To be annoyed at generic job rejection email?

[Ygritte84]

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?

I know why it happens. I’ve seen it in businesses I’ve worked in, when I’ve been recruiting.

The HR/recruitment team want to be involved in everything and make a pig’s ear of the back end. In my experience, they all think that they are so busy that they just send a generic email to the unsuccessful candidates, or not at all.

Then when I’ve said, how do I get feedback to the candidates they look at me in astonishment. That’s not on their tick list so they hadn’t even considered it!

If it was a big organisation and they use a HR/recruitment system like workday/taleo, its likely the email was automated as they have have changed the status of your application in the system to 'rejected' or siilar. Whilst there may be an option for the user (probably a HR administrator) to supress it or modify before sending, it is not guaranteed. I wouldn't take it personally.

I'm sure if you got in touch and wanted specific feedback HR/the hiring manager would be willing to provide.

I'm sorry OP. It's shit. I don't mind a generic email if my only time investment has been sending over a CV and covering letter. But very annoying to get that kind of reply when you've taken the time to meet with someone.

I once got ghosted after a second interview. The first one involved a presentation, which took an entire Sunday to put together. Then I had an interview with a director. All seemed to be OK, but never heard from them again and they ignored my emails!

YANBU but when I was recently out of work and applied for 100+ jobs, only 3 sent any kind of reply at all.

@CrazyToast

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

You should be after interviews. Understandably not after initial application, there it's just common sense they can't provide personalised feedback etc.

But later in a process? Rude

I once applied for a promotion within a department that I’d already been working in for 20 years. I was unsuccessful at interview and received a letter which thanked me for ‘expressing an interest in the Trust’.

I certainly did feed back to them that it was completely shit to send a generic letter of rejection to someone they’d known well for so long. ( and who had contributed masses to said department).

I did get an apology and I hope they changed that particular issue though I wouldn’t rely on it.