AIBU to wonder why people don't turn up to interviews?

[BillyAndTheSillies]

Have just started a new role in a small admin team who are looking to fill another position.

Received over 100 applications, filtered down to 8 people for interview.

2 people turned up. One of the six who didn't turn up called in the morning to rearrange the time to half an hour later. This was done for her, and then she didn't turn up.

The others didn't turn up with no correspondence at all, apart from one applicant who emailed 6 hours after their interview time to say they had the flu.

I just don't get it. Why go through correspondence and arranging times to just not turn up. Considering how much diary organisation goes in to scheduling interviews, time out of work for the people interviewing etc.

Everyone was given an option of time slots and we were flexible around days so it wasn't like the interviews weren't designed to fit in with applicants needs. Considering how much we see about unemployment, aibu to wonder why people apply for jobs and just don't acknowledge not coming to an interview?

Every time I interview I have at least 1 person not show up and not get in touch - it’s so annoying. A few times the same had applied for another job 6 months later and I definitely wouldn’t shortlist them again.

I also have maybe 50 people apply with their CV through recruitment websites, but they have to complete our application form for safeguarding reasons - out of the 50, maybe 10 will actually bother to complete the form and return it. Why bother sending your CV of you don’t actually want to apply?

I think it’s mostly people who have to prove they have applied for x number of jobs in order to keep receiving job seekers, but don’t actually want the job. Probably the same reason why I get another 20 applicant who have no relevant qualifications or experience - why bother applying if you don’t meet any of the criteria?!

My partner was made redundant 18 months ago and has applied for close to 1,000 jobs, from working in supermarkets to “his” actual job which is fairly specialised and senior. I am astonished that pretty much 99% of companies don’t even send an email saying “no thanks”, so I guess people who have been treated like that think it cuts both ways. The whole thing, from both sides, is incredibly rude and very depressing.

(Oh, and after six months he stopped getting JSA based on household income - he is desperate to work.)

Nerves, loss of confidence, they've been turned down 200 times and can't face any more humiliation...

Although I had one on Friday, I'd posted a job, a cv& covering letter arrived. It was clear the letter had been used for another job application.
Before I passed it to the hiring manager, I emailed the person back and suggested they update the letter with the right company name. I was trying to help. The reply I got was "if you don't like it, feel free to change it yourself."
You just can't help some people

Judy 1000 jobs in 18months sounds really tough but obviously something isn't working.
Has he tried getting professional advice on his CV and applications. Is he getting interviews but not getting the jobs?

I won't shortlist anyone who hasn't specifically addressed the JD and person spec.

contact disability organisations and promote your vacancies there. You'd almost certainly get more people attending. Too many employers do not recognise disabled people as being capable of doing the job and place a blanket 'the job is not suitable for a disabled person' attitude to ALL disabilities. There's a whole workforce just waiting there so try them.

"anxiety"

I agree it's rude, but so many employers fail to come back to you after an interview (let alone submitting an application form) that it's not surprising people don't feel obliged to turn up.

its amusing in that someone posting about (what essentially is good manners) will only have replied to those that they want to attend the interview.

I've never missed an interview. I get sooo nervous but I'll always go to them. It's just a lack of common courtesy and manners not to say you are not turning up. I wouldn't want someone like that working for me.
I spend ages on my job applications so I jump at the chance to be interviewed, nervous as I am!

What Pam said ^^

Then come on here and complain they can never get a job and are stuck in NMW position

It's rude and inexcusable and it used to drive me mad before I retired.

Judydreamsofhorses that is so disheartening. Does your DH just use one CV or does he change it to fit with specific jobs? Having applied for so many it's probably unrealistic to do that for every one but he could maybe prepare several CVs, each angled to the different types of jobs for which he is applying.

Good luck.

Agree it is disheartening, I was made redundant in November myself and applied for over 150 jobs between then and now and had 6 face to face interviews where I hadn't heard anything back.

The JD had a statement about not responding to all candidates which seems to be blanket. But doesn't make it any easier when you don't hear anything back for a job that you'd be perfect for on paper.

