To think this is a ridiculous reason not to shortlist someone for interview?

[Wobblywobble321]

I applied for a job with the NHS. I had an email to say I had not been shortlisted and to contact hiring manager for feedback if I wished. So I emailed him today. I was expecting to get a reply stating what I was missing in my skills/experience/knowledge. Instead I was told I wasn't shortlisted because I didn't make an informal visit to the department before the application deadline. When I applied for my previous two roles in the NHS I contacted the manager and asked for an informal visit and both times I was told no. I was told that I could not visit before interview. With my current post I asked if I could visit after interview when I knew I was successful just to meet the team and get a feel for parking etc and was made to feel like a massive inconvenience and it was uncomfortable on my visit. So this time when I applied I thought it best not to ask for a visit. So to be told I did not get an interview purely based on not visiting the department before hand seems ridiculous to me.
I know there's is no point in being annoyed and I'll take something from it and definitely call the manager to arrange a visit for any future roles. But aibu to think this is ridiculous? Aibu to think I should be interviewed or not interviewed based on my bloody skills, knowledge and experience rather than whether I visited the department or not?

I think it may have been a "weeding out" technique as well. Whether they already have an internal candidate for the role, or too many applicants, it does sound like the sort of thing you'd "pick on" to reduce the interview list.

Still bloody annoying from your point of view, given your previous experience! I'd feed that back, in all honesty - say that in your 3 previous applications you were actively discouraged from visiting prior to the interview, so you'd taken that on board. Won't make any difference for this job, I don't suppose, but at least you'll know for future to always check, not assume.

I'm just impressed you were offered feedback after shortlisting! Most jobs I've applied for in the last few years have only offered feedback if unsuccessful at interview.

I work in the NHS. My boss never shortlists anyone who doesn’t at the very least call to find out more about the role, a visit is preferred. I also think it’s disgraceful as o expect we’ve missed out on some excellent candidates.

Meerkat what does you boss expect them to phone about, out of interest? Most job adverts are fairly comprehensive, and I can never think of anything that isn't outlined, and don't want it to seem as though I haven't read it properly.

I know an nhs recruiting manager who once for a specialist role didn’t short list anyone who didn’t mention in their application a very specific, niche national guideline which had just come out for that area. There was nothing in the advert, the person spec or essential criteria which mentioned it.

But she said she had 80 applications for 4-5 posts and couldn’t interview them all. I know we missed out on some very good candidates.

I work in Education and was surprised to find its the norm to come for a prior to submitting and application (I came from the NHS where it wasn't). However, even though expected and normal to visit we would never use that as a reason not to shortlist!

I once worked with someone who was going for an interview for a graduate position. They hadn't included an address in the info (head office was about an hours drive away) so she rang up to check the interview venue and was then emailed back to cancel the interview as they wanted someone with more about them who could find their address independently 🤨

What I don't understand is that job applications are anonymised so how do people know whether someone has visited or not?

I work for the NHS and have never heard of this.
Your C.V and interview should be taken at face value, why would you need to visit before hand to be successful? Sounds like am excuse to me

Well if you only have 2 people visit and obviously you chat to them while showing them round and get to know about where they work/current role it’s normally fairly obvious when reading an anonymous job application who they are. I’ve always been able to work it out in the past.