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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to be gutted I never heard back from a job application...

15 replies

Edendance · 18/08/2013 13:09

I am full time employed but looking at other options, found something which looked amazing and something I've always wanted to do 'properly'. It was a head cake decorater position at a shop which is one of a few branches.

I was really excited and filled in the online application, when they emailed the next day asking for my CV I thought I was onto a winner but then other than the automatic email telling me that if I didn't hear back within 10 days then I should consider my application unsucessful, I've heard nothing (it's now been 17 days).

Now I know the job market's terrible at the moment but you know when you just secretly think that you may be onto a winner with an application, and now I feel more than slightly gutted I'm not sure I'll ever be able to bring myself to buy one of their brownies ever again and they really are the best!

I plan on contacting them soon asking for feedback, as I know that it's a good idea to find out why I wasn't 'sucessful' but I feel a bit bitter about it, I perhaps naively really did expect to hear back...

I didn't even get an interview!

(totally bitter post, sorry about that...!)

OP posts:

waddlecakes · 18/08/2013 13:11

What sector do you work in now? Do you have cake decorating experience?

Original poster

Edendance · 18/08/2013 13:18

I have quite a bit of experience- started with classes and competitions at 9 years old and then developed onto cakes as gifts for friends and family to semi professional. I currently am in the process of setting up properly at home. I have had environmental health out to asses the kitchen and am planning the next step of registering officially as a business.

I properly started on wedding cakes about 3 years ago and now do those as well as celebration cakes. I do anything from cupcakes to full blown wedding cakes wired up with lights and buzzers in, or moons with battery night lights in so they 'glow'. Though I prefer more traditional flowery cakes.

I work in childcare at the moment, but do have some limited experience in managing people (other than small children!!) I have a feeling this is where I may not have 'made the grade' so to speak! I just thought that cakes is still a niche skill, and thought that I might be good enough at that, that they'd maybe look past some lack of skill in the managerial side of things.

OP posts:

LRDPomogiMnyeSRabotoi · 18/08/2013 13:20

Oh, that is rotten and it is disappointing. But I think given they told you that they'd only get back in 10 days if you were successful, they haven't done anything wrong.

rockybalboa · 18/08/2013 13:22

Oh that sucks. Def ask for feedback. Maybe they wanted more professional experience for a head decorator position? I'm intrigued by the concept of cakes with lights and buzzers though!!

pinkstinks · 18/08/2013 13:22

I feel your pain it's gutting isn't it. I applied for one that would change my life, spent about 10 hours on the form, attended a relevant course that I thought would help, and I knew I had all the skill they wanted! Didn't even get an interview and when I asked for feedback they said due to the high volume they couldn't do this :(. Hopefully it will get better for us soon!

waddlecakes · 18/08/2013 13:25

Having read your profile, I am disappointed for you. The very least they could do is thank you for applying. Leave it a week and then whack them off an email and see if you can find out why at least you weren't invited in for interview.

StephenFrySaidSo · 18/08/2013 13:27

I can understand that it's disappointing but I have to say- I think this is something jobhunters are just going to have to accept as par for the course from now on. I think it's a bit naïve nowadays to get so excited about every job you apply for if it leads you to be this gutted when you hear nothing. this is happening daily up and down the country to thousands of people. I think when applying for jobs you need to accept that you wont hear back from them and consider it an exception if you do rather than the rule. it's not pleasant but it is how things are right now.

sorry you didn't get the job btw- i'm sure if you keep trying you will find what you want. alternatively- had you considered setting up a small business from home doing this?

StephenFrySaidSo · 18/08/2013 13:29

ah I've just seen your second post and see that you are indeed setting up at home! well done you! I wish you all the best with it.

LRDPomogiMnyeSRabotoi · 18/08/2013 13:31

IME it is pretty normal to get told they won't get in touch - I don't think a response other than that is 'the least they could have done'. It feels as if it's a kick in the teeth but it really isn't indicating anything about you.

Better just to focus on the fact they asked for your CV so that is something.

PiratePanda · 18/08/2013 13:37

In a job market as competitive as this they could easily have had hundreds of applications, and for a head decorator's post they would almost certainly require some years commercial experience. No matter how good you are, you are only just setting out on this as a professional career, and you should expect to start at or near the bottom.

StephenFrySaidSo · 18/08/2013 13:49

btw OP I have found that it helps me to not see anything as either 'good' or 'bad' news- just news. it is hard not to get your hopes up, especially if you're only starting the job hunting journey but for your own emotional well-being try not to get to the point where anything other than getting the job will mean you feeling awful. e.g. if they ask for a CV just see it as them asking for a CV and no more- don't read it as 'promising'. expect it to go no further. it's hard, I know but for me it's the only way not to become massively depressed because the chances of being disappointed are far greater than not being.

AlyssB · 18/08/2013 15:21

I work in HR, not in this industry but I do deal with recruitment. I can have up to and over 200 applicants for one role, there is no way I would be able to give feedback to each unsuccessful applicant, it would take me months!!

I would love to be able to, but it just wouldn't be possible, however I do give feedback to unsuccessful applicants following interviews.

From just a CV it would be very difficult to give any constructive feedback anyway, would probably just be that we are sorry but we are looking for XYZ and we felt that there were stronger candidates on this occasion.

I can't see that emailing them to ask would be a problem but wouldn't expect too much back.

Good Luck setting up on your own though it sounds vey exciting!

BlueStones · 18/08/2013 17:31

It may have been the old internal candidate situation; I've fallen foul of that twice (that I know of).

It is dispiriting, I know. All I can say to you is that many of us have been in the same boat. Bets of luck: I hope you find something else that will make you happy.

Tee2072 · 18/08/2013 17:35

YANU to feel the way you feel. Your feelings are always valid.

But the market is terrible right now. Better luck next time!

MariaLuna · 18/08/2013 17:42

Oh, I'm sorry to hear that.

For what it's worth, I've applied for enough jobs where they didn't even have the courtesy to reply at all!

The reply you got is pretty standard. Now with possibly 100's of applications for one job it's impossible to reply to each one indivually. (I worked in HRM).

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