Agree that admin isn't everyone's dream job, but then just don't apply for it! It's not my dream job either but it's a job and now I'm here I'm actually enjoying it.

Just genuinely don't understand how hard it is to send a "thank you for the invite, unfortunately I won't be able to make it today". That way everyone can just carry on as usual instead of waiting around.

Unfortunately, given the location of the company, I can imagine the JSA quota may be down the right tracks.

Lots of reasons

Changed their mind
Had a better offer
Decided not to leave their current job
Found out the money wasn't all that or the hours don't suit
People on job seekers box ticking

It's easier for them to ignore them than phone them up to cancel. There aren't going to be any consequences for not turning up other than they won't be employed by the company.

Yes it's rude and irritating, but so is the fact that so many employers don't even bother to let you know that you haven't made it to the interview stage. Especially when you've spent hours on an application. You have to chase up repeatedly in a lot of cases.

I'll do the job! I am an excellent administrator.

I didn't turn up to two interviews because of a plumber being at my house and it took longer than I thought I did call. however sometimes people think there is no point trying to re arrange because like me when I called I had no call back

Whatever the reasons, surely it isn’t that difficult to contact the company and explain. If it’s traffic issues, they may wellmoffer a later time. If you’ve been offered another post, it’s courteous to let hem know. If you’ve lost your bottle or changed your mind, just let them know you’re no longer available, with no further explanation.

I also think it’s discourteous not to respond to applicants who aren’t shortlisted, unless you put something on the application form to say
that if you haven’t heard by a particular date, assume you haven’t been invited for interview.

The worst of all is inviting people for interview and then not informing them of the outcome. That’s plain rude.

Yeah I've had quite a few interviews who tell you they will call you to let you know. You wait in all day to find they emailed you hours before saying you didn't get the job. I find it cowardly that they can't even offer you some quick feedback.

When recruiting at an entertaining level or NMW salary I always overbook candidates, with extra staff in standby to pick up interviews for me if everyone turns up. It varies from location and company as to what proportion of no shows you get, but it is definitely an issue the lower paid the role.

its amusing in that someone posting about (what essentially is good manners) will only have replied to those that they want to attend the interview.

This.

I agree it's rude, but so many employers fail to come back to you after an interview (let alone submitting an application form) that it's not surprising people don't feel obliged to turn up.

This too. I've kind of got used to not receiving a reply to applications, but I've been to a couple of interviews now where they never even contacted me after the interview. For one of them I made a follow up phone call a few weeks later, and an email the week after that, and they still didn't reply, ever though they'd only interviewed six people including me. So rude.

silvery timbuktu we’re in an area which has run on one industry for a long time, and that industry was wiped out. So unemployment is super-high, and places won’t touch people who used to work in that industry because they know they’ll be off again as soon as it picks up - which, thankfully, it is a bit now. DP was in a fairly senior role - professionally accredited type post which is fairly specialised - so while he could easily push trolleys in ASDA, there’s a 20 year gap in his CV between his last forays into retail as a student and now, which no amount of tweaking can disguise! The interviews he’s had have been for “his” role, and he’s just been pipped at the post, unfortunately.

YANBU
This is such strange timing. I just popped the bin out and checked the mail and I have been offered an interview for a job. I've told a friend so I will have to attend the interview as friend will ask. The anxiety is kicking in though. I can easily imagine if I hadn't told someone I might have chickened out. There is no way I would just not attend though. It's basic politeness as well as sense from a job/career perspective. I think I'll start a separate thread, MN can be great place to get a little bit of support.

The only time I have not gone to an interview was when I had another interview the day before and was told on the same day that I had been successful. I did, however, let the second place know that I couldn't attend and why - they were actually very nice about it.

I work in a school and we hold interviews for teachers - lots just don't turn up and don't let us know - very irritating when you have reorganised things/sorted classes for them to teach/staff to supervise etc!

They forget that often industries do talk.
I've had someone who didn't show for an interview at my old place. They applied for a job at my new place. I didn't even bother inviting them for an interview. It happens often in our industry.