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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be annoyed at generic job rejection email?

31 replies

Ygritte84 · 20/10/2020 18:22

This came after an initial application in the summer (recruitment got delayed), a second application, two rounds of interviews with a presentation and a test, and a final thank you email. Most of the other correspondence was with the Head of Department (the future Boss), the generic rejection email came from the HR automated system. It would have taken them a couple of minutes to draft a personalised message - am I expecting too much?

OP posts:
SpuriouserAndSpuriouser · 20/10/2020 18:23

YANBU, but you could always drop them a quick email asking if they have any specific feedback on your application.

seventhrow · 20/10/2020 18:31

Yeah that’s not on. Fair enough if you’d not got through the first round but it’s rude to not message properly to someone who has gone through several rounds and put a lot of effort into the process.

Original poster
Ygritte84 · 20/10/2020 18:33

@SpuriouserAndSpouriouser, I could indeed - although I don't think that much would come out of it, apart from "we had a strong field of candidates...". I had amazing feedback from previous interviews, even if they didn't go well - a manager actually phoning me, and encouraging me to try at the same level, it was so uplifting. I don't think this would be a similar experience, somehow....

OP posts:
CrazyToast · 20/10/2020 19:05

It's pretty standard procedure. Once you are no longer being considered it gets passed to admin. I'm sure you can request feedback.

flaviaritt · 20/10/2020 19:27

No, that’s rude.

MonkeySnake · 20/10/2020 19:29

This is standard procedure in my field. In fact, it's considered polite that they actually got back to you.
I applied to a job back in June and haven't had a response. I emailed and no response. Funnily enough, I applied to one firm in July and emailed them yesterday about not having responded - they emailed back and offered me an interview haha.

JesusInACabbageVan · 20/10/2020 19:29

That would annoy me too, it's not like you hadn't even made the first shortlist, you'd got really far. I applied for one recently where as soon as you sent in your application you got an automatic email saying they would only be getting in touch with shortlisted people. No rejections at all. I suppose in theory I could still be in the running, two months later Hmm

Monipop84 · 20/10/2020 19:35

Something else that is on my mind: they made me take the test on a laptop in their office. Surely that is not very Covid secure? No antibacterial gel provided either...

Monipop84 · 20/10/2020 19:45

@MonkeySnake, I completely understand - we are all busy, and it would be absurd to expect a personalised message in every circumstance. But the recruitment process started in July, and I have invested a good few hours in putting together materials, a presentation etc. IMO it leaves a bad taste, and it would take so little to put it right.

MonkeySnake · 20/10/2020 19:47

[quote Monipop84]@MonkeySnake, I completely understand - we are all busy, and it would be absurd to expect a personalised message in every circumstance. But the recruitment process started in July, and I have invested a good few hours in putting together materials, a presentation etc. IMO it leaves a bad taste, and it would take so little to put it right. [/quote]
I don't disagree. I think it's awful and it really hurts. I'm just saying it's not unusual.

ftm202020 · 20/10/2020 19:49

Name change fail?

Monipop84 · 20/10/2020 19:51

@Jesusinacabbagevan that is shocking! I am sure that, with most HR systems, it is quite straightforward and quick to notify groups of candidates. And even small companies without a fancy HR system could use a mail merge.

Myalternate · 20/10/2020 19:54

35Monipop84

Something else that is on my mind: they made me take the test on a laptop in their office. Surely that is not very Covid secure? No antibacterial gel provided either...

Are you the OP?

Monipop84 · 20/10/2020 19:58

@myalternate yes sorry, the phone app keeps changing my username to an old one 😔

EveryDayIsADuvetDay · 20/10/2020 20:03

Better than one I had a year or so ago - a generic rejection email from the charity, that included the suggestion I 'get involved by becoming a member' - annual cost c. £200.
I complained to the Chief Executive and resigned my membership, pointing out that if they'd read my application, they would have known that I was a member already. They advised that they'd instructed HR to change their policy following my complaint, so it achieved something.

TBH, if you'd already had a personal email and feedback, I'd assume that the automated email was an error.
Crass and unfortunate, but at least they are getting back to applicants.

SilverRoe · 20/10/2020 20:26

I expect a generic email if it’s because someone wasn’t shortlisted, last time that happened to me there were over 600 applicants for the role 😯. But to get as far as you did and get one is rude, I agree.

I hope you get an amazing job soon. Flowers

Applefruitcake · 20/10/2020 23:04

YANBU. Tbh I would be happy to get at least a generic email back. What's even worse is when you hear absolutely nothing back! (has happened to me a few times). When you invest considerable time and effort into forming an application, preparing for interview, travel to interview, actual interview process etc. I think it's not unreasonable to expect a 2 minute effort to say "sorry, you weren't the right candidate"

BusyBB · 20/10/2020 23:23

I had an interview at a college which included loads of prep and I was there for the whole morning.
At the interview I was told the job was between me and one other applicant. I was phoned that night to say they still needed more time to decide.... then I never heard anything back!

Iamthewombat · 20/10/2020 23:28

They were rude and a polite personalised email would have been a reasonable and appropriate way of letting you know.

popcornfrenzy · 20/10/2020 23:43

When I got to that stage of interview they phoned me to tell me I was unsuccessful and gave me feedback so yeah I'd be annoyed and they should have sent a personal email

Boom45 · 20/10/2020 23:49

I applied for a job at a large national charity, couple of interviews, including a presentation etc so quite a few days if my time and they didnt even bother telling me I hadn't got the job. I had to call and email a number of times for someone to tell me "well, someone is doing the job now so I assume you didnt get it". I was very unimpressed and until GDPR came in I couldnt get myself off their mailing lists either.
A generic email is fine so long as you can also get a feedback call but when I'm interviewing I always thinking someone puts in the effort to interview the least I can do is give them some feedback.

Sparklesocks · 20/10/2020 23:52

Everywhere I’ve worked the process is candidates not shortlisted get a generic email, anyone interviewed gets a personalised rejection or phone call with feedback. Sorry for your disappointment, but maybe it’ll be for the best - how they’ve handled it might be a hint of how they value people and their time.

Monipop84 · 21/10/2020 08:05

@Silverroe thanks for the kind wishes and sorry to hear about your experience. It is probably not the right time to be job hunting, but having come back from maternity leave in Feb, I was hoping to brush up my interview skills and move forward. Probably not going to happen, but I am extremely fortunate to have a job as it is (for now, if redundancies don't hit)

Monipop84 · 21/10/2020 08:06

@BusyBB that is horrible! How can recruiters be so rude, they have been on the other side of the table as well, after all...

mdh2020 · 21/10/2020 08:30

You were fortunate to receive anything at all. My daughter went through many interviews, even reaching the final two, which resulted in silence. I think we call it ghosting?