About unsuccessful interviews

[LittleMisslikestobebythesea]

I had a job interview in a school last week, which I didn't expect to get an interview for as there are hundreds of applicants for them, so I was pleased to get an interview, but not surprised not to be successful as I know a lot of the time volunteers who already work in the school are lined up for the job.

Anyway my interview was on Thursday, they said successful candidate would receive a phone call that day, so I knew I wasn't successful, but would it be so hard to just send a quick email to say thanks for coming, sorry you were unsuccessful?

It's through the council recruitment, and I know they will be busy (I used to work in council recruitment) but how long does a polite email take to send? (Interviews were sent by email).

Feel free to tell me AIBU, but I still haven't heard anything, obviously I know I am unsuccessful, but acknowledgment would be nice.

[Deathraystare]

I applied for a job in the local post office. It was advertised in the window. The ad only came down a fews ago but I realised I was not successful when the successful candidate served me recently!!!

[Hugglepuff]

YANBU.
I sometimes interview junior staff for new posts.
I would always phone if they didn't get the job and offer feedback if they wanted to discuss the interview.
It is just bad manners not to.

[Callani]

If you attend an interview (and therefore are paying either busfare or petrol money) then people should let you know whether you're successful or not - it's just polite.

If it's feasible to interview x number of people, then it's definitely feasible to contact all of them afterwards even if you just send emails or leave voicemails.

[Groovee]

I've applied for a few jobs through our local council's recruitment and have sometimes had an email ranging from hours to weeks after the interview. One I forgot about when the email turned up.

One phoned me to give me feedback which was kind.

If you want feedback, call the school and ask to speak to the person who interviewed you. My friend emailed and they ignored it where as a phonecall they can't ignore as well.

[TaliZorahVasNormandy]

I think I failed to get the job, 18 months and counting on JSA, how depressing.

[SoulJacker]

YANBU

I'd go further. I think in these days of email communications there's no excuse not to contact unsuccessful applicants before interview stage. Enter email onto system at first sift then send out bulk email to non shortlisted people

[LilacRoses]

It's really rude of them not to have let you know. Is there any possiblity that they are waiting for references to come through for candidate who was selected. At the school where I work everyone is acknowledged, on the same day if at all possible.

[PeterParkerSays]

It's possible that they're waiting for the first choice candidate's references to come through, or they've gone off on holiday before they could be offered the job. From my experience as an interviewer, we'd phone everyone who we interviewed to give them feedback.

[CrohnicallyHungry]

sisters yep. I went to one interview, it turned out to be a group interview day. So we all got chatting about what we were currently working as, why we'd applied for the job, that sort of thing. I was the only person in the group who had experience working with the age group the job was for (as I had been doing it for the previous couple of months). When we got our feedback I was told the reason I didn't get the job was 'not enough experience with that age group'. So if they wanted someone with experience, why interview a bunch of people with none/very little?

Coincidentally, one of the other candidates was already working as a midday supervisor at that school.

[gamerchick]

They really could at least give you a time frame to hear something..that's at the very least. It's a horrible feeling when you're waiting after an interview.

[LittleMisslikestobebythesea]

Well it's been almost a week since the interview, so I emailed the recruitment department at the council who sent details of the interview asking for feedback.

I won't hold my breath for a reply but at least I have asked!

[TarpalCunnel]

YANBU. Up until recently, I was unemployed for months, and spent hours and hours every week filling out forms, personal statements, answering personality questionnaires etc, and when I finally did get interviews I was over the moon, I had no money for decent clothes so used to borrow off friends, and would walk for over an hour to interviews because I couldnt afford the bus. I made every effort to give the right impression and 9 times out of 10 I would hear nothing back after the interviews. I was told on so many occasions I would be told within a time frame, but it hardly happened.

It was very disheartening to be ignored, I started to feel totally worthless and wondered if I was so bad that maybe they didnt take me seriously and I was stupid to go for it in the first place.

[SistersOfPercy]

Schools do tend to be good at letting you know, but from experience they usually have someone internal lined up for the posts anyway and you are called in to make it look less fixed coughheadmasterswifecough

[wearenotinkansas]

ime, if you haven't heard after a couple of days it is because you are the second choice, and they are waiting for a signed contract from the person they have offered to. Happened to DP about 4 times last year. Really stressful waiting though

[Rabbitcar]

When we interview people at my organisation, we always go back to all unsuccessful applicants with individual feedback, plus the opportunity to call if they want more detailed feedback. We are a large organisation which interviews lots of people, but it's very important to treat all interviewees properly. I'm shocked (and naive?) OP.

[x2boys]

I have been a nurse for nearly twenty years so haven't had an interview for that long ,well I have but internal but when I attended interviews I always got told whether I had been successful or not I think its just rude not to tell people!

[Changebagsandgladrags]

We wait a few days before saying no even though we say yes on the day.

Recently, we had someone turn the job down the next morning. The we contacted the second in line and she said no. We had to go through all the interview notes again because all the other candidates were very close.

[Aspiringhuman]

YANBU. I think if you get as far as the interview stage there's no decent excuse for a no reply.

[HeyBungalowBill]

I think you are right and a polite no thank you email should be sent.

I was told I'd be rang is successful and I was successful but they didn't ring!
Most people would have forgotten about it but luckily I thought to ring and ask and it turned out a member of staff forgot to ring me on behalf of the manager!!

Could have missed out if I had not checked!

[Permanentlyexhausted]

They may well be waiting for a firm acceptance before sending out rejection emails. That is only common sense and is what we do.

We are unusual in acknowledging every application as it arrives, and contacting everyone who hasn't been shortlisted, and even giving feedback if asked. We do everything by email.

[TaliZorahVasNormandy]

Hungry I've found its the schools that let you know either way.

[CrohnicallyHungry]

I have applied for lots of jobs in schools, and they have always called to let me know if I was unsuccessful. Apart from anything else, it's nice to hear the reason(s) why you didn't get the job, so you know what to work on for next time.

[PumpkinPie2013]

YANBU I work in a College and we always contact everyone who attends interview by phone whether they were successful or not.

We consider it extremely rude not to when people have taken the time to come.

We can't contact everyone who isn't interviewd due to large applicant numbers but do have a line in the application pack saying 'if you do not hear from us within x weeks please assume your application was unsuccessful'

[TequilaMockingbirdy]

Oh no actually sorry I read it wrong, if you've had an interview they're being very unreasonable! Tosspots.