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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think most people are shit at recruitment?

22 replies

goodtoastrack · 05/03/2015 14:44

I am fed up. Mainly because of my failure at getting a new job but also because so many people are so utterly incompetent at recruiting!

And I don't think it's just me that is having a bad experience.

I applied for a job a few weeks ago. On the advert it said interviews were scheduled for this week. It being Thursday already I chased this morning asking what was happening with the interviews. Have just received the rejection, with HR copying in another candidate. So not only inept but also breaching some sort of data protection.

Applied for something else a few months ago, and again chased given the interviews were scheduled for two days time. Received another rejection that afternoon.

What is the POINT of these HR people if I have to chase them to do their job?! Why are they only getting back to rejected applicants two days before the interviews??

My friend had an interview a few months or so ago - one of three I think - and was told she would find out the next week whether she had got the job. Three weeks later she chased to ask what was happening with the role. No one bothered to reply to her and then shortly after she saw the job re-advertised on the Guardian jobs site. Shocking.

How hard is it to get back to three people?

Another person I know was offered a job and was sent the contract, forms for bank details for salary etc and then went in with ID to meet HR and get the ball rolling etc etc and met another director they would be working with. That afternoon she got a call saying she would not be offered the job. She pointed out they had already given her the job. They lied and denied and it seems the other director didn't like her much and overruled the one that had given her the job. Why would someone with no authority offer a candidate a job?!

Why is everyone SO BAD at this?

I recruit and always put the interview date in the job advert and shortlist within two days so people have as much time as possible to prepare. I let people know whether they have been successful ASAP.

It isn't difficult!

OP posts:
Original poster
goodtoastrack · 05/03/2015 14:45

Wow, that was long.

OP posts:
sportinguista · 05/03/2015 16:45

I know, it is quite rude isn't it? I've had to chase rejections or you just simply never get any response, no 'thank you for your application' not even an acknowledgement. It could be that the sheer volume of applicants is a factor but I do think in recent years it has become less common to receive a rejection and most jobs seem to have on the bottom a caveat to the effect of 'if you do not hear from us within X days please assume you have not been selected" it's all very impersonal. I had one interview where I was told they were very keen and then it just fizzled into nothing, never heard from them either way...and they wonder why it's demotivating!

DeliciousMonster · 05/03/2015 16:46

They will be concentrating on people they ARE interviewing. Once you put an application in, you have to let it go unless you hear otherwise.

carlywurly · 05/03/2015 16:58

We acknowledge every application by return and everyone gets an outcome regardless of whether they've had an interview.

It's shockingly bad not to be told either way after an interview. Or to have a written offer rescinded without explanation (is that even legal? Confused)

We've stopped giving detailed feedback though unless a candidate makes it to second interview stage - we couldn't deal with the volume of requests and as an employer you have to be so careful about discrimination charges it became a bit bland and meaningless when we did give it.

Original poster
goodtoastrack · 05/03/2015 17:05

Yes I know successful candidates but I still think it is extremely rude to not reply to rejected candidates.

And don't people realise recruitment works both ways? If they are sloppy it reflects badly on the company and people involved.

OP posts:
ThereIsACarInTheKitchen · 05/03/2015 17:06

This reminds me of the time I went for a job interview only to be told five minutes in that it was pointless continuing with the interview as they had already hired the person interviewed before me! Shock

I had spent money on bus fair and train fare's to get there so needless to say I was pretty pissed off.

Wibblypiglikesbananas · 05/03/2015 17:09

If your friend had signed her contract OP, the company would have had to pay her severance, I'd have thought?

HermioneWeasley · 05/03/2015 17:10

I can see both sides. I always make sure rejected candidates get told, and feedback is offered if you attend an interview, but the sheer number of candidates (vast majority wholly unsuitable) applying can be overwhelming, so I can see why some depts go with a "if you don't hear feom us it's a no" approach.

DuchessofBuffonia · 05/03/2015 17:15

I know when we are recruiting (school), we regularly have people drop out a day or two before interview and then the next person on the 'possible' list is asked to attend. Could be one reason. If they haven't replied after the interview date then this is bad form.

DuchessofBuffonia · 05/03/2015 17:18

Also, we sometimes don't appoint anyone at interview and so do another round with the next lot on the list.

SolomanDaisy · 05/03/2015 17:18

I think it's pretty common not to let candidates who haven't been shortlisted know. If they give the interview dates then you're supposed to assume you haven't been shortlisted if you don't hear by then. I once had a man who hadn't been shortlisted ring and ask for feedback, there were over 200 applications and all I could give were the numbers from where we had scored the applications. He got really abusive, which didn't make me inclined to employ him in the future.

After interviews you should definitely let people know though, preferably by phone with feedback. Managers hate doing it. The first time I ever recruited, my senior manager was on the panel. He called the successful person and made me call all the unsuccessful ones!

