2012 20:18

YABU.

These jobs have hundreds, maybe even thousands of applicants. They can't give everyone notice.

Take matters into your own hands, ring up and get some feedback

aldiwhore · 21/09/2012 20:21

YANBU.

If you've got to second interview, they've met you, they should be courteous enough to inform you of the outcome.

If it were just the CV and letter stage, then YWBU to expect any response as GoldShip rightly points out employers get a LOT of applications.

weeblueberry · 21/09/2012 20:25

Yanbu.

Any company worth their salt will keep all applicants in a database and it takes all of 5 minutes to do a damned mail merge to let folk know. It's one of my bugbears. I ALWAYS make sure we let unsuccessful applicants know but admit it wasn't the done thing til of started...

Itsgottabebags · 21/09/2012 21:30

YTNBU I rang after around 2 weeks and found out I hadn't been successful. I asked for feedback and was told they'd get back to me. To this day I am still "waiting". This was a big organsiation.

Small organisation (around 50 people) it took just over a week.

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