Fluffyears · 05/03/2015 17:23

I once not a rejection letter addressed to 'mr' rather than 'Miss' I have avert feminine name and am not easily mistaken for a bloke as I have a very feminine appearance. Made me realise I had a lucky escaoe if a company can be so careless in the basics.

ifdaryldiesweriot · 05/03/2015 17:24

I've had the worst time with recruitment.

Applied for one job, didn't hear anything so I called them. Woman said I was definitely qualified but she didn't want to put anyone else forward Hmm

Rang up about a second job, same woman said yes I'll try and get you an interview. Never bothered to call back to tell me it was a no.

I've emailed now about a new job and she again hasn't bothered to reply.

So I've complained to the company now who are going to call me back next week.

So YANBU. I'm sick of tired of false promises and people just being lazy.

VikingLady · 05/03/2015 17:27

When I was recruiting a few years ago I started out by replying ASAP, including the rejections. But I stopped sending rejections unless chased up as a result of the startlingly large numbers of abusive responses I got to rejections - as if that would make me change my mind!

Honestly, I'd say 1 in 4 at least replied abusively. Perhaps because it's easy to do so via email, and that's how we did all recruitment (to test their basic IT skills).

ahbollocks · 05/03/2015 17:27

I started a thread like this a week or so ago. It is incredibly rude.
Peoplr forget how much effort goes in to each application, how much prep you do.
Yanbu at all anf very best of luck for the future

VikingLady · 05/03/2015 17:28

When I was recruiting a few years ago I started out by replying ASAP, including the rejections. But I stopped sending rejections unless chased up as a result of the startlingly large numbers of abusive responses I got to rejections - as if that would make me change my mind!

Honestly, I'd say 1 in 4 at least replied abusively. Perhaps because it's easy to do so via email, and that's how we did all recruitment (to test their basic IT skills).

TheGirlFromIpanema · 05/03/2015 17:28

I think that recruiters these days might have masses of applications. It would take longer to respond to the 'no's' than the entire process should take.

Not nice, but a fact of a competitive market I think.

I wouldn't bother chasing tbh. If they want you they will be in touch. Whatever the position imho.

ifdaryldiesweriot · 05/03/2015 17:29

The worst was one I applied for a job and got an interview. Decided that it would just be too far away so I rang them up and apologised, they thanked me for letting them know and I then got on with my life.

Six months later I got a rejection letter for that job because the other candidates were better suited Confused

AvonCallingBarksdale · 05/03/2015 17:39

It's soooo depressing, isn't it. I'm (trying) to get back into the workplace, having retrained, but also have 12 years significant experience. I used to work for a really big corporation, where we had a lot of recruitment training so it really sticks in the craw to see how awful many, many organisations are at recruitment. And, yes, I'm looking at you charidees Hmm I've had two interviews where the job has gone to a volunteer already there because they've pipped me on the internal role specific questions - stuff that you could learn within days if you were given the chance. Makes me mad. Someone who's volunteered somewhere for x amount of time isn't necessarily the best candidate for a job - they don't have to be given it as a "reward" for long-service volunteering!! And, breathe....

AvonCallingBarksdale · 05/03/2015 17:39

It's soooo depressing, isn't it. I'm (trying) to get back into the workplace, having retrained, but also have 12 years significant experience. I used to work for a really big corporation, where we had a lot of recruitment training so it really sticks in the craw to see how awful many, many organisations are at recruitment. And, yes, I'm looking at you charidees Hmm I've had two interviews where the job has gone to a volunteer already there because they've pipped me on the internal role specific questions - stuff that you could learn within days if you were given the chance. Makes me mad. Someone who's volunteered somewhere for x amount of time isn't necessarily the best candidate for a job - they don't have to be given it as a "reward" for long-service volunteering!! And, breathe....

SansaUndercover · 05/03/2015 17:51

I think a lot of companies won't let you know if you're rejected before interview. I've recently been looking for a new job (although have accepted one now) and only a few companies sent me a rejection email/letter and they were all pretty bland e.g. "We received over 100 applications and chose to interview the candidates with the most experience". It's nice of them to write a rejection, but if they have to respond to say 90 people, it must be fairly time consuming, especially for a small firm.

Also, I do think some firms a) take a long time organizing interviews and b) keep an informal short-list of people they might want to invite to interview if none of the interviewees work out.

I don't think it's shocking to hear nothing unless you've been interviewed and I wouldn't bother to chase anything up. They'll invite you to interview if they want you, if they don't, they won't. Most recruiters will have a big pool of potential applicants to chose from- they don't care if they put someone unsuccessful off by not replying. I know it's not nice but that's the nature of the job market.

I would also say if you are getting lots of rejections, it's worth getting advice on your CV.

Effendi · 05/03/2015 18:19

I went for an interview in June last year with the biggest tour operator in Europe. I hadn't applied for the job, they had my CV on file from a previous application. Was in there for 90 minutes and came out feeling really positive.
Then nothing until November. They had decided to put the position on hold.

Another time, had the interview and they said I would hear by the end of that week. I'm still waiting, 9 months later. Just rude.

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